Taylor Gunter and Warsaw are looking to defend their sectional swim title this weekend. (File photos by Mike Deak)

WARSAW – While girls basketball sectionals have garnered most of the weather attention this week, the girls swim sectionals at both Warsaw and Concord are forcing athletes to adjust on the fly.

The silver lining for those with lofty goals, this weekend becomes a de facto state finals walk-through.

Both tournaments have been adjusted via weather postponements to a Friday-Saturday format, which will mirror the next weekend at the state finals in Indianapolis. The qualifying round for the Warsaw sectional starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Concord starting at 6 p.m., and swimmers will then turn around for a 1 p.m. finals on Saturday.

Warsaw Not A Shoo-in

The host Tigers are the two-time defending champion, but will be pressed in the team standings, and maybe more importantly, from a strong cast from the incoming individuals.

Warsaw’s senior duo of Delaney Wihebrink and Olivia Herman should contend for state spots, most notably Wihebrink in the breaststroke where she set the school record of 1:05.53 at the Northern Lakes Conference Championships. Herman added a pair of finals swims in the 50 and 100 freestyles and should contend in the finals. The two should also help Warsaw in both the medley and one of the two freestyle relays, depending on how coach Tony DeBrota decides to stack them.

Taylor Gunter, Gracie Scholl and Leah Reinholt also had big showings at the NLC Championships and should factor into the finals. DeBrota has also pointed to improvements from Macy Marcuccilli, Gracie Willig and Maddy Ray heading into the state tournament.

“It’s about work ethic and attitude at this point,” DeBrota said. “These are the times you have, and these are the times that you need to go to. It’s that simple on paper. But they need to dig down and want to win, that’s the type of effort that will get you to the state finals.”

Columbia City and Culver Academy should be the primary teams to push Warsaw for the team title. City boasts of the frontline talent of Caroline Klimek, who was a double-winner against the Tigers in their December dual at the WCHS pool, and Culver Academy also swam Warsaw tough head-to-head in January, with both Autumn Baumgartner and Avery Boldin putting in solid performances, Baumgartner coming in as a top seed in both the 50 and 100 freestyles. Kylie Dehner will also be a force for the Eagles.

Manchester’s Halle Briner was a double winner at the Three Rivers Conference Championships in the IM and 100 free, setting the record in both, but is listed in both the 200 free and butterfly heats. Rochester could steal some state places, notably the prowess of Makenna Beall, who won the TRC 200 freestyle and helped the Zebras to a 200 free relay title. Huntington’s Alex Aschliman and Plymouth’s Graci Holm also come in with top times.

Tippecanoe Valley will take its best shot, and could surprise a few people with the improved work from Olivia Livengood and Mayde Fear this season. Look for Livengood in the butterfly and Fear in the 50 and backstroke.

Raiders Still Driving The Ship

Northridge proved at the NLC Championships it’s ready to defend their 2018 “Best of the Rest” state ‘title’ (which has been a verbal nod to the state runner-up that finishes behind 32-time state juggernaut Carmel). Northridge won seven of the 12 NLC titles, led by record-setting Elsa Fretz and a trio of freshman divers Kaitlin Simons, Jiselle Miller and Evie Long that should also fight for state positions. Fretz is swimming state standard times in both the 50 and 100 freestyles and has both of Northridge’s free relays on the brink of success. Jenna Nethercutt, Haley Dygert, Kenzie Weber and Ingrid Fretz will all be in the mix for state spots.

Concord, which fought Ridge to an admirable runner-up spot at the NLC, has a young group ready to break through. Kiran Stauffer and Grace Brenneman are two freshmen to watch on the Minutemen roster. Also keep an eye on the Trout sisters – Olivia and Sophia – as well as Makayla Miller and diver Brooke Farnham.

Wawasee will have some work to do, but has a few individuals who could steal a state position or two, even if its at state cuts. Ella Park in the 200 and 500 frees, as well as Rileigh Atwood in the breaststroke, have the ability to get to Indianapolis, but will have to find a way to keep up with the leaders from the Elkhart dwellers. Lily Tyler could also move up the charts for the Lady Warriors.

“Ella is a strong young lady and unfortunately the training schedule this year has had the greatest impact on our distance swims,” said Wawasee head coach Julie Robinson. “Ella has been training hard the last few weeks and with the mental drive she has I think she is going to come into sectionals to compete.

“Rileigh has worked very hard this year and has been very driven towards her goal of making the state cut. She has made some adjustments from the NLC where we noticed some weaknesses and is ready to challenge the top girls in her race.”

Elkhart Central will provide some opposition, specifically from Sydney Dygert in the fly and IM, and Olivia Maack in the 200 and 500 frees should be in the middle of things. Central diver Hadley Malloy has the pedigree to place high. Also keep an eye on Memorial freshman Rachel Terrell, who surprised quite a few people by winning both the butterfly and backstroke titles at the NLC.

NorthWood’s best shot at advancement will come from Laura Schrock, who placed fifth at the NLC, but less than one point behind Long of Northridge.

Wawasee’s Ella Park should be in the mix of a very balanced 500 freestyle group.