By Greg Keim
The new Northridge High School includes a first-class swimming pool which the entire community can be proud of.
The Northridge boys swimming team showcased why they are also a source of community pride by winning their 12th consecutive Northern Lakes Conference championship Saturday in Middlebury.
The Raiders finished first in three individual events and two relays, totaling 353 points.
Concord won four individual events and a relay to finish second at 222 1/2. Warsaw was third at 207, followed by Goshen 145, Elkhart Memorial 143 1/2, Wawasee 108, Plymouth 93 and NorthWood 52.
“This is the first championship meet we have hosted in the new pool and the first one we have ever hosted,” Northridge coach Joe Keller said.
“We wanted to stake a claim to our home. There is a great deal of pride about this facility and we wanted to show people how much we appreciate the support they have shown us.
“This was a team performance. Some people don’t think of swimming as a team sport, but it is. You can’t put your body through what these kids do without the support of their teammates, families and the entire community.”
According to Keller the Northridge kids were swimming tired despite their dominating performance.
“The kids had nine training sessions this week,” the coach said. “If you want to swim big at the end of the season you have to be willing to train.”
Northridge staked its claim in the first event — the 200-yard medley relay. Junior Brian Deak, freshman Brennen Berger, senior Chad Miller and junior Jonathon Frey finished first in 1:39.90.
The Raiders also captured the 200 freestyle relay with the foursome of Frey, freshman Austin Flager, sophomore Zak Kauffman and junior Nathaniel Stoller in 1:28.72, a new NLC record.
Stoller was an individual double winner, taking the 200 individual medley (1:56.67) and 100 butterfly (52.24).
“He would drive himself into the ground if we let him. You are not going to outwork him,” Keller said. “There were two days this season where I had to tell him he couldn’t come to practice. He needed the rest. His 200 IM was an impressive race.”
Deak captured the 100 backstroke (54.79) and Berger the 100 breaststroke (1:00.65).
“Deak is a flat-out tough kid, both mentally and physically,” Keller said. “Aaron Troyer (Northridge junior) was hurting. Troyer (runner-up in 54.85) had not been beaten in the NLC all season in the backstroke. Deak saw his opportunity and made the most of it.
“Berger is a racer. His previous best in the breaststroke was 1:02.20. To step up the way he did as a freshman is impressive.”
Concord had a pair of double winners as junior Mike Richline took the 50 (21.59) and 100 (47.28) freestyles and sophomore Terry Peoples the 200 (1:46.19) and 500 (4:45.95) frees.
Concord also captured the 400 free relay as Richline, Peoples, junior Garret Brubaker and junior Jeremy Rose finished in 3:14.45.
“Northridge is a very good team,” Concord coach Tom Johnson said. “They have depth and quality throughout their lineup.
“We won five events and three of them were in record times. Everyone that swam for us did a nice job. We had 15 individual swims and 12 or 13 of them were personal bests.
“Richline was born to race. He has a second level of speed. He has trained at a higher level this season and is just scratching the surface of what he can do.
“Peoples is one of the better technical swimmers I’ve ever worked with. He has matured and we are expecting big things from him.
“Rose is a great leader for our team. He was the runner-up (in the 200 IM and 100 fly) to Stoller, probably one of the best individual swimmers here. He has nothing to be ashamed of.”
Goshen was led by senior Andrew Podgorski, second in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.11).
“Andrew had a decent swim. We are expecting better in the sectional,” Goshen coach Scott Garvin said. “At the start of his second 50 he dropped his tempo a little bit and that is all it takes. One stroke off and you can be done.”
Garvin also recognized Bratten in the backstroke (fourth in a personal best of 57.18), junior Jason Yoder in the 500 free (seventh in 5:16.62) and sophomore Ryan Long in diving (fourth with 370.60 points).
