Patriots’ year ends at state prelims

INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots did their part and were set up for a chance to make the consolation finals in two events.

But as the second session carried on, one trend came to light.

It was fast.

Jay County High School’s girls swim team had its season come to a close Friday as it was held out of the championship or consolation finals during the preliminary round of the IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals at the Indiana University Natatorium.

“The second session is a lot faster than the first for whatever reason,” said JCHS coach Matt Slavik. “I know the schools that were in there, I figured there were five top schools. They’re swimming a lot faster.

“I thought (our 200-yard medley relay) had a shot looking at the way the morning went but everybody dropped this afternoon.”

The preliminaries were split into two sessions — Jay County and schools from odd-numbered sectionals swam in the afternoon with even-numbered sectionals swimming at night. The top eight times from preliminaries advance to today’s championship heat, while places nine through 16 compete in the consolation finals.

“We moved up pretty good on our end,” Slavik said. “Not quite what I thought we needed to get in. It was good though.”

The Patriots’ biggest improvement came from senior Ashlyn Dow, who had a time of 53.56 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle. She was just off her 25th-seed time of 53.44 and she improved five spots to 20th overall.

Dow was also 24th in the 100 breaststroke, which was one spot lower than her seed. She finished in 1 minute, 6.74 seconds, sixth hundredths of a second off her sectional championship time.

Jay County’s 200 medley relay team of Rieley Brewster, Eliza Bader, Mara Bader and Dow also had a shot at the consolation finals based on its afternoon performance.

Seeded 24th overall with a time of 1 minute, 50.1 seconds, the quartet took 0.13 seconds off their seed time. The Patriots were ninth in their session, but the second set of prelims saw 11 teams post faster times.

Eliza Bader’s best individual performance came in the 100 butterfly. The senior was seeded 24th, and swam to a time of 58.52 seconds. She placed 11th in her session and 22nd overall.

She slipped one spot from being seeded 28th in the 50 freestyle. She had a time of 24.88 seconds, which was 15th during the afternoon session, and placed 29th.

In the 200-yard individual medley, Mara Bader struggled during the butterfly leg and ended with a time of 2:24.14, which was 32nd overall and matched her seed going into the state meet.

Jay County’s 200 freestyle relay team — Lilli Clemmons, Dow and the Baders — also moved up one spot to 26th as it had a time of 1:42.18.

“I thought it was a good day for us,” Slavik said. “I am proud of the girls. They are a super bunch to be around.”

Friday was the end of the career for four seniors; Eliza Bader, Brewster, Clemmons and Dow. They guided the Patriots to four consecutive Allen County Athletic Conference and sectional titles.

“I think more importantly than everything they’ve done as far as the records they put up and the hardware, they’ve been at the heart of a solid Jay County swim team and boosting the reliance on one another,” Slavik said. “They did an amazing job of building each other up. They epitomize what high school sports should be all about.”

Winchester senior Ella Baldwin, who trains with the Patriots, capped her career by placing 32nd in the 100 backstroke in 1:02.4.