By GREG MENGELT
To say that the freshmen girls have made an impact on New Albany’s girls’ swim team doesn’t quite tell the story.
Freshman have broken — or had a hand in breaking — seven school records through four meets.
“We have 13 girls and eight of them are freshmen, and they’re a talented bunch,” New Albany coach Steve Bonifer said.
Hannah Manger has made the most impact and could arguably already be called the greatest Bulldog swimmer in school history — after five meets.
In every meet, she has broken at least one school record or been part of a relay team that has.
Against Southwestern, Manger broke the 100-yard breaststroke record in 1:09.0, then was a member of the 200 medley relay that set a record in 1:55.5. She was joined by sophomore Abby Litkenhous and freshmen Rachel Klein and Kaitlyn Stewart.
In the next meet, a 3-way with Scottsburg and Silver Creek, Manger swam three times and broke three more record — the 100 freestyle (54.3) and 200 free (1:55.4) and as part of the 400 freestyle relay team with Klein, Litkenhous and Lauren McCool. The group swam it in 3:51.1.
On Tuesday — against Hoosier Hills Conference rival Seymour — Manger swam the 200 individual medley in 2:10.0 and the 100 butterly in 1:00.8. Again, both were school records.
“She’s a freshman and she’s actually very young for her year in school,” Bonifer said of Manger, who won’t turn 15 until July. “She works very hard. We have some girls who work very hard and she’s one of them. She’s good and she’s good in a lot of events. I expect her to qualify for state this year, and I really do expect her to win events in sectional.”
Manger said she’s happy to have broken the records, but she’s not surprised that she’s done so.
“I’m not surprised, because I’ve been looking at those records and I knew it was something I could (accomplish), but it’s great to come in and actually accomplish it,” she said.
Manger has made the greatest impact, but she’s not the only freshman who has had a hand in raising the Bulldogs’ profile.
Klein also set the school record in the 100 backstroke, Stewart has been on two record-setting relay teams and six others are swimming — and winning — in varsity events.
Bonifer said he expects the influx of talent will help New Albany compete with Floyd Central and Jeffersonville for a sectional championship in February.
“I’m really excited about this year,” Bonifer said. “Jeff and Floyd Central have always been a little better than us, but I think we’re going to be a little closer this year. We have the quality to be the sectional favorite — I think we would be in the hunt — but we lack the depth. I think Jeff and Floyd have talent and depth.”
Manger said experience won’t be an issue at the sectional.
“I think we can do it if we keep our hope high and work for it,” she said. “Our freshmen have been swimming year-around for so long, I think we know what to expect from each other.”
Maybe even more impressive than their swimming is how well the freshmen have fit in with the upperclassmen. Bonifer and Manger said there have been no signs of jealousy among the juniors and seniors.
“I’ve really worked at having the juniors and seniors both with these freshman and have a tight unit like we’ve had in the past,” Bonifer said. “I think they’re starting to come together, where they pull for each other, and that’s just as important as the swimming part. We’re getting there.”
“They love the fact that we’re here and they’ve told me that we’re pushing them as much as they’re pushing us,” Manger said. “It’s a great group of girls that we don’t have to worry about (animosity).”
New Albany will get its biggest test of the season tonight when it goes to Jeffersonville, which went 8-0 in a 9-way dual meet on Tuesday. It will be the Bulldogs’ first meet of five in the next 13 days.
It’s clear that every time the Bulldogs swim, no record will be safe.
