From 1968 to 1974 the state meets were sanctioned by the Division for Girls' & Women's Sports and the State Girls Athletic Association (G.A.A.). There were 14 events and each contestant could enter no more than four different events. You could enter five people on a relay, only four of which actually swam. Unlimited contestants from each team in any event and each school could have two relay teams. There were sectional, regional and then State.

Four individuals advanced from each sectional to the regional. Two individuals advanced from regional to the State.The 1st Annual IHSAA Girls' State Swim Meet was held at Warren Central on March 14 &15,1975. Ninety-four schools participated in the sectionals and seventy-four of them advanced to participate in the State Meet.

The 2nd Annual IHSAA State Meet was also held in 1975 but it was in the fall of 1975. It was held at a new location and at a completely different time of year. The site was on the campus of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana on December 12 &13,1975. There were ten sectional sites.

In 1976, the format of events changed dramatically. All of the 50yd. events were dropped except for the 50yd. freestyle and the 400 yd. freestyle were changed to the 500 yd. freestyle. There were 11 sectional sites with 121 schools participating .

In 1978, the season was changed. It was shortened by almost four weeks from December 13 to November 17. A total of 147 schools participated in 14 sectionals. There were 553 athletes representing 89 different school in state competition that year.

In 1982, the 9th Annual lHSAA State Meet was moved to its present location in the lndiana University Natatorium on the lUPUI campus in Indianapolis. A total of 163 schools participated in 15 sectional sites. There were 553 athletes representing 98 schools at the state meet. The I.U. facility size changed the scoring from 12 places to 16 places increasing team scores and the number of participants able to compete at state.

In 1984, the way swimmers and divers advanced to the state meet changed because of the number of teams in competition. Only the individual sectional champs in each event it used to be 1st & 2nd) plus any contestant who equals or betters the state time standard in the respective events in the sectional finals can advance to state. Then the next fastest number of contestants to bring the total number of entrants to 32 in each event will advance. Three divers from each sectional site earn a qualifying position at state.

In 1987, Heidi Hendricks of Logansport became the 1st individual to win eight events in her swim career in 4 different individual events. Six of her swims were record-setting performances closing out her illustrious high school career. Carmel scored a record 304 points to win the title making them the first team to score 300 points.

In 1990, the swim season was again shortened this to November 2-3, 1990. The introduction of the newest event to high school swimming became the 200 yd. freestyle relay. This increased participation and a team's score by as much as 40 points at the state level. No contestant may participate in more than four events, of which two must be relays. A relay is an event. A contestant may enter three relays and two individual events, but may only participate in two relays and two individual events. A contestant may enter and participate in three relays and one individual event.

In 1993, the 20th Annual IHSAA State Meet saw a record setting 20 swim sectionals, with 206 schools starting sectional competition. There were 3,254 lady athletes representing those schools.

In 1995, the introduction of the 1st diving regional proved to be a success in limiting the number of divers advancing to State, making it congruent with the numbers of qualifiers in swimming.

The Carmel swim team holds a special place in IHSAA history by winning the 22nd annual State swimming & diving title, which was their 10th consecutive title. No other school in any sport has put together more than nine consecutive titles. Carmel advanced twenty swimmers to the State meet with entries in every event except diving. In the 200 freestyle, 500freestyle , & 100 backstroke events they had an unprecedented three top eight finishes and all three relays were crowned State champs.

The 23rd Annual IHSAA State swim meet brought about the fourth, and most dramatic, season change for girls' swimming. The State meet was held on February 14 & 15 of 1997 and our season became longer and colder, going from a fall to a winter sport. Please note that results are missing a 1996 year because of this change. The IHSAA moved girls swimming and diving to the winter season to give more girls the opportunity to compete in a winter sport. In previous years, basketball and gymnastics were the only girls' sports available during the winter season. By moving swimming from fall to winter the IHSAA competition season is more balanced with four sports in the fall, three in the winter and three in the spring.

Carmel captured their 12th state championship and 11th in succession to add to their historic nun of team championships. The Greyhounds have the longest IHSAA championship streak in any sport. They surpassed their own record of accumulating the most team points with a record 420.5 point. They had unprecedented 4 top 8 finishes and all 3 relays were crowned State champs. Sophomore Michala Kwasny of Fort Wayne Snider and Senior Melissa Sugar of Evansville Day were double winners in their individual events. Sugar was also named Mental Attitude award winner.

National records have been set by the Carmel in the 200 yds. Medley Relay (Ginger Faerber, Missy McCracken, Christine Simmons, Tricia Tyner) in 1988 and by the Carmel 200 yds. Freestyle Relay (Emily Ayers, Andrea Hastings, Lynn Plummer, Katie Wehner) in 1994. Heidi Hafner of Carmel broke the 100 yd. Backstroke national record but did not set the record in 1986.Compiled by: Linda (Ludlow) Horn

Any questions or inquiries should be directed to:

Linda Horn
Brownsburg High School1000 S. Odell StreetBrownsburg, Indiana 46112

317-852-2258 Ext. 1604  - High School Pool
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