Girls swimming: NWI sends mix of young talent, experience to state

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Munster's Emily Wimmer cheers and hugs teammate Brittany Gilbert, both of Munster's 200 Yard Medley Relay team, after the girls placed first and set a new pool record on Saturday, February 4, 2012, during the girls swim sectional, in Crown Point. | Scott

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Updated: March 11, 2012 8:52AM

Given the turnover of talent in high school sports, it’s not always easy to remain the top local program.

This season, the girls swimming talent in Northwest Indiana is a little more evenly distributed than in past years. And many top tier coaches welcome the challenge.

“It’s not just one or two girls from each team, it’s four or five girls that are making their name,” Crown Point coach Bryon Angerman said.

So, while standout seniors and upperclassmen like Chesterton’s Olivia Kabacinski, a former individual state champion, Munster’s Brittany Gilbert, Crown Point’s Hannah Raspopovich and Lake Central’s Shelby Carroll were all again strong in clinching their return spots to this weekend’s state meet, so to were some of their younger counterparts.

Now the underclassmen names of Crown Point freshman Aly Tetzloff — multiple pool and sectional records in individual sectional wins — Lake Central sophomore Traci Muszalski — who won her first two sectional titles — and Munster sophomore Mary Beth Blocher — who was a part of all four of Munster’s firsts at the sectional — can be associated with a recent upswing in the area.

Both of last Saturday’s local sectional championships were prime examples of rising talent.

With the trio of powerhouses in Munster (who won with 527 points), Crown Point (440.5) and Lake Central (404.5) at the Crown Point Sectional, nine out of the 11 races saw improved times from the previous year’s results.

The intensity began with the opening 200 medley relay. Not only were pool and sectional records from 2010 handily re-written by both first-place Munster (Gilbert, Emily Wimmer, Nicole Smith and Blocher’s swim in 1:44.10) and the second-place Bulldogs (1:45.10), but three teams cleared the state cut. The fast day concluded with a total of 25 individuals and relays meeting various state cuts.

And at the Chesterton Sectional, the hosts maintained their tradition of dominance with a 13th consecutive title (in a 554-365 win). Like Lake County’s sectional, nine swims had faster results than 2011. And sectional records were also altered, with Chesterton breaking four.

For a few years now, the Trojans — fourth at state the past three years — had remained above the curve in regular local duals. But an improved Munster squad defeated them in the final match of the season.

Longtime Trojans coach Kevin Kinel however points to the positive affects of more balance.

“Coming into this year, we knew that there was going to be a lot of good young talent,” Kinel said. “It’s not surprising that there’s several teams that are pushing each other as well.

“That’s alright,” he added about the loss. “We’ve got a little target on our back, but that’s good. Everyone is working hard to try to be the best and that’s what it’s all about.”

The upswing may have taken a few years to ignite but strong club connections at the schools likely will keep it alive.

“The next couple of years there’s a lot of 12-, 13-, 14-year-old girls that I know for the next couple of years are going to make an impact in the area,” Angerman said.

Added Lake Central coach Todd Smolinski: “We’re getting faster up here and we’re really pushing ourselves and it’s fun to be a part of.”

The growing region parity will play into a bigger mix starting Friday, when area teams again face off with teams such as Central Indiana favorites like Carmel. The Greyhounds have one of the oldest consecutive streaks in the country with 25 straight titles.

“There’s a whole lot of parity this year, a lot of young talent and a lot of experienced talent as well, so it’s going to set up for a fun state meet,” Kinel said.