From ihsaa.org

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Four individuals who won state titles a year ago return for more of the same in the 71st Annual IHSAA Boys Swimming State Finals Feb. 22-23 at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.
 
Among them, Westfield senior Ben Wachtel and Chesterton sophomore Kyle Whitaker both captured a pair of championships at the last state meet.
 
Wachtel, who won both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events, enters his final state meet as the top seed in the 200 (1:40.00) and the second seed in the 100 (:46.00), just .04 behind Concord’s Alex Burtch. Whitaker, the defending champ in the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly, is the top dog in the IM (1:51.43) and sits second in the butterfly (50.03) behind East Central senior Kyle House (:49.91).
 
House is the defending state champion in the 50 freestyle and clocked the sixth-fastest time in Feb. 16 sectional action in that event (:21.47).
 
The fourth returnee from last year is Ted Minturn of North Central (Indianapolis). Minturn won the 500 free last year but is not entered in this year’s distance event. He is entered in the 200 free and the 100 backstroke and is an option in all three of the Panthers’ relay teams.
 
Lake Central junior Chris Johnson had the state’s top time in two events last weekend – the 50 free (:20.67) and the 100 breast (:56.78).
 
North Central leads all comers with 20 entries in the meet. Chesterton and Hamilton Southeastern are second with 17 each, with Homestead fourth at 15.
 
Center Grove and Munster each won their record 23rd consecutive sectional title last weekend, while defending state champion Hamilton Southeastern won its 16th in a row and Homestead its 14th consecutive.
 
Preliminary swimming heats get under way Friday night at 6 p.m. ET. The top 16 in each event will return for competition on Saturday, with the top eight individuals vying for state championship honors. Those finishing ninth through 16th on Friday will make up the competitors in the consolation heats.

All diving will take place on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., with the top 21 of 32 competitors advancing from the prelims to the semis after five dives each. After three dives each in the semis, the top 16 will advance to the final round for another three dives each.

All championship and consolation finals, including diving, will commence at 1:05 p.m. Saturday.
 
STATE FINALS
Site: Indiana University Natatorium, IUPUI, 901 W. New York St., Indianapolis | Website
Preliminaries: Friday, Feb. 22, 6 p.m. ET
Finals: Saturday, Feb. 23 (diving preliminaries and semifinals at 9 a.m. ET, consolations and finals for all events at 1 p.m. ET.
Admission: $8 per session, $12 both days
Advancement
The top 16 in each swimming event during Friday’s prelims will return for competition on Saturday, with the top eight individuals vying for state championship honors and those finishing ninth through 16th making up the competitors in the consolation heats. All diving will take place on Saturday, with the top 21 of 32 competitors advancing from the prelims to the semis after five dives each. After three dives each in the semis, the top 16 will advance to the final round for another three dives each.
 
Defending state champions in field (individual events, last year’s winning time)
200 Freestyle – Ben Wachtel, senior, Westfield, 1:39.84
200 IM – Kyle Whitaker, sophomore, Chesterton, 1:49.43
50 Freestyle – Kyle House, senior, East Central, :21.21
100 Butterfly – Kyle Whitaker, sophomore, Chesterton, :50.16
100 Freestyle – Ben Wachtel, senior, Westfield, :45.76
500 Freestyle – Ted Minturn, 12, North Central (Indianapolis) 4:34.79 (not entered in this year’s event)

Top seeds
200 Medley Relay – Hamilton Southeastern, 1:35.08
200 Freestyle – Ben Wachtel, senior, Westfield, 1:40.00
200 IM – Kyle Whitaker, sophomore, Chesterton, 1:51.43
50 Freestyle – Chris Johnson, junior, Lake Central, :20.67
1-Meter Diving – Tyler Clingerman, junior, Plainfield, 509.05 points
100 Butterfly – Kyle House, senior, East Central, :49.91
100 Freestyle – Alex Burtch, junior, Concord, :46.00
500 Freestyle – Raymond Mahon, junior, West Lafayette, 4:38.61
200 Freestyle Relay – Munster, 1:26.59
100 Back – Kevin Behrens, freshman, Munster, :50.84
100 Breast – Chris Johnson, junior, Lake Central, :56.78
400 Freestyle Relay – Chesterton, 3:09.73
 
Schedule of events (ET, times are approximate)
Friday
5:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
6:00 p.m. – 200 Medley Relay
6:16 p.m. – 200 Freestyle
6:32 p.m. – 200 Individual Medley
6:50 p.m. – 50 Freestyle
15-MINUTE BREAK
7:14 p.m. – 100 Butterfly
7:26 p.m. – 100 Freestyle
7:38 p.m. – 500 Freestyle
8:08 p.m. – 200 Freestyle Relay
8:23 p.m. – 100 Backstroke
8:35 p.m. – 100 Breaststroke
8:48 p.m. – 400 Freestyle Relay

Saturday
9:00 a.m. – Diving Preliminaries (5 dives) & Semifinals (3 dives)
12:45 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
1:05 p.m. – Finals and Consolation Finals

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