State finals take place February 12-13, 2021 at the Indiana University Natatorium, IUPUI, in Indianapolis.
February 12-13, 2021 Indiana University Natatorium, IUPUI, Indianapolis Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 | Preliminaries
12 pm ET | Qualifiers from odd-numbered sectionals
5:30 pm ET | Qualifiers from even-numbered sectionals Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021
9 am ET | Diving Preliminaries, Semifinals and Finals
3:30 pm ET | Championship and Consolation Finals
Advancement
The top 16 in each swimming event during Friday’s prelims will return for competition on Saturday with the top eight individuals vying for state championship honors. Those finishing nine through 16 on Friday will make up the competitors in the consolation heats. All diving will take place on Saturday morning with the top 20 of 32 competitors advancing from the prelims to the semis after five dives each. After three dives each in the semis, the top 16 will advance to the final round for another three dives each.
Defending Individual State Champions
Eight defending state champions return highlighting this year’s big event. That mark ties a state record that was set in 1980, 1987 and 1993. Senior Mary Catherine Pruitt of South Bend St. Joseph returns as the favorite in the 500 freestyle chasing her third consecutive crown in the event. She heads the field with a time of 4:50.84. Emma Nordin of Carmel was the last to win three straight in the event in 2017. Zionsville junior Devon Kitchel is back for more in the 200 individual medley (2:00.42) and the 100 butterfly (54.06). She was the lone double-winner in last year’s meet and is the top seed in both of this year’s events. Carmel junior Gretchen Lueking is the returning winner in the 200 freestyle in which she’s seeded fourth (1:48.94). Sophomore teammate Berit Berglund is back in the 100 backstroke with the second-fastest time (53.89). Sammy Huff, a Noblesville senior, returns as last year’s 100 breaststroke and holds the fifth seed after clocking a 1:02.94 during the sectional last weekend. Bloomington South junior Kristina Paegle won last year’s 100 freestyle and leads the way in both the 100 (49.93) and the 200 freestyle (1:47.74). Hobart senior Emma Wright, the 2019 state champion in the 100 who finished third a year ago, will challenge again as the second seed (50.05).