Smith’s season ends at state prelims

Valley 200 medley relay finishes 32nd

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Tippecanoe Valley freshman Marcus Smith did not advance in either of his individual events at the IHSAA boys swimming state finals at the Indiana University Natatorium

Marcus Smith

Friday.

Meanwhile, the Valley 200 medley relay team, of which Smith is a member, also did not advance.

The 200 medley relay, which consisted of Brandon Hoffman in the backstroke, Carson Parker in the breaststroke, Smith in the butterfly and Isaac Whetstone in the freestyle, finished 32nd out of 32 teams in 1:42.94.

Valley had set the school record in 1:40.91 at the Warsaw sectional Monday. It’s the first relay from Valley to ever make the state finals in boys swimming.

In the 200 individual medley, Smith qualified 28th in 2:00.05. That time was a 0.61-second improvement from his sectional final time on Monday and a new personal best.

Smith then finished 31st in the 100 butterfly in 55.46 seconds. That was 1.28 seconds slower than his sectional time.

Smith was the first Valley swimmer to make state in an individual event since Chase Brower in 2017.

The diving competition begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. State finals and consolation races will begin at 1 p.m.

A swimmer had to qualify in the top 16 in his event on Friday to make it to Saturday.

Carmel has won seven consecutive state championships.