Five Golden Bears qualify for swimming sectional finals

Riley Everette’s quest to return to the IHSAA State Finals began with a strong performance Thursday in the 100-yard butterfly sectional preliminary race.

The Shelbyville senior easily won her heat and bested the field at the New Palestine Sectional with a time of 57.68 seconds — a time faster than her state finals time of 58.94 in 2025. Everette will be joined in the butterfly finals by fellow senior Meeghen Bushfield, who placed sixth in 1:05.97.

The top eight performers in each event Thursday and the next eight finishers return to New Palestine Saturday for championship and consolation races.

Shelbyville diver Chloe Claxton will begin her sectional event Saturday morning.

Everette, committed to swim at IU Indy next season (photo), also posted the top time in the 50 freestyle. She stopped the clock in 24.58. She will be joined in the finals by Paige Bohman (7th at 26.8) and Bushfield (8th at 26.86).

Bohman, a senior, qualified for the finals in the 100 freestyle (6th in 59.43).

Senior Naomi Garringer also reached the finals in the 100 backstroke (6th in 1:09.03). She also placed 10th in the 100 freestyle in 1:01.26 and will compete in the consolation race for that event.

Anne Marie Fansler finished ninth in the 200 freestyle in 2:15.57 to earn a berth in the consolation race.

Shelbyville advanced two relay teams to Saturday’s championship races. 

Everette, Bohman, Bushfield and Ana Felipe placed fourth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:56.59) and fifth in the 400 freestyle relay (4:24.45).