New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys swimming and diving team won its first-ever sectional championship Saturday, using its depth to tally 400 points and beat Mt. Vrnon (314), Richmond (288), Greenfield-Central (264) and the rest of the 11-team field. The Dragons did not have any individual champions, but were in the finals in each event. Coach Chris Kingery was named sectional Coach of the Year. The Dragons started the day strong, as Dawson Lynch, Aidan Kingery, Liam Fuller and Chase Martin finished second in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:42.99. The Dragons also finished second in the 200 free relay, with Martin, Ashton Turner, Dontae Thompson and Fuller posting a time of 1:32.55. James Watson then finished third in the 200 freestyle. Thompson was ninth and Karter McNeil 10th. In the 200IM, Lynch placed sixth and Reese Cox seventh. Blake Hurst finished ninth. The Dragons had three finalists in the 50 freestyle, with Martin finishing sixth, Ian Erwin seventh and Fuller eighth. Cade Rodgers was second in diving, with Aidan Stephens fourth. Both will advance to Tuesday's diving regional. in the 100 butterfly, Jacob Myers finished sixth and Fuller eighth. Thompson was fifth and Erwin sixth in the 100 freestyle, with Turner ninth. Watson was seventh in the 500 freestyle, with McNeil 10th and Luke Appleby 13th. In the 100 backstoke, Lynch finished fifth, Myers seventh and Cox eighth. Kingery, Martin and Blake Hurst helped the Dragons clinch in the 100 breaststroke, finishing second, third and fourth. The Dragons finished fourth in the 400 free relay to close the meet, with Watson, Turner, Lynch and Thompson comprising the relay group. The sectional championship was the first in program history for the Dragons.