Girls Swimming 2024 Sectional Prelims Thursday night the Katfish traveled to Noblesville to compete in the preliminary round of the toughest girls swim sectional in the state. Prelims are all about swimming your best in hopes of earning a top-16 finish for a chance to swim again Saturday… in either the consolation (places 16-9) or finals (8-1) heat with the opportunity to advance to the state finals. Top Relay Results The Katfish started out strong with the 200 Medley Relay, the team of Morgan Rakestraw, Milla Hawkins, Aubrey Simmons, and Maddie Armtrong dropped 0.23 seconds off their PR, earning a 4th place finish with a time of 2:00.89. Keeping the momentum going; Simmons, Armstrong, Rakestraw, and Hawkins had another time drop in the 200 Freestyle Relay, cutting 1.44 seconds off their entry time to secure another 4th place finish for Katfish (1:47.10). Top Individual Results Leading the Katfish into sectional finals on Saturday is Aubrey Simmons, earning a 2nd place finish in the 50 Freestyle (24.76) and a 3rd place finish in the 100 Backstroke (58.30). Milla Hawkins secured a spot in Saturday’s finals, finishing 8th in the 100 Freestyle (55.87)... Milla will also be competing in the consolation heat for her swim in the 100 Breaststroke (1:16.45). Other swimmers advancing to consolation heats on Saturday include Morgan Rakestraw in the 200 IM (2:33.51) & 100 Fly (1:10.74); Alyssa Frederick in the 200 Free (2:18.60) & 500 Free (6:07.39); and Maddie Armstrong who swam an incredible race, dropping 8.16 seconds in the 200 IM (2:36.09). I’m incredibly proud of our girls and how they competed, had some solid races and significant time drops! Mikaia Buckner started off the night for us, dropping 3.11 seconds off her 200 Freestyle (2:43.43); Arianna Hall dropped 6.82 seconds in the 200 IM (3:32.40); Allie Cothern dropped 3.24 seconds in the 100 Backstroke (1:35.94); and Grace Lake cut almost a whole second off her 100 Breaststroke time (1:41.91). It’s so fulfilling to see all the time and effort these girls have put in finally pay off on the big stage. Watching swimmers like Morgan Rakestraw and Maddie Armstrong both push themselves in the pool each practice to earn their first individual Saturday swims is really a testament to trusting the process… it’s been incredible to see their growth all season. Let’s keep this momentum going into Saturday to see more time drops, a few podium finishes and a couple state qualifying times. The Katfish are back at it this Saturday for Sectional Finals in Noblesville. Go Katfish! - Coach Whiteman