State Champions honored in Boys Swimming & Diving

INDIANAPOLIS – Carmel head coach Chris Plumb thought his crew swam a little bit nervous firstly of the prelims on Friday night time on the IHSAA Boys State Swimming and Diving Finals.

But as soon as they discovered their rhythm, there was little anybody may do to cease the Greyhounds.

Carmel received their twelfth straight title on Saturday afternoon on the IU Natatorium, scoring 408 factors to be effectively forward of second Penn (247).

“They are willing to do whatever it takes,” Plumb mentioned of his crew. “They speak their mind, but they are willing to do whatever the team needs. That speaks to the brotherhood they’ve created and the culture. These guys love each other, they go to work everyday and battle each other in practice.”

The 408 factors scored by Carmel have been the fourth most within the state historical past and the third-straight 12 months they completed with greater than 400 factors.

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Junior Trent Allen mentioned that whereas each championship crew is particular, this group of Greyhounds shaped a decent brotherhood that made this 12 months even sweeter.

“The amount of guys we have at such a high level, and the camaraderie we have in practice and meets – every one is rooting for everyone, no one is hoping someone does bad,” Allen mentioned. “Every one is rooting for the team, and it’s just a great culture.”

Allen was an enormous a part of the Greyhounds success.

He repeated the space double, successful the 200-yard freestyle in 1:35.08 and the 500-yard freestyle in 4:20.02.

Allen is the primary to repeat in these two occasions since Jake Mitchell in 2019 and 2020.

“It’s the best feeling there is,” Allen mentioned of successful his two particular person occasions. “I think it went great. I was stoked with the way it went.”

The Greyhounds dominated the 2 distance races, going 1-2-4 within the 200-free and 1-2-3 within the 500-free. Lewis Zhang received second in each occasions, with William Lathrop putting fourth within the 200 and Austin Bruford putting third within the 500.

Allen mentioned he felt just like the Greyhounds have the most effective distance group within the nation, and that they push one another every single day in observe.

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Plumb mentioned one factor that stands out about them is their work ethic, and even when they don’t seem to be put into one of many occasions for a meet, they’re searching for different methods to contribute.

“Having dominant performances and scoring a lot of points in those, those are the events that come down to working, being consistent and doing it time and time again,” Plumb mentioned. “It’s a blue collar group that can do that and just do it consistently.”

Carmel kicked off the meet with a win within the medley relay, with the crew of Carter Hadley, Yi Zheng, Jack Street and Donald Zhao ending in a time of 1:29.24.

After Allen received the 200-free, Zheng received the 200-yard IM in a time of 1:43.92. 

Zheng, who swam 1:43.60 within the sectional, was simply off the IHSAA file of 1:43.74 (state information can solely be set within the State Finals). He additionally positioned second within the 100-yard breaststroke later within the meet.

“It feels great to stand on top of the podium after a long season,” Zheng mentioned. “I went for (the record) in the first 100, and kind of felt it a little bit in the end, but I am glad I went for it and got close. Next year, I’ll definitely come back and try to destroy the record.”

Carmel senior Carter Hadley received his first particular person title, taking first within the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 48.41. He was additionally second within the 100-yard freestyle in 44.22.

The Greyhounds capped the meet with a win within the 400-yard freestyle relay. The crew of Allen, Hadley, Zhang and Zheng completed in 2:57.63.

Allen mentioned with the group coming again, the Greyhounds are hungry for extra.

“With the team we had this year, the seniors were awesome, but I feel like we’re only getting better,” Allen mentioned. “I feel like with the team we have, we are building something special for next year, and next year a lot of records are going to go down.”

Carmel was removed from the one college to search out success on the weekend.

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Bloomington South sophomore Peter Kovacs swept the dash freestyles, successful the 50-yard freestyle in 20.12 and the 100-yard freestyle in 43.79.

They have been the primary two titles for Kovacs, who’s brother David was the state champion within the IM and backstroke final 12 months.

“It feels great, especially knowing that my brother won two last year,”  Kovacs mentioned. “I knew it was going to be tough, but I managed to get away with the win.”

With two years to go in his highschool profession, he mentioned he’s excited to see what the following couple of years maintain.

“It gives me a little confidence, and it adds a little bit of pressure too,” Kovacs mentioned. “Being a two-time champion, I have to carry that on now.”

Fishers junior Alex Koo received the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 48.15. Franklin Community senior Lucas Ackermann received the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 53.23.

Homestead took the 200-yard freestyle relay, with the crew of Logan Poswinski, Hayden Lynam, Josiah Collins and Jackson Pyle successful in 1:22.41.

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One of the extra thrilling finishes got here within the diving competitors.

Warsaw’s Ian Parrott trailed heading to spherical 11, however nailed his closing dive to assert the state title with a rating of 556.50.

Parrott mentioned strolling as much as the board, he knew the chance to get the win was there, however had to ensure he stayed composed.

“I was super excited walking up there for the first few seconds, but I had to do what I normally do, just calm my mind,” Parrott mentioned. “Then I just did the dive like I have been. I just thought of the things I needed to do, and then knew the rest would take care of itself.”

After the meet, Parrott was named the Herman F. Keller Mental Attitude Award winner.

He was a four-time state qualifier, bettering from twenty third, to ninth, to 3rd and now champion.

“This is as good as it can get,” Parrott mentioned. “There were so many good people along the way. I think getting to know all these guys, seeing good they are and being able to compete with them, it’s just been great.”

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Ian Parrott named Keller Mental Attitude recipient

Ian Parrott of Warsaw Community High School was named the recipient of the Herman F. Keller Mental Attitude Award following the meet by the IHSAA Executive Committee.

Ian is the Northern Lakes Conference file holder in diving and holds quite a few pool information. He’s a three-time sectional champion and three-time regional champion.

Ian ranks seventh in his senior class of 475 college students. He serves as Vice President of Warsaw’s National Honor Society and is a member of Inclusivity Council and Business Professionals of America.

Ian is a four-time state qualifier in diving, ending twenty third as a Freshman, ninth as a Sophomore, third as a Junior, and as State Champion this 12 months as a Senior. He completed with a rating of 556.50 on Saturday.

Ian is the son of Russ and Rebecca Parrott of Winona Lake, Indiana. Ian plans to pursue a level in Electrical Engineering at both Purdue Univeristy or University of Notre Dame.

Each 12 months the IHSAA Executive Committee selects a senior who was nominated by his principal and coach and was decided to have greatest demonstrated psychological perspective, scholarship, management and athletic skill. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s proud company accomplice, introduced $1,000 to Warsaw Community High School’s basic scholarship fund within the identify of Ian Parrott.

The award, renamed in 1974, honors Herman F. Keller, former IHSAA assistant commissioner who served the Association from 1961-73.

The 89th Annual IHSAA Boys Swimming & Diving State Finals
Indiana University Natatorium, IU Indianapolis
February 27-28, 2026

Top 10 Teams
1. Carmel 408
2. Penn 247
3. Homestead 201
4. Center Grove 189
5. Fishers 166
6. Oak Hill 111
7. Bloomington South 85   
8. Carroll (Fort Wayne) 71
9. Zionsville 70
10. Westfield 69

State Champions
200 Medley Relay: Carmel (Carter Hadley 12, Yi Zheng 11, Jack Street 11, Donald Zhao 11) 1:29.24
200 Freestyle: William Allen (11) Carmel, 1:35.08
200 Individual Medley: Yi Zheng (11) Carmel, 1:43.92
50 Freestyle: Peter Kovacs (10) Bloomington South, :20.12
One Meter Diving: Ian Parrott (12) Warsaw Community, 556.50
100 Butterfly: Alex Koo (11) Fishers, :48.15 
100 Freestyle: Peter Kovacs (10) Bloomington South, :43.79 
500 Freestyle: William Allen (11) Carmel, 4:20.02
200 Freestyle Relay: Homestead (Logan Poswinski 12, Hayden Lynam 12, Josiah Collins 10, Jackson Pyle 12) 1:22.41 
100 Backstroke: Carter Hadley (12) Carmel, :48.41
100 Breaststroke: Lucas Ackermann (x) Franklin Community, :53.23
400 Freestyle Relay: Carmel (William Allen 11, Carter Hadley 12, Lewis Zhang 12, Yi Zheng 11) 2:57.63