By Lewis Bagley, Special Correspondent to www.ihsaa.org INDIANAPOLIS - It’s a credit to the excellence of the Carmel program that winning the girls state swimming and diving championship isn’t big news. For the 38th straight season (!) coach Chris Plumb’s squad easily captured the title at the IU Natatorium, running up 433 points to easily double-up runner-up Penn’s 212. Fishers finished third with 202 points, snapping a streak of four-straight seasons the Tigers claimed the runner-up spot. While the final point total is the fewest in four years and, perhaps, the individual times weren’t quite what was expected, it’s simply hard to argue with the program’s excellence. Keep in mind, the Greyhounds were swimming without one of their top performers in Kayla Han (who is representing the USA in an international meet) and they were not represented in the 200 freestyle relay after being disqualified for a rules violation at the sectional meet. Simply put, the Carmel program has set such a standard that living up to it every single year is a lot to ask. “I never want to judge a team based on the point total,” said head coach Chris Plumb, who had guided Carmel to the last 18 titles. “Every year is different and it’s a disservice to the girls to judge based on that. “Everyone we brought here scored points,” Plumb continued. “You need top-end talent, but you need depth, too. We got it done as a team and took care of business.” The medals haul for Carmel was very impressive. Two swimmers, junior Alex Shackell and sophomore Molly Sweeney, each took home four first-place medals and junior Lynsey Bowen garnered three. Shackell swam a leg of the winning 200 medley relay (1:39.13) to open the meet and closed the meet with a leg of the winning 400 freestyle relay (3:24.93). In between she picked up individual wins in the 100 butterfly for the third straight year and broke her own state record in :50.25. She also won the 100 backstroke (:51.63). Sweeney, meanwhile, joined the 200 medley and 400 free relays, as well as taking the 200 IM (1:07.05, which is well off the state record she set in 2023) and 100 breaststroke (:59.47). In her two years, Sweeney has now claimed eight first-place medals – halfway to the state record of 16 set by Carmel’s Claire Adams from 2013-16. Finally, Bowen won the 200 free (1:45.74) and 500 free (in 4:40.74, which breaks her own state record by over two seconds). She joins Shackell as a three-time event winner. Bowen also joined Shackell, Sweeney and freshman Faith Gorey in the 400 free relay.