Ethan Cook and the Warsaw Tigers are set up to have a big weekend at the upcoming Warsaw Boys Swimming Sectional. (Photos by Mike Deak)

The roads to sectional swim glory, which ultimately will merge onto the highway to the IHSAA boys swimming state finals, will feature much different surfaces for the Warsaw, Wawasee and Tippecanoe Valley boys swim teams this weekend as the sectional swim tournaments begin around the state Thursday evening.

Host Warsaw will likely have the easiest road to state in just about any event it wants this weekend at the Warsaw Sectional. The talented Tigers are heavily favored in most events in an honest look at the competition entering the fray. Warsaw’s three relays are all posting times this season among the state’s elite – the medley relay claiming a Northern Lakes Conference title and the 200 and 400 relays both second right up with state power Northridge.

The duo of Spencer Davidson and Jayden Parrett give Warsaw four individual events to watch heading into state. Davidson has been a power in the breaststroke, winning going away at the NLC at 57.47, a meet record, a time among the top five in the state. Davidson was also an NLC champ in the 50 (21.82) which puts him squarely among the top in the state in the speed event. Parrett is also capable of taking two titles Saturday in the 100 freestyle and backstroke. Parrett’s run at the backstroke could be the more fruitful of the two events, where he is currently (52.04) among the top 10 in the Hoosier state.

Jayden Parrett of Warsaw is among the top backstrokers in the state.

“The biggest thing for us is to push motivation,” said Warsaw head coach Tony DeBrota. “We know we will be favored in a lot of events, but state is on the line. I know sectionals will not look like what the NLC looked like as far as competition, but it’s about looking at the state. How do we stack up with the state times? The sectional swims will determine how we do at state.”

While event swimmers could change before Thursday’s prelims begin, Warsaw has been rather consistent in its depth. Josh Miller gives Warsaw a tremendous second swimmer in the 100 backstroke, and has a legitimate shot at the state standard of 52.99, to which Miller was at 53.44 at the NLC. Miller and Zach Taylor also will be chasing the mark in the butterfly after huge showings at the NLC. Taylor will also have a good shot to get to state in the individual medley. Look for Ethan Cook in the 200 and 500 freestyles as well. Diver Liam McCarrick also has a good chance at contending for a top-four spot to advance to the regional.

With all that said, Tippecanoe Valley is going to have one bumpy road to navigate at Warsaw. Valley just doesn’t have the horses to keep up with the competition, but should get a nice showing from Chase Brower and Tyler Ross in the speed freestyles.

Normally, Culver Academy and Rochester would both provide formidable competition to Warsaw. Both programs, however, are a little down and Warsaw has crushed both in dual formats this season. Forrest Baumgartner from the Academy and the Rochester duo of Jace Bixler and Steven Newton are a couple to keep an eye on as the sectional unfolds.

Up in Dunlap, Wawasee will have its hands full in a loaded Concord Sectional that features top-five program Northridge, loaded Concord and Elkhart Central teams among several other suitors looking for state tickets.

Wawasee’s Brady Robinson, left, and Northridge’s Camden Koch had an epic finish to the individual medley at the NLC. Could another big finish be in store at the Concord Sectional?

Wawasee’s best chances to get state representation comes with the pair of Brady Robinson and Logan Brugh.

Robinson was very close to claiming his first NLC title in the individual medley, falling a second short of Northridge’s Camden Koch. Robinson’s move at the NLC raised some eyebrows as Northridge was challenged in an event it normally dominates, which could set up a very interesting sectional final. Robinson also has an outside shot in the breaststroke, but Ridge’s duo of Jesse Drake and Philip Keller will have a say in that event.

Brugh has the ability to advance to state in the 500 free. Swimming a 4:44.52 at the NLC, Brugh was a distant second in the event to Northridge’s Spencer Lehman, but was just less than two seconds away from the state standard of 4:42.85. Lehman is among the top five in the state in the event, and could eclipse the 4:30 mark if he chooses. Lehman likely also stands in Brugh’s way in the 200, where Brugh will need a 1:43.80 to advance. Lehman won the NLC in record time at 1:42.78, but went 1:41.07 a year ago.

“We just want to see just how fast we can go,” said Wawasee head coach Julie Robinson. “I want the kids to have fun and not worry about what all the other teams are doing. That should help their nerves more than anything.”

Northridge, Elkhart Central and Concord will likely clog up the champions podium Saturday in the finals, especially Northridge, which is motivated to make a run at a team state title. Watch for Concord’s Stephen Krecsmar and Nathan Rose along with Goshen’s Mitchell Walters to post some outstanding speed times. Central’s three relay teams could all give Northridge a real run in the finals.

Sectional prelims at Warsaw and Concord both start at 5:30 p.m. Thursday with the championships resuming Saturday at 1 p.m. Diving prelims begin at 9 a.m. at both locations with diving finals taking place among the championship swims Saturday afternoon.