By
Jeff Brown
Shelbyville
News
Megan
Smith didn’t get to work on her diving in the off-season as much as she would
have liked. It’s been hard to tell.
The
Shelbyville senior posted a personal best score of 176.95 in the team’s first
dual meet of the season and won a three-team meet with Connersville and
Rushville on Tuesday.
A
regional qualifier as a junior, Smith has loftier goals this season.
“This
year, I want to win sectionals, go on to regionals and advance even
farther,” Smith said.
Smith
finished third at the Franklin Central Sectional behind a pair of seniors. She
was in second place after the semifinal round.
Needing
a top-eight finish to advance to the State Finals, Smith finished 15th at the
Brownsburg Regional.
“That
was quite an experience,” Smith said of her first regional appearance.
“There were some really good divers. They dive year-round, and I can’t do
that because I have other sports.”
Smith is
an all-county soccer player who also competes on Shelbyville’s gymnastics and
track and field teams.
Smith is
excited to take on a new role this season – teacher.
Katelynn
Day and Kailyn Jonas are diving this season with little experience, giving the
senior a chance to pass on her knowledge to the next wave of competitors.
“We
have a diving team this year, and that’s awesome,” Smith said. “I am
really excited to be more of a coach now and a friend.”
Head
coach Sharon Orem begins her third season with a 20-member program.
“This
is a building year because of our experience level,” Orem said. “I
see a lot of positives going on right now. It’s still very early in the season,
but this team has a great attitude. They really want to work. They don’t
complain. They ask questions, wanting to know how to get better.”
Freshmen
Ashley Nolley (individual medley, backstroke) and Kaelie Hauck (freestyle
sprinter) have been competitive from the first day of practice and already have
helped produce two relay wins.
There is
a new unit of breaststrokers this season that includes Hannah Smock (won
season-opening 100-yard breaststroke against Greensburg); Lina Knorr and Dunja
Mokry (both German exchange students); and Erica Thomas.
Liz
Fleming and Gabby Reed are the Golden Bears’ top distance swimmers. Both are
strong in relay events as well.
Nolley
and Stephanie Munger are the top backstrokers, with versatile swimmers like Ai
Kadota and Katie Preilis also seeing time in the discipline.
Breanna
Miller may see some time as a butterfly swimmer along with Hauck.
Michelle
Mazonas is another versatile swimmer working in at the middle-distance events
and relays.
Ashley
Lux and Autumn Gahimer are freestyle sprinters. April Couderc will swim
freestyle, and Kristina Campbell can help in the individual medley.
Shelbyville
hosts the Shelby Relays on Dec. 13.
The
Hoosier Heritage Conference Meet is at New Palestine on Jan. 17.
Shelbyville
competes in the Franklin Central Sectional on Feb. 19 along with 12 other
programs.
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