BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
Swimming was the sport where the coronavirus came to die.
Or at the very least, swimming was the sport where the virus did not spread.
“Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (for example, with chlorine or bromine) of pools, hot tubs or spas, and water playgrounds should kill the virus that causes COVID-19,” the Center for Disease Control said in a statement.
So the high school swimming season, with the exception of a quarantine at Rochester in December, came off without a hitch.
So we now present the all-RTC girls swimming team.
The inaugural Girls Swimmer of the Year was Rochester’s Makenna Beall. A junior, Beall had a heartbreaking end to her season when she was disqualified in the 500 freestyle at sectional. Beall had touched the wall first in the event, and she had won the event at the sectional the previous two years.
Still, Beall now owns the 200 freestyle school record to go with her 500 freestyle school record, and her performances in the relays show that she can be an outstanding sprint freestyler too.
While we thank all the coaches in our area for their assistance, this list is ours and ours alone, compiled after attending quite a few meets ourselves. Please direct any compliments or complaints to us.
We place extra emphasis on the postseason for this list as teams generally gear their training and meet strategy towards performing their best at the end of the season.
First team
Makenna Beall (Rochester) – Beall won the 500 freestyle at the TRC meet in 5:34.19. She also swam a 2:01.59 in the 200 freestyle at sectionals.
RTC area swimmer of the year Makenna Beal
Chloe Chan (Pioneer) – Chan, a freshman, broke the Pioneer record in the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.11 at sectionals. She could be a favorite to make state in this event next year.
Makena Smith (Tippecanoe Valley) – Smith won the TRC in the 100 breaststroke in 1:17.2, and she later made the sectional final in the event.
Grace Ulrich (Pioneer) – Ulrich won her third straight diving sectional.
Honorable mention
Elena Bode (Rochester)
Shayleigh Honeycutt (Tippecanoe Valley)
Ellie Shank (Rochester)
Bella Riffle (Rochester)
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