By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

Last year in this space, I attempted to make a convincing argument using the state finals heat sheets that Hamilton Southeastern could – and would – snap Carmel’s stranglehold on the girls swimming state championship. Needless to say, that scenario did not play out as, time and again, Carmel overperformed its seeding spots while HSE underperformed on its end.

Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids. The 2008 result was a sizeable 69.5-point team victory for the Greyhounds.

Heading into the 35th Annual IHSAA Girls Swimming State Finals this Valentine’s weekend at the Natatorium, a quick glance at this year’s heat sheets told anyone with half a brain that No. 1-ranked-all-season Carmel was gonna win. Big.

As it turned out, the margin of victory was HUGE. Carmel’s 427-point outburst not only was a new state meet record, but it was also 200 points better than runner-up No. 2 Hamilton Southeastern, which had to settle for second for the third straight season.

Carmel finished no worse than third in any event in which it competed (the Greyhounds had no one entered in diving), won a dominating eight of the day’s 12 events, and nearly picked off a ninth title in losing the 100-yard breaststroke by the smallest margin possible: a hundredth of a second.

All three of Carmel’s relay teams broke state meet records, including two that bested NATIONAL marks.

Holy best female swimming program ever, Batman!

Seriously. With their insane 23rd consecutive state championship, the Greyhounds established a new national record for any girls team ever in any sport in United States history.

Say what you will about the north-suburban Indianapolis city’s money, facilities, and fetish for roundabouts that end up coming in well over budget. You simply cannot overstate a monumental mark like that.

To be fair, the entire day wasn’t about Carmel. As mentioned, there were four events where someone from a different school actually brought home an individual state championship: Homestead senior McKenzie Bagan in the 100 butterfly (:54.82), Westfield junior Kai Flederbach in the 100 freestyle (:50.38), Homestead sophomore Tori Bagan (barely) in the 100 breast (1:02.83), and Noblesville sophomore Katie Bittner in 1-meter diving (470.05 points).

But the flurry of top-five finishes posted by Carmel (16 of ’em; HSE was next with eight) was too much to ignore when thinking in terms of banner headlines.

Following is a recap of Carmel’s fantastic effort …

TO COME!!