Before Carmel High School swimmers Wyatt Davis and Jake Mitchell head off to Michigan, they had some unfinished business: an assault on the state record book.
The seniors led the Greyhounds to their sixth consecutive state title Feb. 29 at the boys swimming state finals at the Indiana University Natatorium at IUPUI in Indianapolis.
“There were tremendous performances from the team all-around, definitely led by Jake and Wyatt,” Carmel coach Chris Plumb said. “They are the ultimate team guys and they pull everyone up with them.”
Carmel captured the championship with 331 points, well ahead of second-place Munster’s 183 points.
“They got five state records, so that’s an amazing performance,” Plumb said.
Davis captured the 200 individual medley state title for the third year in row and the 100 backstroke for fourth time. Davis concludes his high school career with 14 state titles, breaking the record of 12 set by Carmel’s Jason Lancaster (1991-94) and Chesterton’s Kyle Whitaker (2007-10).
Mitchell captured the 200 freestyle state title for the second consecutive year and the 500 freestyle for the third time.
Davis and Mitchell led the winning 200 medley relay (1:27.94) and 400 freestyle relay teams (2:56.36), both in state record times.
Davis set the state record in the 200 IM in 1:44.17.
“I had my eye on the record since last year since I got close to it,” Davis said. “I knew it was possible. I was really focusing in on my technique and race strategy. That was my third year winning that because I didn’t swim it my freshman year.”
Davis won the 100 backstroke with a state record of 45.80, besting his previous mark of 46.66 set last year.
“I’m grateful for the Carmel program for bringing me up and helping me develop skills that allowed me to win,” Davis said. “It’s all for the team. This is a great team we have here. Great team chemistry. We’re all friends in and out of the pool.”
Davis said the Greyhounds rose up in tough competition.
“A lot of teams had outstanding swims. There were some swimmers we never heard of that came in here guns a blazing,” Davis said.
In addition to his victories, Mitchell was named the Mental Attitude Award winner for boys swimming.
“It’s the first one in Carmel (boys) history, so we were very surprised and very honored to finally have that,” Plumb said. “He’s an impressive young man.”
Mitchell said it was a great way to cap his Carmel career.
“This year was all about enjoying it, having fun and being with my teammates,” said Mitchell, who broke his own state record in the 500 freestyle in 4:14.68.
Joining Mitchell and Davis on the 200 medley relay were sophomore Ryan Malicki and junior Griffin Hadley.
Mitchell, Davis and Hadley were joined by junior Gus Rothrock on the 400 free relay.
Plumb has won 23 titles with Carmel (14 girls, nine boys), which ties a state record for coaches in any sport with former Carmel cross country and track coach Chuck Koeppen.
