The Flyer Group Newspaper
By Kevin Leibrock

AVON — Thirteen boys’ swimmers from Hendricks County teams made it through Saturday’s sectional at Avon High School to earn a trip to this week’s state meet at the IUPUI Natatorium.

No team could catch sectional champion Zionsville (248), but the Orioles finished a close second (239). Brownsburg — last year’s sectional runner-up — finished third with a score of 194.5. Plainfield (sixth), Tri-West (eighth) and Cascade (10th) rounded out the scoring for Hendricks County schools.

Avon didn’t capture any individual sectional titles, but picked up plenty of points with four second-place and four third-place finishes. The Orioles’ 200 medley relay team of Kevin Jones, Josh Miller, Ross Dreher, and David McKinney made the state cut with a third-place time of 1:41.34. Dylan Ferguson also earned a trip to state by finishing second in the 500 freestyle (4:45.85).

Tri-West’s John Van Dyke won two events, the 100 butterfly (50.47) and 200 freestyle (1:42.50). Both times set new school records, and Van Dyke’s finish in the 100 butterfly broke the sectional mark of 50.84 set eight years ago.

“Our goal was to make the state cut and we were ecstatic about the time,” Tri-West coach Don Dorrell said. “We were hoping for a 1:43.50 and that’s about what came out. That time should get him a decent seed in the state prelims.”

Luke Haynes led Brownsburg by winning the 50 freestyle (21.36) for his first-ever sectional title. Haynes also qualified for state with a runner-up finish in the 100 butterfly (51.27). He also made the state cut with both of Brownsburg’s runner-up relay teams — the 200 freestyle team with Nick Fox, Clayton Morris, and Andrew Voiles (1:30.55) and the 400 freestyle team with Voiles, Eric Waggoner, and Zach Laffin (3:17.21).

“This is kind of Luke Haynes’ coming out party,” Brownsburg coach Josh Saylor said. “Last year he was good, but this year he’s really made a jump in his performance, training, and commitment to the sport. Luke’s got a real chance to get on the map at the state level. I’m really happy for him.”

Plainfield had a productive day, earning a sectional championship with Michael Mohler’s winning time of 4:44.65 in the 500 freestyle. Mohler also qualified for state with a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle (1:44.26). Tyler Clingerman won diving for the Quakers (552.80), establishing a new sectional record. Avon’s Ross and Thomas Dreher placed second and third, and will also advance to tonight’s diving regionals at Zionsville.

Cascade didn’t advance any swimmers, but the 200 medley relay team of Michael Ferguson, Drew Williams, Luke Marsh, and Archie Purvis led the Cadets with a ninth-place finish (1:57.67).

Danville’s top finish was in the 200 freestyle relay, where James Buchanan, Daniel Freiburger, Jack Helton, and Colten Erickson placed sixth (1:34.85).

State swimming prelims start at 6 p.m. Friday at the IUPUI Natatorium. Consolations and finals for all events begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday.