Franklin, Center Grove boys tie for ninth at state

INDIANAPOLIS

As the times popped up on the IU Natatorium scoreboard at the end of the consolation final of the 400-yard freestyle relay, the coaches and swimmers from Center Grove and Franklin, perched just a few feet apart at poolside, gradually realized what the finishing order of that race meant to the final team standings.

After a boys swimming and diving season that saw the Trojans and Grizzly Cubs trade haymakers, it seemed rather appropriate that the two county rivals ended Saturday afternoon’s state meet locked in a stalemate.

Each side finished with 103 points, good for a ninth-place tie.

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"Our fates seemed to be intertwined on some level," Franklin coach Zach DeWitt said.

The Grizzly Cubs have become a fixture near the top of the state in recent years, having placed second in both 2018 and 2019. For the Trojans, though, it marked the first top-10 finish since 2005 — a sudden and wholly gratifying resurgence for a longtime perennial power that had failed to qualify a single swimmer for state just two short years ago.

"It’s hard to pull words out of the emotions I’m feeling right now," Trojan senior Tony Gipson said. "Being the first team in a long time for Center Grove to be able to finish top 10 is — it’s enthralling, it’s amazing. … I’m so proud of this team. To be able to be the captain of them, along with Ben Mitchell … I can’t speak for him, but I know I’m very proud of these guys and I’m so happy."

Junior Ethan Martin did a good bit of the heavy lifting for Center Grove in terms of points. Though he didn’t go quite as fast as he had during Friday’s prelims, Martin held his No. 2 position in the 50 freestyle, touching in 20.41 seconds to finish right behind winner Braden Rollins of Boonville. He later followed with a sixth-place showing in the 100 free (45.24). 

Martin also helped the Trojans earn a pair of top-eight relay finishes, teaming with Ben Clarkston, Justin Xia and Gipson for sixth in the 200 medley relay (1:34.12) and joining Clarkston, John Hasquin, and Logan Dales on the 200 free relay that placed fifth in 1:24.64.

"We really exceeded our own expectations," Martin said. "We had high expectations going in, and we exceeded that. We all did great; I couldn’t ask for more."

Franklin, meanwhile, was derailed early by a controversial disqualification in the 200 medley relay but still managed to eke out a fourth consecutive top-10 team finish with some strong finishes in individual events. Junior Cade Oliver was third in both the 200 individual medley (1:47.82) and in the 100 backstroke (48.53), and classmate Mac Ratzlaff placed third in the 200 freestyle (1:37.24) and fourth in the 100 free (45.04).

"Mac’s 200 freestyle was unbelievable," DeWitt said. "I respected the way he went after that race more than anything."

Franklin’s 200 free relay team of Ratzlaff, Max Kramer, Barrett Daily and Ethan Pheifer finished eighth with a time of 1:25.71 after barely squeaking into the A final on Friday night. The Grizzly Cub quartet of Oliver, Kramer, Anthony Ries and Daily finished ninth in the 400 free relay after winning the B final in 3:08.65.

In addition to the big points it picked up in the championship heats, Center Grove also got points from its 400 free relay team of Gipson, Hasquin, Dales and Mitchell (11th in 3:10.42). Junior Caleb Crady was 11th in 1-meter diving (429.40) and Mitchell wound up 16th in the 500 free (4:47.63).

"I was pleased with everybody," Center Grove coach Jim Todd said. "The guys that weren’t at this meet, who pushed these guys to be where they’re at — I’m proud of the whole group.

"It’s fun to get back up this year to the top 10."

Perhaps slightly more fun to share that spot with the Grizzly Cubs after splitting their two big meets during the season. Center Grove won the county championship and Franklin the sectional.

"I thought it was comical and fitting, even, that we tied," Mitchell said.