Announcement

#8 Franklin Grizzly Cub Ladies win 10-of-11 events en route to 5th straight Sectional Title

Posted by Franklin Community Swimming & Diving on Feb 09 2020 at 11:33AM PST in 2019-20 FCHSSnD Campaign
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FRANKLIN – Following the best season in program history, one which the Lady Grizzly Cubs captured the State Runner-Up Trophy, the four-time Sectional Champion Grizzly Cub ladies defended their trophy with great success, winning 10 of 11 swimming events en route to a 504-385 victory over 2nd place Center Grove. Franklin’s title marks the fifth sectional title in as many years, the 8th title in school history.

With one of the deepest teams Franklin has had, there was a large group of athletes that contributed to the success of another banner effort, beginning with the 200 Medley relay crew of Allie Lacy (9), Kabria Chapman (11), Grace Fisher (11), and Ava Ray (9) dominate the field to post a 1:46.16. Shortly there after, Franklin would go on to sweep the field with a finish of 1-2-3, as Sarah Hoffman captured the 200 Freestyle title.

Allie Lacy (9), Sarah Hoffman (12), and Gracey Payne (11) were the double event-winners for the day. Each one of the three have larger “fish to fry”, with the State Championship meet just 5 days away, but they still managed to win their respective events. Allie Lacy, the young freshman, won the 200 IM and 100 Backstroke, while Sarah Hoffman defended her titles in the 200 Freestyle and 500 Freestyle. Gracey Payne, the junior, defended her titles picking up wins in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle.

Bella Ratzlaff, a senior, won the 100 Breaststroke in the most competitive event of the day, edging out teammate Kabria Chapman for her first sectional title of her career. Both logged 1:03’s in the event, which will put them both seeded as top 5 seeds in next week’s State Championships. Kabria isn’t alone in grabbing a state berth via logging a state cut, as both Lucy Ho and Bella Ratzlaff punched their tickets to the state meet in the 50 Freestyle.

Franklin’s storybook day wasn’t just highlighted by the winning swims, as Franklin had placed every athlete in the Top-8 of the events. The maximum athlete entry is three per event by the IHSAA. The Lady Cubs swept the 200 Freestyle, 50 Freestyle, and the 500 Freestyle, which were the most events swept in team history.
The future looks bright for with a slew of underclassmen scoring over half of the Grizzly Cubs points in their route to victory.

For now, the Franklin lades look to take that poise and focus to the 2020 IHSAA State Championships beginning this Friday at 6pm at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis. The Grizzly Cubs boast the 4th most swims in the state (13) behind Carmel High School (26), Fishers (17), and Chesterton (15).

The state qualifying swims are as follows:
• 200 Medley Relay
• 200 Free Relay
• 400 Free Relay
• 200 Freestyle: Sarah Hoffman
• 200 Individual Medley: Carla Gildersleeve
• 50 Freestyle: Gracey Payne, Bella Ratzlaff, Lucy Ho
• 100 Freestyle: Gracey Payne
• 500 Freestyle: Sarah Hoffman
• 100 Backstroke: Allie Lacy
• 100 Breaststroke: Kabria Chapman, Bella Ratzlaff

TEAM FINISHES:
• 1 Franklin Community FRKL 504
• 2 Center Grove CGRV 385
• 3 Whiteland Community WLAN 264
• 4 Greenwood Community GWOD 256
• 5 Southport SPOR 198
• 6 Mooresville MOOR 160
• 7 Martinsville MART 122
• 8 Perry Meridian PMER 95
• 9 Indian Creek INCR 36
• 10 Greenwood Christian Academy GCA 27