Local swimmers with the Milan Aquatics Swim Club participated in the ISI Summer Southeast Divisional Championships this weekend at Pike High School in Indianapolis.
To participate in this competitive meet, swimmers had to achieve a specific time cut at USA Swimming sponsored meets throughout the summer season. Milan Aquatics took 13 swimmers to compete with tough competition from swim clubs throughout the southeast quarter of Indiana, with a heavy influence of the powerful Indy suburb clubs. Milan’s crew swam alongside mega swim programs from the Indy metro area like Zionsville, Center Grove, Franklin, and Noblesville. Over 660 swimmers represented their teams in the meet to conclude the summer season.
Ross Lieland, a St. Louis student, had an impressive weekend to put it mildly. Last weekend, Ross competed against the very best in the entire state at the State meet held at the IU Natatorium. He raced to a 42nd place finish in the Boys 50 Freestyle event.
He came back this weekend and finished 2nd at the Divisional in the 500 Freestyle event, 3rd in the 200 Freestyle event and 4th in the 50 Butterfly. If that wasn’t enough, Ross came back and broke the 1-minute mark in the boys 12U 100 Freestyle event, capturing 1st place out of 52 boys. A fantastic performance by Ross against extremely talented swimmers.
Milan student Cooper Mutz also captured first place for the locals by winning the Boys 10U 50 Breaststroke. Mutz blew away his personal best record, earned a state cut time of 41.45 and beat out 22 other boys for the blue ribbon.
Recent South Ripley grad, Elizabeth McKittrick completed her summer club career by finishing 4th in the 18U 50 Free sprint. Elizabeth will continue with swimming, taking her talent to Franklin College this fall.
Finally, another highlight was incoming Milan freshman, Taylor Stock who first set a PR in the Girls 14U 100 Backstroke preliminary heats. She then returned for the evening finals and broke her own PR again, earning 7th place out of 44 to make the medals podium.
Other Milan Aquatics teammates who qualified and swam in this meet were: Alice Austin, Avery Austin, Landon Beiser, Averi Jones, Molly Knecht, Kami Laws, Kyle O’Neil, Brody Stock, and Lainey Stock.
Congrats to these local swimmers.
(Milan Aquatics Swim Club press release)