Timeout swimming: Despite loss of Shelby Carroll, Lake Central better than ever

Swimming extras

Despite loss of Carroll, Indians better than ever

Happy? Yes. Assured? Absolutely. Lake Central swimming coach Todd Smolinski is pretty confident about his Indians.

“Tell you what, we’re off to a good start,” said the reigning P-T coach of the year of his club’s 5-1 start. “As a coach, I’m happy with the way we’re swimming. This is one of the best teams we’ve had in the (four) years I’ve coached them.”

Although this marks the first season without the graduated Shelby Carroll — who was a team captain and state contender in the back stroke — and two other members, four new girls have added to the depth — including the solid junior class — to keep the tribe going. LC is still undefeated in the Duneland Conference race and have only suffered a loss to a tough Penn team.

“We don’t look at it as a loss is a bad thing,” Smolinski of being competitive at Penn. “You try to take those opportunities and learn from them.”

P-T GIRLS Top 5

1. Chesterton; 2. Munster;
3. Crown Point; 4. Lake Central;
5. Valparaiso

P-T BOYS Top 5

1. Chesterton; 2. Munster;
3. Crown Point; 4. Valparaiso;
5. Lake Central

SwimmerS
of the Week

Blake Pieroni, Aaron Whitaker and Ethan Whitaker, Chesterton

The juniors led the way as the Trojans beat Valparaiso in a dual and rolled to the LaPorte Invitational title. Each won two individual events vs. Valpo and swam on four winning relays at LaPorte.

Holly Spears, Lake Central

The distance swimmer reigned in both the 200 and 500 free victories and contributed to two relay wins as part of LC’s romp over DAC rivals LaPorte on Tuesday.

— Correspondents
Josh Lichtenfeld and Mike Clark