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BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
RTC Boys Swimmer of the Year Carson Parker
The Tippecanoe Valley boys swimming team was small, but they were mighty.
Senior Carson Parker was the mightiest of those Valley swimmers, participating in two events on Saturday of the state finals under the bright lights of the Indiana University Natatorium.
And for that, Parker is the RTC Boys Swimmer of the Year.
Parker won the Warsaw sectional title in the 100 breaststroke to earn a spot at state. The next day, he found he made state in the 50 freestyle on a callback.
And then he proceeded to get even faster at state, breaking the school record in both events.
He swam the 50 freestyle in 21.46 seconds at the state preliminaries, just missing out on the consolation race. He then swam a 58.47 in the 100 breaststroke at the prelims before swimming a 58.88 the next day to finish 15th.
He also swam an electric breaststroke leg of 26.83 seconds in the 200 medley relay on Saturday to help that team finish 14th.
Parker is headed to swim at the Division I level at Valparaiso University, a sign of recognition that the whole Valley program is receiving.
Parker heads our All-RTC boys swimming team. We thank area coaches for sending results as well as providing their insights on their team and area swimmers.
Still, this list is ours and ours alone, and we take full responsibility for it.
We place special emphasis on the Saturday meets and the postseason meets. These are the meets which feature the toughest competition. Swimmers spend the whole season trying to peak for these meets.
Jake Seuferer Marcus Smith Isaac Whetstone
First team
Carson Parker (Tippecanoe Valley) (Swimmer of the Year) – Parker developed endurance and versatility in swimming the 200 individual medley in previous years, but he dropped that event in favor of the 50 freestyle and had his best year yet. He even swam a 48.78 in his leg of the 400 freestyle relay at state.
Marcus Smith (Tippecanoe Valley) – Warsaw’s Caelin Swinehart pushed Smith in the 200 individual medley, and Wabash’s Cael McCann pushed him in the 100 backstroke, but once again, Smith won two individual sectional titles. On top of that, he said he was sick for much of the season. Only a junior, he is certainly already one of Valley’s all-time great swimmers.
Isaac Whetstone (Tippecanoe Valley) – With Valley having to practice at night at Warsaw’s pool, Whetstone decided to pass on the 500 freestyle this year, even though he was the reigning sectional champion in the event. If anything, he got even better, routing the field by over 3.5 seconds in the 200 freestyle sectional final and then swimming a 47.01 to win the 100 freestyle sectional final. He finished 28th and 27th, respectively, in those events at state. Throw in his butterfly leg on the 200 medley relay and typically fast opening leg on the 400 freestyle relay, and he had his best year yet in the pool.
Jake Seuferer (Rochester) – Seuferer battled a nagging shoulder injury to make his first state finals as a senior. He won the 500 freestyle at the Warsaw sectional by more than 10 seconds and broke the elusive five-minute mark at 4:59.49. He followed up by finishing 30th at state in the event.
Honorable mention
Austin Brooke (Pioneer)
Ian Kitchell (Pioneer)
Wes Steininger (Rochester)
Tucker Whetstone (Tippecanoe Valley)
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