Imagine a dynasty so dominant, they’ve claimed victory for nearly four decades straight. That’s the story of the Carmel Girls Swim Team, who took a giant leap toward their 40th consecutive Indiana High School State Championship at the 2026 IHSAA Prelims. But here’s where it gets controversial: can any team truly challenge their reign?
The 2026 IHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving State Championships kicked off on Friday, February 13th, at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, setting the stage for what could be another historic win for Carmel. The Greyhounds faced their toughest competition in years, but their depth and talent shone through, particularly in events like the 200 IM. Sophomores Ellie Clarke (1:59.36) and Leah Debosch (2:00.39), alongside senior Lucy Enoch (2:03.36), secured three spots in the A-Final, showcasing Carmel’s unparalleled bench strength. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about individual stars—it’s their collective dominance that makes them unstoppable.
SwimSwam’s unofficial prelims scoring highlighted Carmel’s lead with 313 points, followed by Fishers (235), Carroll (227), and Zionsville (208). Carmel also claimed the top seed in five events after Day 1, including the 200 medley relay, where Debosch, Molly Sweeney, Ellie Clarke, and Sophia Floyd clocked an impressive 1:40.68.
Sweeney, a Tennessee commit and one of Carmel’s standout swimmers this season, stole the show on Day 1. She secured the top seed in both the 100 fly (52.72) and her primary event, the 100 breast (59.53), missing her personal best by a mere .06 seconds. Here’s a thought-provoking question: is Sweeney’s versatility a game-changer, or is it Carmel’s strategic depth that truly seals their victories?
Meanwhile, in the 100 back, Clarke dominated with a top seed time of 53.35, leading the field by over a second. Munster High’s Lilly King, another sophomore sensation, qualified second with a 1.3-second drop, clocking 54.38.
Fishers and Carroll, the teams hot on Carmel’s heels, also had strong showings. Fishers’ freshman duo, Audrey Wolf and Ashlyn Hayes, painted a bright future for the program. Wolf secured A-Final spots in the 50 free (23.48) and 100 fly (54.22), while Hayes finished 4th in the 200 free (1:49.29) and 6th in the 100 free (51.09). Audrey’s older sister, Emily Wolf, an NC State commit, qualified first in the 200 free (1:45.72) and the 500 free (4:43.23), dropping nearly 2.7 seconds off her best time in recent weeks. Fishers also edged out Carmel in the 400 free relay, clocking 3:24.52 to Carmel’s 3:26.25, with Emily Wolf splitting a blistering 49.26.
Carroll faced early setbacks when their 200 medley relay missed the A-Final, but their sprint free group rallied, securing the top two seeds in the 50 free. Junior Maris Williams led with a 22.99, while Kate Fetters followed closely with 23.06. The duo also anchored Carroll’s 200 free relay, which finished second behind Zionsville’s balanced quartet (1:35.45).
As the finals begin on Saturday, February 14th, with diving prelims at 9 AM Eastern and swimming finals at 1 PM Eastern, the question remains: Can anyone dethrone Carmel, or will their dynasty continue? What’s your take? Is Carmel’s dominance a testament to their program’s excellence, or is it time for a new team to rise? Let us know in the comments!
For more details, check out the official meet page (https://www.ihsaa.org/sports/girls/swimming-diving/2025-26-tournament?round=state-finals), psych sheet (https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/202526%20gsw%20psych%20sheet.pdf), and prelims heat sheet (https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/202526%20gsw%20meet%20program.pdf). Results will be available on Meet Mobile under “2026 Girls High School State Championships” or by searching “Indiana.”
