CR bests Indians in the pool, by virtue of numbers

Indian River High School’s varsity swim team has advanced considerably since last year’s season. With the program now in only its third year, the boys’ team has racked up five wins so far this winter, and the girls have nabbed two, each an improvement on last year’s final record.

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark: Indian River's Logan Linden (background) maneuvers a turn as he laps an opponent in last week's win over Lake Forest during the 500-meter freestyle event.This past Thursday, Jan. 26, the swimming Indians came up short against Caesar Rodney at the Central Delaware YMCA, but with one more regular-season meet set for this week and several swimmers on the brink of state cuts in numerous events, the Indians are prepared to give it their all, despite some adversities.

“We’re in a little bit of a tough situation,” said Indian River girls’ head coach Donna Smith. “We’ve got two injured swimmers who we are hoping will recover before our conference meet, and we’ve had some swimmers out, due to illness, who we’d like to get back in the lineup before Thursday’s match.”

Rebecca Webb finished in first place for the Lady Indians’ swimming team in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:13.89, while Karlie Smith earned a top spot for her 100 breaststroke (1:17.53). Webb and Smith were joined by Sueng Son and Marissa Fox for a first-place performance in the 200 medley relay (2:12.20), while Indian River’s team of Ashleigh White, Kirsten Goodman, Logan Ferry and Madison Hastings finished first in the 400 freestyle relay (5:10.27). The Indian River girls fell short, though, succumbing to Caesar Rodney 83-65.

While her two injured swimmers would likely be watching the Feb. 2 meet from the side of the pool, Coach Donna Smith was hoping to have the team back to full health by the Conference Championship, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11.

“[Thursday’s] meet will be tricky,” she said, “but we’re hoping to see some more times drop. Marissa [Fox] is a second away from the state cut in the 50 free, and Rebecca Webb is just a few seconds away from making the state cut in the 100 backstroke. This will be our first year taking the entire team to conference championships, and it’s the first year we can score points as a team, so we’re definitely looking forward to it.”

Indian River’s boys’ coach Colin Crandell was forced to make some minor adjustments last Thursday, Jan. 26, too, when they faced the Riders, as the Indians were without senior Jung Son, due to a college visit.

The boys’ team was able to pull out wins in several events, as Merrick Kovatch took first in the 200 freestyle (1:58.86) and the 100 freestyle (53.54), Kees Elling finished at the top in the 50 freestyle (24.38) and the 100 butterfly (1:02.37), and Carter Michael collected two first-place wins, first in the 200 individual medley (2:18.86), then in the 100 freestyle (53.54).

The three also joined Logan Linden in the in the 400 freestyle relay, which put together a time of 3:49.52, earning a first-place finish. But, ultimately, the numbers game continued to haunt the Indians, and Caesar Rodney picked up enough second-, third- and fourth-place finishes, accompanying a handful of first-place showings, to register a narrow 86-83 lead by the end.

The Indians were scheduled to return to the Central Delaware YMCA this Thursday, Feb. 2, where they were set to take on Dover (after Coastal Point press deadline). The team will have more than a week to prepare and rest up for the Henlopen Conference Championships, scheduled for Feb. 11.