Jenni Anderson – Chesterton High School, 1997-2001
Jenni Anderson of Chesterton High School was a six-time state champion, winning the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard backstroke three straight years. Coach Kevin Kinel can remember watching the development of Jenni, who was a very good age-group swimmer that just got better and better.
“Every step of her career she learned and understood how to go to the next level,” Kinel said. “She realized after age group that she had to get to the next level through training in and out of the water. She knew what she had to do. Jenni finished third in the 100 backstroke as a freshman and that’s when it all clicked,” says Kinel. “I think that was the turning point for her. That year she qualified for the junior nationals in Long Island. That was when she realized what it took.” Jenni, who went on to swim for Auburn University, won two individual DAC titles all four years in high school and owned six school records when she graduated. She still owns two of them. “Her senior year in high school she broke the state record in the 100 backstroke and was the fastest kid in the nation that year,” Kinel said. Jenni was the recipient of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in 2000-01.
Taylor Elise Baughman – Carmel High School, 2001-05
Taylor Baughman competed at Carmel High School, earning two state titles in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events in 2003-04 and 2004-05. Her participation in four additional state championship relay efforts earned her a total of eight state titles. Taylor was recognized as Indianapolis Suburban Athlete of the Year in 2005, and was also spotlighted in Sports Illustrated. She went on to swim at the University of Arizona, and was one of eight freshmen in the country to qualify for the NCAA championships. During her freshman year, Taylor was a PAC-10 Conference champion in the 100 yard freestyle. Her team won the conference championship last year, and finished 3rd in NCAA meet. Taylor was also a part of the 400 yard freestyle relay championship team that broke a national record at Senior Nationals in August of 2006. Taylor is currently majoring in Marketing and Spanish at the University of Arizona. She has already made the Olympic trials in the 50 meter freestyle (26.39), and the 100 meter butterfly (1:02.36).
Brittney Ellen Feldman – Indianapolis Broad Ripple High School, 2002-06
Brittany attended Indianapolis Broad Ripple High School, where she won the IHSAA Girls Diving event in 2004 and 2006. She is a Junior National Champion, a Pan American Games bronze medal winner, was a member of the 2006 USA National Diving Team, and placed 7th in the FINA World Grand Prix. She received a full scholarship to Indiana University. Brittany plays the violin, and was the salutatorian of her senior class.
Brian Hartley - North Central High School, 1998-2002
Brian Hartley, a distance specialist, swam at North Central High School, winning the 200 yard freestyle in 2000-01 and 2001-02, and the 500 yard freestyle the last three years of his high school career. He currently owns the state record with a time of 4:25.73. In addition, Brian was the recipient of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in 2002. His post high school career took him to the University of Florida, where he was a part of the 2005 NCAA championship 800 yard freestyle relay team that set an NCAA and US Open record. In 2004, he also attained a sectional championship in the 1760 yard freestyle. During his college career, Brian was a ten time All American. Brian’s family consists of his father, Robert Hartley Jr., and his brothers, Robert Hartley III and John Hartley.
Benedict Hesen III – Jeffersonville High School, 2000-04
Ben Hesen swam at Jeffersonville High School, winning the 100 yard butterfly in 2003-04, and the 100 yard backstroke three straight years. Ben currently holds the state record mark in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 49.12. Ben went on to swim for Indiana University. During his freshman year he earned National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week honors, was named to the Big Ten Team, and was an All-American. As a sophomore, Ben also received the Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honors. In addition, he was runner-up in the 100 yard backstroke at Big Tens, and 4th in that event at the NCAA championships. Ben currently owns the 100 yard backstroke record at Indiana University.
Matt McDonald - Hamilton Southeastern High School, 1997-01
Matt McDonald swam at Hamilton Southeastern High School, earned state titles in the 100 yard butterfly three straight years, and currently holds the state record with a time of 48.06. Matt also won the 100 yard backstroke title in 2000-01, and was a part of the championship 200 Medley Relay team for Hamilton Southeastern in 1999-2000. In addition, Matt was the recipient of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in 2000-01. Matt went on to swim at Stanford University, where he was an 11 time All-American. Matt was a two time National Champion, taking part of the winning 200 Medley Relay in 2002 and the 400 Medley Relay in 2005. Matt was the most improved freshman, and the most valuable freshman. He earned the Dave Bottom Team leadership award, and was PAC-10 All-Academic First Team, and awarded the PAC-10 Post Graduate Scholarship. In addition, Matt served as a Stanford captain in 2005. Matt is currently the CEO of Stanford Student Enterprises. He lives in California and rooms with his former Indiana swimming 100 butterfly rival, Alec Sheehy. He is the son of Scott and Arlene McDonald.
Carmen Leah Retrum - Columbus North High School, 1999-2003
Leah Retrum swam at Columbus North High School, where she earned three state titles in the 200 yard individual medley, of which she was a state record holder. Leah was undefeated in the 500 yard freestyle, also holding the current state record mark at 4:46.08. Her efforts in an additional relay state championship brings her total of state titles to eight. She currently swims for the University of Florida. In 2004 Leah finished 7th in the 200 yard backstroke at the NCAA Championships, earned high point honors at the U.S. Open, and finished 4th in the 200 yard backstroke at the Olympic Trials. In 2005, she finished 3rd in the 400 yard Individual Medley, 4th in the 200 yard backstroke, and 5th in the 200 yard individual medley at the NCAA championships. She was the 2005 Summer National 200 yard backstroke champion, and a gold medalist at the 2005 World University Games.
Katie Robinson - South Dearborn High School, 1999-2003
Katie Robinson swam at South Dearborn High School, winning the 100 yard freestyle in 1999-2000, the 50 yard freestyle state titles in 2001-02 and 2002-03, and holding a three year rein on the 100 yard butterfly by winning those titles in 2000-01, 2001-02, and 2002-03. Katie set a state record in the 100 yard butterfly during her sophomore, junior, and senior years. In addition, she was the recipient of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in 2002-03. Katie is a nine time high school All-American, as well as a four year member of the Academic All-State team. Katie currently swims for the University of Texas, and she is serving as the team captain for the 2006-07 team. Katie was a Big 12 Conference Champion in the 200 yard butterfly as a sophomore and junior. She is also an Academic All-American, as well as the Academic MVP at the University of Texas. At the national level, she was a 2004 Olympic Trial semi-finalist in the 100 yard butterfly. Katie’s career goals include becoming a collegiate swim coach.
Grant Wieczorek – Carmel High School, 2000-04
Grant Wieczorek swam at Carmel High School, winning the 200 yard freestyle state titles in 2002-03 and 2003-04, plus the 100 yard butterfly event in 2002-03, and the 100 yard freestyle in 2003-04. Grant participated in three additional state championship relay efforts, for a total of seven state titles in his high school career. Grant attends the University of Florida. He swam his freshman year, and earned 11th in the 500 yard freestyle and 10th in the 100 yard butterfly at the SEC championships. Over the course of his career, Grant was a 20 time NISCA All-American. He is proud of the fact he recently caught a 110 pound striped marlin in Cabo San Lucas.
SWIMMERS & DIVERS
COACHES
Robin Beck, Logansport High School (1977-1999)
Robin Beck coached girls swimming and diving at Logansport High School from 1976 until 1989, and then at Kokomo High School from 1990 until 1999. She won multiple sectional titles while at both schools. Robin said she hung up her whistle to follow the athletic careers of her own children. “They were swimmers before high school, but then played basketball and soccer in high school and college. I spent a lot of my free time watching their sports activities,” Robin said about her daughters. While at Logansport, Robin helped Heidi Hendricks become the first girl to win eight career individual state titles, a feat that can’t be broken only tied. Only two girls have equaled it since. All told, she helped her student-athletes earn 11 individual titles. Robin says, “I may have been known as the coach that was always pregnant -- in the 80's that is.” She lives in Kokomo now and teaches biology at Kokomo High School. Her hobbies include weightlifting, bike riding, aerobics, gardening, camping, knitting and scrap-booking. She competed in her first triathlon at age 54. Robin and her husband Bill have four daughters. When she retires, she plans to live somewhere in the mountains. “I was surprised, yet honored,” said Robin, of her selection to the Hall of Fame. “You put in a lot of work over the years when you’re a coach, and it’s nice that people recognize that.”
Tom Burchill, Carmel High School (2004-2006)
Tom Burchill and Carmel High School won girls swimming and diving state championships in 2004, 2005, and 2006. His boys team won their respective state championship in 2004, and was the mythical national champion that year as well. During that time, he coached 10 individual state champions. Prior to his Indiana coaching career, Tom’s team won the 2002 Girls State Championships in Pennsylvania, and was the state runner-up in 1999 and 2000. He is now the current head coach for Lancaster Aquatic Club in Pennsylvania. Tom lives with his wife Veronica, and children Sammie and Tanner.
Jennifer Gibson, Fort Wayne Snider High School (1988-2003)
Jennifer Gibson served as head girls swim coach at Fort Wayne Snider High School from 1992 until 2003, where she coached 17 individual state champions. During that time her teams won 11 conference titles and 9 sectional championships. At the state championships, her teams placed in the top ten for ten years. Jennifer was named sectional coach of the year in 1996. Jennifer is currently living in Arizona.
Mark Hesse, North Central High School (1984 - Current)
Mark Hesse was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in Concord, Massachusetts. He attended Georgetown University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. He has been in coaching for 22 years. Mark coached at North Central High School, where his teams won the 2005 boys state championship, and were state runner-up in 2001. His girls’ teams were state runner-up in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Collectively, he has helped produce 14 individual state champions and seven relay championships. In addition, Mark coached more than 50 All-Americans and two IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winners. Individually, Mark is a nine-time Sectional Coach of the Year; three-time State Coach of the Year; three-time ICGSA District 3 Coach of the Year; 2003 NFHSA Indiana Coach of the Year, two-time Indiana Swimming Jim Clark Memorial Award for Coaching Excellence Award Winner, and a four-time recipient of the ASCA Certificate of Excellence. Mark currently serves as aquatics director and head swim coach at Crawfordsville High School, and Sugar Creek Swim Club. He and his wife Debbie have two daughters. Mark says, “thanks to my wonderful wife, I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with one of my heroes, the legendary Coach John Wooden. I have always used his Pyramid of Success as a foundation of my coaching. I learned more in those few hours than you can imagine. His most important lessons were to know and be true to thyself and love your athletes. Coaching success is never the result of one person’s efforts. I have been blessed through the years to work with many talented coaches and athletes all of whom have taught me amazing lessons. I would like to recognize and thank the following people for their efforts in building the North Central program: Debbie Hesse, Ray Porter, Tom Jewell, Pam Swander, Todd Griner, Leslie Decker, Mark Butcher, Mark Barnes, Bill Powell, Paula Smith, Therese Love, Meg Osborne, Bill Pemberton, Chuck Jones and Paul Loggan.”
Kevin Kinel, Chesterton High School (1980 – Current)
Kevin Kinel’s girls and boys teams have won 13 Duneland Athletic Conference titles apiece. The girls have won 13 sectional titles and the boys have won 11. Kevin has coached 20 individual and relay state titles, including five from 2006-07. “I could spill out thousands of kids names that are part of this,” said Kevin. “The elite level kids had the talent, but they had someone else to train with and be supportive. All the coaches in age group and high school have been unbelievable.” Kevin has earned Sectional Coach of the Year a total of 25 times (boys and girls combined), and was honored as Indiana High School State Girls Coach of The Year in 1999, and the National Federation of State High School Associations Central Coach of the Year in 2000. Over the years, Kevin has produced 43 first-team All-Americans. He and his wife Barb have two sons, Ryan and Steven.
Jim Sharp, Lafayette Jefferson High School (1974 – Current)
Jim Sharp began his swimming career in 1958 for Lafayette Swim Club under Coach Richard O. Papenguth, who was then Purdue’s head coach. In high school he swam for Lafayette Jefferson from 1963 until 1967, and was a state finalist in the 200 IM in 1965, 1966, and 1967. Jim went on to swim for Purdue from 1967 until 1969. He was a Big Ten finalist in four events, making his mark as the 400 Individual Medley school record holder. He began his coaching career for the Lafayette Swim Club 1965-69 under Lafayette Jefferson Coach Pete Schug. Jim coached at Lafayette Jefferson High School in 1974-77, while completing a bachelor’s of arts degree at Purdue. He also coached the Lafayette Swim club. Jim coached Chesterton High School in 1977-80, and helped develop numerous state finalists after getting his athletes in the “state mode of swimming”. He then went to Valparaiso High School from 1981-86. Jim was head coach of the girls team and co-head coach with Skip Bird for the boys team. He also served as the club coach. Jim currently coaches Lafayette Jefferson, and has been there since 1986. His teams have won 15 girls sectional titles and five boys sectional titles. Lafayette Jeff earned the first girls state championship title in 1975, and was also runner-up in 1987. He has helped to produce numerous All-American swimmers, including Allison Bock who earned 10 state titles. Individually, he has been awarded the James Clark Memorial Award from Indiana Swimming and the American Swim Coaches Award of Excellence in 1990 and 1991. In addition, he has traveled to Brazil and Australia doing clinics for small children and took high school swimmers from around the United States in 2002 to Australia to compete against Australian high school students. His coaching influence came from G. Wesley Mock (Purdue assistant coach) and his high School coach, Pete Schug, whom he still goes to with questions. Jim has been married to his wife Carol for 25 years. They have one son, two daughters and five grandchildren.
Jim Sheridan, Columbus North/East High Schools (1973 – Current)
Jim Sheridan coached Columbus North to three consecutive boys state titles between 1998 and 2000. He also has a girls title while at Columbus East, becoming one of the very few who have state titles at more than one school. From 1980 until 1984, Jim served as the head swim coach for Columbus East High School, where he won his first state championship. Currently, he serves as head swim coach and dean of students for Columbus North High School and Donner Swim Club. Jim has received many awards such as Indiana Coach of the Year nine times, four years with the boys team and five years for the girls team, including the 2005-2006 school year. Jim’s teams have produced more than 90 All-Americans. Prior to his stint at Columbus North, Jim was head swim coach for men and women at Clemson University from 1991 through 1994.The women’s team did reach a top 20 ranking during his time at Clemson. Jim earned a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Clemson. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health Education from Marshall University.
Ken Stopkotte, Carmel High School (2000 – 2003/2006 – Current)
As the head girls and boys swim coach at Carmel High School, Ken Stopkotte guided the Greyhounds to three consecutive boys state titles and three straight girls championships from 2000-03. Ken is now the head boys and girls swimming and diving coach of Fishers High School, the aquatics director of the Fishers High School aquatic center and the head swimming coach of Fishers Area Swimming Tigers (FAST). In addition, Stopkotte coached one USA Swimming National Junior Team member, numerous high school All-Americans and Indiana State High School champions and record holders, a US National Championship finalist and an 18-Under US National Champion. Prior to arriving in Indianapolis, Ken experienced remarkable success on the national and international swimming scene. From 1985 to 1992, he coached Countryside YMCA in Lebanon, Ohio for seven years. At Countryside YMCA, he led them to four YMCA National team titles. From 1992 to 2000, Stopkotte was the Head Coach of the Cincinnati Marlins in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ten of Stopkotte's swimmers competed at the 2000 Olympic Trials and three of his former Cincinnati Marlins swimmers made the 2000 and 2004 US Olympic teams and combined to win two gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal. In addition, Stopkotte coached one American record breaker, three US Open Champions, one USA Swimming National Champion, 15 USA Swimming Junior National Champions, five National High School record breakers and eight USA Swimming Junior National record breakers. Ken is currently the Head Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving Coach of the Fishers High School Swim Team, the Aquatics Director of the Fishers High School Aquatic Center and the Head Swimming Coach of Fishers Area Swimming Tigers (FAST). He has been coaching for 23 years. Ken and his wife Becky have two sons.
Jim Todd, Center Grove High School (1982 – Current)
Jim Todd coached two years at Seymour High School from 1982 until 1984, before moving to Center Grove where he is currently teaching and coaching. His swimmers have won 12 state championship titles. Of special note, this past season Jim’s athlete Michelle McKeehan broke a National Federation High School record in the 200 yard Individual Medley. Jim graduated from Southport High School in 1978, where he lettered in swimming. He continued his swimming career at Indiana State. In his spare time, Jim is an avid fisherman. He lives in Greenwood with his wife Pamela, and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Amy and Katy.
Tony Young, Carmel High School (1991 – 2000)
Tony Young won two consecutive boys state titles at Carmel in 1996 and 1997, and nine consecutive girls state titles while at Carmel (1991-2000). Tony brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Indiana Swimming. For 20 years he coached at Decatur Swim Club in Illinois, Carmel Swim Club, and Carmel High School. He also coached 10 years at Millikin University while in Decatur, Illinois. Many of his swimmers were nationally ranked and qualified for U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. Additionally, he was named the NCAA Swimming Coach of the Year (1988), Illinois Swimming, Inc. Coach of the Year (1985-87), Indiana High School Athletic Association Swim Coach of the Year (1995-96), and the National Federation Interscholastic Coaches Association Coach of the Year (1997). Young has also been a member of both the USA Swimming National Team Staff and the Olympic Development coaching staff. For the past two years, Tony has been working in conjunction with USA Swimming, the American Swim Coaches Association, and FINA as part of a FINA Solidarity program. Tony is now the Sport Development Director for Indiana Swimming. His nine consecutive titles at Carmel ties him with wrestling Coach Mike Goebel of Evansville Mater Dei for the most consecutive state titles at one school in IHSAA history.
Gordon McCain 1958-Current
Gordon McCain has served as an IHSAA official for more than 48 years. He is licensed in six different sports and has officiated events under the tenure of six of the seven commissioners in the history of the IHSAA. He has been chosen to referee five state championships meets in boys and girls swimming. Gordon has acted as an assistant starter, diving referee or stroke and turn judge in 19 additional state championships. In all, Gordon has been assigned to 25 state finals in swimming and 10 state finals in other sports. Additionally, he has served as the swimming and diving rules interpreter in Indiana for more than 20 years. He has served as a clinician since the inception of the IHSAA program, and has worked as a basketball observer since 1977. Gordon was appointed and served on the NFHS Swimming and Diving Rules Committee from 1985 to 1987. He is owner and operator of a 600 plus acre family farm in Carroll County. Gordon was selected to the Carroll County Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2000. Gordon has been elected to six terms on the Carroll County Council, and was chairman of the Carroll County Council for 23 years. He has also been appointed as a Committeeman for the Federal Housing Administration. Gordon and his wife Sandra have been married for 49 years. They have two sons, Scott and Brock, along with five grandchildren.
OFFICIALS
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS
