Seeded 11th in one event and 16th in another, swimmer Noah Tallman looks to exceed expectations in his third and final appearance in the IHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals. Literally and figuratively, the Center Grove senior wants to make a splash.
“I’m really excited. I see it as another chance to drop more time,” Tallman said. “I would like to swim in the 4:30s in the 500 freestyle and go under 50 seconds in the 100 butterfly.”
Tallman established personal records in both specialties last weekend at the Franklin Sectional.
He placed first in the 100 fly in a time of 51.63 seconds; Tallman’s 4:40.7 clocking earned him runner-up in the 500 free to Franklin sophomore Jacob Destrampe (4:40.16).
Tallman, one of five seniors on the Center Grove boys roster, is a team co-captain along with classmate Andrew McDaniel.
“Noah has done a great job this season, and he’s a good leader, too,” said Trojans coach Jim Todd. “He probably does most of his leading by example. The kids all look up to him.
“We have a lot of freshmen on our team this season. Noah has done a good job of bringing them around.”
A freshman himself not so long ago, Tallman was part of Center Grove’s 400-yard relay at the 2014 state finals. He returned last winter as part of the same relay as well as a participant in the 500 freestyle.
His time in the latter was a 4:45.37, good for 19th fastest overall.
Center Grove will use the same lineup — and order — for both relays.
Junior Ethan Beaumont is off the block first, followed by freshman Tony Gipson and senior Alex Feitl. It’s Tallman’s responsibility to anchor both relays.
“As a freshman I was absolutely terrified, and I had a rough race there,” said Tallman, who plans to swim collegiately at IUPUI, Franklin College or the University of Indianapolis.
“This time my goal is to keep the guys on the relay teams as calm as possible.”
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IHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals
At IUPUI Natatorium
Preliminaries, 6 p.m. Friday
Diving prelims and semis, 9 a.m. Saturday
Event finals and consolations, 1 p.m. Saturday
Admission: $8 per session or $12 both days
Webcast: IHSAAtv.org
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