Franklin sophomore has bigger goals this time around

It remains to be seen what Franklin Community High School swimmer Jacob Destrampe will do for an encore this season.

Following his own act could prove challenging.

Destrampe concluded his freshman season at the IHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals last February, when he placed third in the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:39.81.

The swimmers touching the pool wall before Destrampe have graduated. So, for that matter, have the five who finished behind him in the final at the IUPUI Natatorium.

Destrampe also impressed last season with a sixth-place state medal in the 100 freestyle. His time was 45.99 seconds.

He was also part of the Grizzly Cubs’ 200-meter freestyle relay, though Franklin failed to place.

“I was definitely happy with my season,” said Destrampe, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 180 pounds. “I probably focus more on team goals and was happy we won county and sectional.

“In swimming you build really, really close relationships with your teammates. We all practice together and always try to help each other out. As long as you have good teammates, it will always be fun.”

The program’s fourth consecutive team sectional title preceded a 20th-place finish at state.

Destrampe, who started swimming competitively at age 5, is working toward winning at least one individual state title this season.

Fifth-year Franklin coach Zach DeWitt isn’t about to doubt him.

“Jacob is coming off the best season of his career and knows what it will take to succeed at the next level,” DeWitt said. “This summer Jacob matured a great deal physically and mentally.

“He’s much more self-aware of his training and weaknesses, which translated to significantly better practices. As Jacob matures as a leader, his future in swimming is whatever he would like to make it.”

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Name: Jacob Destrampe

Age: 16

Born: Indianapolis

Family: Parents Kevin and Lori; brother Adam, 19; sister Kyra, 9

Favorite TV show: “House”

Favorite food: Salmon

Favorite movie: “Unbroken”

Favorite athlete: Cody Miller

Favorite team: Green Bay Packers

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CENTER GROVE

Coach: Jim Todd

Who’s back: Alex Feitl, Andrew McDaniel, Adam Russell, Noah Tallman, Vrushabh Ulhaskumar, Jamie Vance

Who’s gone: Alex Krasutsky

New kids on the block: Logan Dales, Brady Ferguson, John Hasquin, Ben Mitchell

Outlook: Reigning sectional champion Tallman (500 freestyle), one of six seniors on the roster, is back to lead the way for the Trojans. Tallman also finished runner-up at sectional in the 200 free and helped Center Grove’s 400 freestyle relay place first. Feitl and Vance also were part of the winning relay.

Todd says: “It’s hard to tell what they can and can’t do right now because it’s still so early. We just want to get better and hopefully be swimming our fastest times at the end of the season.”

FRANKLIN

Coach: Zach DeWitt

Who’s back: Michael Couet, Gauge Creech, Marc David, Jacob Destrampe, Griffin Edwards, Chance Gildersleeve, Aaron Lamm, Brock Lock, Aiden McCain, Shane O’Sullivan

Who’s gone: Connor Lambert

New kids on the block: Max Kramer

Outlook: Destrampe headlines a talented group of athletes back after Franklin captured its own sectional by 110 points over the second-place program. Individually, Couet came in second at sectional in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, Creech in 1-meter diving and Gildersleeve in the 500 freestyle.

DeWitt says: “Our numbers are down a few athletes in comparison from some of my previous years at Franklin, but the commitment level, attitude and approach to building a culture has never been better. While many are young, these boys have a good approach to the process of getting better and are very team-first minded. We’ve never had such a large collection of competitors on one single team, so practices around the pool have been a lot of fun to coach. These boys really enjoy competition.”

GREENWOOD

Coach: Matt Hockersmith

Who’s back: Cohen Crouse, Gabe Ellington, Derek Gray, Patrick Kear, Andrew Pirtle, Alec Schroering

Who’s gone: Alex Rawlins

New kids on the block: Simon Hensley, Noah Kosegi

Outlook: First-year coach Hockersmith takes over a program that features a nice blend of upperclassmen and promising newcomers.

Hockersmith says: “I am excited to have talented returning seniors and juniors, as well as incoming freshmen that will make an impact on varsity scoring. I believe we have a promising team this year that will produce athletes that make it into the sectional finals.”

INDIAN CREEK

Coach: Brad Smith

Who’s back: Tucker Brock, Cody Hart, Nolan Reed

Who’s gone: Wyeth Brock

New kids on the block: Danny Carlson, Clay Key, Chase Smith

Outlook: Brad Smith expects big seasons from juniors Brock and Reed.

Smith says: “We’re kind of a two-tiered team with experienced kids and some first-time swimmers. We have no seniors, so we’re building that foundation in order to achieve what we’re trying to achieve.”

WHITELAND

Coach: Marci Whitford

Who’s back: Austin Adkins, Evan Fisher, Brenden Gough, Tad Halle, Matthew Kovacs, Josh Moody, Amir Mujkanovic, Sam Walls

Who’s gone: None

New kids on the block: Nick Klenner, Wyatt Sell

Outlook: Plenty of seasoned talent returns from last season. Kovacks was fifth last season at sectional in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, Walls sixth in the 50 free, Adkins seventh in diving and Moody sixth in the 100 backstroke and seventh in the 100 fly. Gough also advanced to the sectional final in the 500 freestyle.

Whitford says: “We’re creating a culture now where kids are investing time and effort into the program. We were third last season in all three big meets (county, conference and sectional), so we’re looking to do better. We’ve got a solid team back this year.”

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