After a one-year hiatus from the IHSAA swimming championship finals, Jay County’s Anne Vormohr is making her return.
Vormohr finished seventh in the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.39 in the preliminary round. The top eight swimmers and teams in each event advance to compete in the championship finals Saturday afternoon. They start at 1 p.m.
“It’s a really big deal,” Patriots coach Matt Slavik said. “We knew she had the ability to get back with all the hard work she’s put in.”
A junior, it’s her first time back in the finals since she placed fifth in the same event as a freshman. She said part of the problem last season was never being able to get into a rhythm due to constant school cancellations from snow, forcing her out of usual eating habits and routines.
Without a routine, Vormohr said she never felt fully comfortable and ready to move back into the finals.
But after her team won sectionals for the first time in school history, she said she had a feeling Friday could be special.
“I can’t even describe the feeling of knowing I’m going back,” Vormohr said. “Last year was so upsetting, I don’t even want to remember it. But now all the work is paying off…I want to do better than last time.”
She credited the improved energy Jay County had Friday to her success, saying the Patriots sang the entire way to IUPUI and everyone seemed more bubbly.
Other Jay County swimmers advanced to the consolation heats on Saturday. Teams and swimmers finishing between nine and 16 are given spots to compete in Saturday’s consolation heats.
The Patriots 200 relay team finished 10th with a time of 1:47.51 and Alex Bader placed 13th in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:06.35.
Her sister, Sophie Bade, snuck into the consolation heat for the 100 butterfly by placing 16th in the prelims, finishing with a time of 56.68.
Vormohr will also compete in the 50 freestyle consolation heat after finishing 11th in the prelims on Friday evening.
Yorktown also competed, its best finish came from Katie Keller who placed 19th in the 100 backstroke with 58.34.