By ETHAN BLACK – On March 19, 2021, the IHS Swimming team traveled to Cumberland Valley High School for the PIAA state championships. Senior Kyle Thome stole the show at states, winning both the 200-yard freestyle and 500 freestyle. Thome is now the first student in Indiana history to take home two state championships at one event. Thome’s teammate and fellow senior, Issac Griffith, took second place in the 100 butterfly and a fourth-place medal in the 100 breaststroke. 

“It feels great to finally be a state champion,” stated Thome, “especially after the past year that we’ve had.” Thome knows the hardship of winning a state championship. Last season, the boy’s swim team was state-bound as well, but their hopes were quickly shot down due to the pandemic.

Thome’s swimming career isn’t stopping at the high school level. “I plan on going on to college to swim more,” Thome shared. Thome received heavy eyes from multiple collegiate teams, but he decided to stay local and is attending the Indiana University of Pennsylvania starting this fall.

“Bringing home not just one, but two state championships to this school is one of the greatest achievements in my swimming career,” claimed Thome. It seems the high hopes Thome and his teammates shared at the brief ending of last season carried over to this year, showing the best in our IHS athletes.

We wish all IHS swimmers and divers the best of luck in their future endeavors in both high school and collegiate careers.