Warsaw’s Delaney Wihebrink competes Saturday at the Northern Lakes Conference Girls Swim Championships at Concord. (Photos by Mike Deak)

DUNLAP – The stars were dancing Saturday afternoon at the Northern Lakes Conference Girls Swim Championships. Northridge, in defending its conference title, only had Warsaw’s Brenna Morgan two-step in between its waltz.

The Raiders were predictably dominant in winning 10 events, setting a trio of meet records in the process to overwhelm the field. Its medley relay opened the day with a new standard of 1:49.92, and Katie Hughes, who had an outstanding meet overall, made what many thought would be a tight 500 freestyle a clinic in her record 5:01.27 swim.

The third record was actually a collection of four records. Diving had an unprecedented occurrence happen, where the top four divers all eclipsed the old mark. Northridge had three divers in the mix, led by Sara Troyer’s whopping 511.70. Troyer made up ground on her 10th dive, passing 2015 champion Lauren Boone of Concord and punctuating with her final dive. Boone, the old record holder (472.40), still finished second at 491.45, with Rylee Dahlman third (484.00) and Mary Grossman fourth (482.55). Wawasee’s Hannah Rhoades was a distant fifth at 344.50 despite setting a personal record.

Northridge diver Sara Troyer broke the meet record with a 511.70, leading a quartet of divers who broke the old NLC record.

Hughes, who won an epic 500 last year in a showdown with Wawasee’s Paige Miller, topped Miller by over eight seconds. It wasn’t close, either, in the 200 as Hughes won at 1:53.53, over two seconds faster than Miller. Hughes would also anchor the champion 200 and 400 free relays.

Northridge’s Sydnee Emerson won titles in the fly and breaststroke, and Lauren Miller took home glory in the individual medley and backstroke.

It became a game of positioning behind the Ridge engine. Warsaw and Wawasee both made considerable strides given the overwhelming inexperience from the respective rosters.

Morgan, on the other hand, made it six in a row in capturing another double. Morgan, who sat on the fence about whether to defend the 50 title or move to the 200, made her decision an emphatic one. Blowing away the field once again, Morgan’s 23.86 Thursday at prelims broke meet and Warsaw records, and a 23.94 Saturday was her third straight 50 NLC title.

Coming back in the 100, Morgan’s 51.50 nearly caught the meet record (51.25), but instead settled for the Warsaw school record.

Morgan was also part of Warsaw’s runner-up 1:52.35 in the medley relay, which set the program standard. Swimming with Morgan were Lauren Kuhl, Delaney Wihebrink and Olivia Herman.

“It wasn’t about titles,” stated Morgan confidently. “I wanted to make sure I am solid in all three of the 50, 100 and 200. I felt like it was important to swim the 50 this weekend, and swim the 200 later.”

Asked about winning six titles, Morgan added, “It doesn’t really affect my mental state all that much. I’m swimming for meets down the line, not to defend titles. So it’s nice, but that’s not my goal.”

Wihebrink would finish second in the IM in her maiden NLC voyage, going 2:16.04, then coming back to take third in the backstroke at 1:00.53.

Warsaw’s Tony DeBrota, along with Northridge’s Joe Keller, were named Co-Coaches of the Year in the conference.

“I think as the meet went on, some of those nerves started to go away, but also some of that weariness, tired feelings also appeared,” DeBrota said. “This was an awesome meet for our girls, competing against the teams and swimmers that were here. That first relay really got us going, and you saw what these girls can really do.”

Despite a finals championship, Wawasee felt pretty good about its output. The Warriors had three consolation champions in Shelby Adams in the 200, Lizzie Brugh in the 50 and Madi McBride in the 100. Wawasee also finished second in the 400 free relay at 3:43.71, keeping pace with Northridge in what will be a focus come sectionals, which will be back at Concord the first week of February.

“I thought we really came out of this meet far exceeding my expectations,” said Wawasee head coach Julie Robinson. “We had kids dropping insane amounts of time, and girls like Lizzie Brugh in the 50 and Ryane Beaman just having great swims. I really was impressed with what we put together this afternoon.”

NLC Team Standings
1. Northridge 509.5
2. Concord 367
3. Wawasee 312
4. Warsaw 261
5. Elkhart Memorial 212.5
6. Goshen 202
7. NorthWood 145
8. Plymouth 93