North’s Muthukumaran repeats as The Republic Girls Swimmer of the Year

Mridula Muthukumaran improved her swimming abilities and approach the previous offseason, and it confirmed within the outcomes.

The Columbus North junior was a state finalist for the second straight yr within the 200-yard particular person medley. She was the lone swimmer from the realm that certified for the state meet this yr.

“Knowing what I swam last year, I think I had a better understanding of what I had to do going into sectional and kind of had a better focus on my events because I swam them a year before,” stated Muthukumaran, who repeats as The Republic Girls Swimmer of the Year. “So going in, it was really working turns, starts and the main techniques in the pool so I could be faster than what I was last year.”

Muthukumaran has been throughout the globe ever since she was younger. She was born in Oregon and moved to Canada close to the Toronto space, then India till settling in Columbus when she was round 5 years previous.

While in Canada, Muthukumaran took classes to be taught the fundamentals of swimming, however extra as water security somewhat than competitively. It wasn’t till she moved to Columbus that she started to take swimming significantly. Muthukumaran performed different sports activities in addition to swimming, however gave them as much as focus squarely on swimming.

“I absolutely love being at the pool,” Muthukumaran stated. “This was the first sport that I wanted to do, and so I tried out swimming. I tried a few other sports. I did some tennis and basketball, but it made me realize, swimming is the thing I really wanted to focus on. That was the sport I enjoyed the most. So I dropped the other sports that I did, and through high school, I was like, ‘I want to focus on one sport,’ and that’s what I’ve done.”

Muthukumaran started swimming for Donner Swim Club at 6 years previous and has been there ever since. Easy to say, she selected the fitting sport.

Last yr as a sophomore, Muthukumaran swam within the 200 IM and 100 butterfly. This yr, she certified for the state meet within the 200 IM.

“Mridula’s work ethic and dedication is what makes her successful. She does not make excuses and finds a way to push and make herself better than the day before.” North coach Mike Cunningham stated. “Mridula has goals, and this is what motivates her. She wants to be set with a state cut prior to sectional, so that she can place top-16 at state. This is what pushes her to continually challenge herself to be better.”

Even although she didn’t make it out of the prelims, Muthukumaran was pleased with her season and is aware of what she has to work on heading into subsequent yr within the 200 IM and butterfly. Muthukumaran didn’t rule out attempting different occasions if her efficiency is nicely in them.

“I think being able to see what I did at sectional and at state and comparing myself, I think I have higher goals. I also know more, especially what I have to work on for my own event,” Muthukumaran stated. “I think going into next year, if these are the same events I choose to swim in, I think I would love to work on my breaststroke for my individual medley, and for the fly, really going out and not being scared to go all out for the first 50 (yards).”

When she will not be competing, Muthukumaran finds as a lot time as attainable to calm down within the water. Whether it’s highschool or faculty when her aggressive swimming ends, Muthukumaran nonetheless needs to remain lively within the water.

“If we go out, and there’s a pool, I like to at least spend an hour to relax there,” Muthukumaran stated. “When I do decide to retire from swimming, I’m still going to go in and do it for the fun of it. It’s a great way to stay in shape and be active, and I don’t think I could be without being in the water at least for a little bit because I’ve done it for so long.”

Muthukumaran nonetheless has time to resolve if she needs to pursue swimming after highschool. She stated she’d wish to swim in faculty, however provided that her schedule permits.

“Currently, I’ve decided that I do want to compete in college. If I end up doing it and I decide that, I plan on going into the medical field,” Muthukumaran stated. “I know it’s a lot of academically-related stuff. If swimming doesn’t fit with my schedule, I will still apply for the club at the college, and I plan to do at least college club.”

Muthukumaran appears for higher outcomes subsequent yr. She’ll look to strive for a top-16 end or a state finals reduce.

“I really do want to try and get the school record in the 100 fly and for the 200 IM,” she stated. “I would really like it if I could potentially get the high school state cut in that event. If I was able to make it to state in both my events, it would be really amazing if we got some of our relays to also go into state.”

The 2025-26 Republic All-Area Girls Swimming workforce:

Mridula Muthukumaran, Columbus North: The junior gained a sectional title and completed twenty sixth at state within the 200 particular person medley and positioned third within the 100 butterfly within the North Sectional.

Cora Tregoning, Columbus North: The senior completed fourth within the 200 freestyle and fifth within the 500 freestyle and swam on the fourth-place 200 medley relay workforce within the North Sectional.

Abby Proffitt, Columbus North: The junior completed fourth within the 500 freestyle and swam on the third-place 200 freestyle relay and fourth-place 200 medley relay groups within the North Sectional.

Caroline Crawford, Columbus North: The sophomore completed seventh within the 100 backstroke within the North Sectional.

Advika Badve, Columbus North: The junior swam on the third-place 200 freestyle relay and fourth-place 200 medley relay workforce within the North Sectional.

Brooklyn Pendleton, Columbus North: The senior swam on the third-place 200 freestyle relay workforce within the North Sectional.

Harmony Ernstes, Jennings County: The senior completed fourth in diving within the Floyd Central Sectional and was a regional diving qualifier.

Honorable point out

Columbus North: Carolina Bologna, Bryn Emmitt, Nandini Kondhare, Ell Maignan, Sanchita Ponnathpur. Jennings County: Ava Biehle, Claudia Zuniga.