IHSAA Boys State Swimming: Knight Rises, Robinson Says Goodbye
INDIANAPOLIS – It was the swan song for one of Wawasee’s best, and a curtain call for one of the emerging in the Warsaw program. Warrior senior Brady Robinson completed his final high school swim Saturday afternoon at the IHSAA Boys Swimming State Finals, placing 13th in the individual medley with a time of 1:52.69. Robinson, a three-time state finalist in the event, also helped the 400 free relay to the weekend. The relay team was deemed disqualified in Friday night’s prelims. Tiger sophomore Grant Knight ended the weekend with the best scenario possible, winning the consolation heat of the breaststroke in a wild finish. Knight, Carmel’s Andrew Rafalko and Concord’s Matt Bond all were in a virtual deadlock heading to the wall in the final 25 yards. Knight touched at 57.39 to win the race, followed by Rafalko at 57.40 and Bond at 57.42. Northridge’s Matt VanCoppenoelle was 14th overall in the event at 58.33. The 50 freestyle consoles had another lightning quick finish, with Culver Academy’s Forrest Baumgartner tied for 11th with Chris Jovan of Greenfield Central at 21.11. The top five places in the consolation race, led by Homestead’s Scott Hodson at 21.09, were separated by .03. Carmel’s Drew Kibler set a national record in the 50 Friday night with a 19.38, won Saturday’s championship at 19.50. Baumgartner ended his career with the Academy by placing 10th in the 100 free at 46.69. Concord’s 200 free relay finished 10th with its time of 1:26.53, Northridge’s medley relay placed 13th at 1:36.14 and Raider Nick Dibley was 11th in the 200 free at 1:42.49. In diving, Elkhart Central’s finished fifth with a series of 462.90. Concord’s Austin Leas was 10th at 432.60 and NorthWood’s Caden Jenkins bowed out of the prelims in 31st at 152.90. Carmel, on the heels of two state records in the medley relay and the 50, blew away the team title contenders with 417 points, with Franklin Community taking the best of the rest title with 203 points. Concord was 19th, Northridge 22nd, Elkhart Central 27th, Warsaw 34th and Wawasee 39th.