Expectations are a dangerous thing.

The Chesterton girls swim team has set the bar so high that sometimes you think it was a disappointment. You’d be wrong.

The Trojans finished fourth overall at the IHSAA State Finals at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis on Saturday. Carmel took top honors for the 25th consecutive year, followed by Homestead and Center Grove.

“It was an awfully good weekend,” Chesterton coach Kevin Kinel said. “We ended up about as good as we could’ve planned. The teams were so even and it was one of the deepest State Meet’s in history.

“I think we have high expectations and that’s what we are trying to set in the program. I’m proud of all of them.”

Olivia Kabacinski posted the top two individual performances with runner-up finishes in the 50 Free (23.39) and the 100 Free (51.06).

“Both of those times are my best times ever,” Kabacinski said. “Sure, there are some little things like turns that I can work on, but that’ll be for next year. I was racing some great girls and to get second place against them is really an honor.”

Kabacinski also was a member of the 200 Medley Relay with Maddie Miller, Meaghan McLaughlin and Lauren Foor that finished fourth (1:46.74) and the 200 Free Relay with teammates Foor, Kate Curley and Julia Campbell that finished fourth (1:37.38).

“In the 50, if you get your fingernail on the wall quicker you might win,” Kinel said. “The goal was to race for the State championship and she did just that. Her breaststroke in the Medley Relay was incredible. She was about .6 faster than she’s ever been.”

Senior Meaghan McLaughlin scored in both of her individual events as well with a 15th place finish in the 200 IM (2:10.07) and 11th place swim in the 100 Fly (58.10).

“Meaghan was big all weekend,” Kinel said. “She made huge jumps in the IM and in the Fly. I think it’s the first time she’s scored in individual events.

“After the IM didn’t go the way she wanted, for her to bump up in the Fly was great.”

Senior Julia Campbell also placed twice with an 8th place finish in the 500 Free (5:07.25) and an 11th place swim in the 200 Free (1:53.89).

“Julia getting into the finals in the 500 was a big goal of hers and it’s great that she did that,” Kinel said. “She bumped up a couple of places in the 200 Free too. She had a great day.”

Senior Lauren Foor finished 10th in the 50 Free in 24.33.

“Lauren scoring for the first time at State was big for us too,” Kinel said. “And she just missed getting in the 100 Free on Friday night.”

Sophomore Maddie Miller was 14th in the 100 Backstroke (59.03), while Kate Curley just missed out on qualifying in the 500 Free and the 200 Free.

“Maddie’s first time scoring for us individually and bumps up in the 100 Back and both her relay swims were huge,” Kinel said. “Kate just missed in the 500 Free and wasn’t far away for the 200 Free. She got some really good experience and that’s important. You have to go through that.”

1. Carmel, 382; 2. Homestead, 230; 3. Center Grove, 200; 4. Chesterton, 148.5; 5. Columbus North, 126; 6. Indianapolis North Central, 120.5; 7. Munster, 107; 8. Penn, 104; 9. Zionsville, 103; 10. Northridge, 75; 11. Noblesville, 64; 12. Fishers, 60; 13. Crown Point, 58; 14. Bloomington South, 35.5; 15. Lawrence North, 35; 16. Mt. Vernon, 34; 17. Concord, 32; 17. McCutcheon, 32; 19. Plymouth, 31; 20. Wawasee, 30; 21. Yorktown, 27.5; 22. Avon, 27; 23. FW Carroll, 26; 24. Indianapolis Brebeuf, 22; 25. (tie) Vincennes Rivet and Elwood, 20; 27. Danville, 17; 28. Twin Lakes, 16; 29. Lake Central, 14; 29. Castle, 14; 31. (tie) LaPorte and Franklin Community, 11; 33. FW Snider, 10; 34. (tie) Plainfield and Brownsburg, 9; 36. (tie) Western, DeKalb, Hamilton SE and Connersville, 8; 40. New Albany, 5; 41. Whiteland, 4; 42. Mt. Vernon (Fortville), 3; 43. Martinsville, 2; 44. West Lafayette 1

200 Medley Relay -- 1. Carmel, 1:41.42 (STATE RECORD); 2. Homestead, 1:43.02; 3. Center Grove, 1:44.19; 4. Columbus North, 1:45.04; 5. Chesterton (Maddie Miller, Olivia Kabacinski, Meaghan McLaughlin, Lauren Foor), 1:46.74; 6. Penn, 1:47.38; 7. Indianapolis North Central, 1:48.50; 8. Munster, 1:48.68.

200 Free -- 1. Rhiannon Sheets (Car), 1:47.09 (STATE RECORD); 2. Lauren Jordan (Car), 1:48.63; 3. Zoe Mattingly (Zion), 1:49.61; 4. Margaret Ramsey (Car), 1:49.86; 5. Kristin Vandever (ColNo), 1:50.88; 6. Kristen Nunneley (CG), 1:51.14; 7. Taylor Davis (CG), 1:52.10; 8. Mariah Hamil (Hom), 1:53.02; 11. Julia Campbell ©, 1:53.89.

200 IM -- 1. Lacey Locke (Car), 2:00.71; 2. Myra Retrum (ColNo), 2:01.95; 3. Allie Day (CG), 2:03.43; 4. Kenzie Miller (Ply), 2:05.02; 5. Amy Katz (INC), 2:05.08; 6. Bethany Galat (Penn), 2:05.63; 7. Sydney Bull (FWC), 2:06.63; 8. Lucy Kramer (Car), 2:06.95; 15. Meghan McLaughlin ©, 2:10.07.

50 Free -- 1. Carly Marshall (Car), 23.35; 2. Olivia Kabacinski ©, 23.39; 3. Tori Bagan (Home), 23.40; 4. Julia Pratt (VR), 23.56; 5. Hannah Raspopovich (CP), 23.67; 6. Brittany Robinson (Waw), 23.89; 7. Ariana Bullard (Car), 24.06; 8. Abigail Smith (Fra), 24.19; 10. Lauren Foor ©, 24.33.

1-Meter Diving -- 1. Mary Beth Dunnichay (Elw), 544.05 (STATE RECORD); 2. Lacey Houser (Dan), 438.15; 3. Katie Bittner (Nob), 437.35; 4. Jamie Denlinger (Nor), 419.15; 5. Karley Taylor (Mun), 418.65; 6. Emily Homan (Fish), 418.15; 7. Beth Haug (CG), 414.75; 8. Courtney Lagestee (Mun), 4:05.70.

100 Fly -- 1. Julie Ogden (LN), 54.61; 2. Brittany Robinson (Waw), 54.89; 3. Rhiannon Sheets (Car), 55.46; 4. Hanna House (Home), 55.64; 5. Sydney Bull (FWC), 55.78; 6. Casey Papp (BLS), 56.11; 7. Kylie Vogel (TL), 57.20; 11. Meaghan McLaughlin ©, 58.10.

100 Free -- 1. Zoe Mattingly (Zion), 50.58; 2. Olivia Kabacinski ©, 51.06; 3. Alexis Bullard (Car), 51.52; 4. Carly Marshall (Car), 51.53; 5. Mariah Hamilton (Home), 51.97; 6. Haley Townsend (CG), 52.05; 7. Spencer Chappel (Nor), 52.31; 8. Jordan Van winkle (CAS), 52.89.

500 Free -- 1. Lauren Jordan (Car), 4:47.67; 2. Megan Gallagher (McC), 4:49.50; 3. Kristin Vandever (ColNo), 4:53.95; 4. Kristin Nunneley (CG), 4:55.46; 5. Margaret Ramsey (Car), 4:58.66; 6. Emma Ryan (Avon), 5:01.06; 7. Audra Burtch (Conc), 5:01.67; 8. Julia Campbell ©, 5:07.25.

200 Free Relay -- 1. Carmel, 1:34.14; 2. Homestead, 1:35.10; 3. Indianapolis North Central, 1:37.31; 4. Chesterton (Lauren Foor, Kate Curley, Julia Campbell, Olivia Kabacinski), 1:37.38; 5. Zionsville, 1:37.64; 6. Noblesville, 1:38.17; 7. Penn, 1:38.95; 8. Crown Point, 1:39.48.

100 Back -- 1. Lacey Locke (Car), 54.26; 2. Alexis Bullard (Car), 53.36; 3. Kenzie Miller (Ply), 56.02; 4. Larah Beaver (York), 56.49; 5. Emma Wyke (ColNo), 56.64; 6. Allie Day (CG), 56.89; 7. Spencer Chappel (Nor), 57.17; 8. Sarah Lohman (Home), 57.27; 14. Maddie Miller ©, 59.03.

100 Breast -- 1. Tori Bagan (Home), 1:01.27; 2. Emma Shoettmer (CG), 1:02.28; 3. Erika McCormick (Mar), 1:03.02; 4. Samantha Shahee (Car), 1:03.13; 5. Caroline Weigan (Home), 1:03.30; 6. Myra Retrum (ColNo), 1:04.04; 7. Heather Hayes (Nobl), 1:04.08; 8. Annie Spalding (Penn), 1:05.69.

400 Free Relay -- 1. Carmel, 3:25.00; 2. Center Grove, 3:28.06; 3. Homestead, 3:29.56; 4. Indianapolis North Central, 3:31.40; 5. Munster, 3:31.60; 6. Zionsville, 3:33.08; 7. Northridge, 3:33.77; 8. Chesterton (Maddie Miller, Meaghan McLaughlin, Kate Curley, Julia Campbell), 3:36.05.

Posted 2/14/2011