#7 Indiana Girls Welcoming Key Additions and Returners

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#7 INDIANA HOOSIERS

Key Losses: Noelle Peplowski (22 NCAA factors), Mac Looze (1 NCAA level), Maggie Wallace

Key Additions: Justine Delmas (France – Breast/IM), Lucie Delmas (France – Fly/IM), BOTR Reese Tiltmann (WI – Free/Breast/IM), BOTR Ava Whitaker (TX – Fly)

Returning Fifth Years: Ashley Turak (7 NCAA factors)

GRADING CRITERIA

Over time, we’ve gone forwards and backwards on the right way to venture factors, starting from largely subjective rankings to extra data-based grading standards based mostly on ‘projected returning factors.’ We like being as goal as attainable, however we’re going to stay with the strategy we’ve adopted post-Covid. The “stars” will rely closely on what swimmers really did final yr, however we’ll additionally give credit score to returning swimmers or freshmen who’ve posted occasions that might have scored final yr.

Since we solely profile the highest 12 groups on this format, our grades are designed with that vary in thoughts. Within the grand scheme of school swimming and in comparison with all different school applications, high 12 NCAA applications would just about all grade effectively throughout the board. However within the curiosity of creating these previews informative, our grading scale is hard – designed to indicate the tiers between the nice stroke teams, the good ones, and the 2015 Texas fly group sorts.

• 5 star (★★★★★) – a uncommon, elite NCAA group projected to attain 25+ factors per occasion
• 4 star (★★★★) – a really, superb NCAA group projected to attain 15-24 factors per occasion
• 3 star (★★★) – a superb NCAA group projected to attain 5-14 factors per occasion
• 2 star (★★) – a stable NCAA group projected to attain 1-4 factors per occasion
• 1 star (★) –  an NCAA group that’s projected to attain no factors per occasion, although that doesn’t imply it’s with out potential scorers – they’ll simply have to leapfrog some swimmers forward of them to do it

We’ll grade every occasion self-discipline: dash free (which we outline to incorporate all of the relay-distance freestyle occasions, so 50, 100 and 200), distance free, IM, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly and diving. Use these grades as a jumping-off level for dialogue, quite than a motive to be offended.

Additionally, needless to say we’re publishing many of those previews earlier than groups have posted finalized rosters. We’re making our assessments based mostly on the very best info we’ve obtainable on the time of publication, however we reserve the fitting to make modifications after publication based mostly on any new info which will emerge concerning rosters. If that does occur, we’ll make sure to notice the change.

2022-2023 LOOKBACK

Indiana posted a 2nd place end on the 2023 Girls’s Huge Ten Championships, then went on to take Seventh at NCAAs. It was total an excellent season for the Hoosiers, as we noticed them deal with some holes of their roster that had existed for a couple of seasons, particularly within the dash free occasions. Fifth-year seniors Mac Looze and Noelle Peplowski have been instrumental within the crew’s success final yr, combining for 156 factors at Huge Tens and 23 at NCAAs. Of word, Looze has since retired from the game, whereas Peplowski is now on the Indiana teaching employees.

Some highlights of the season included sophomore Anna Peplowski successful Huge Ten Swimmer of the Meet, because of her titles within the 200 free and 200 again, together with a 2nd-place end within the 100 again. On high of that, junior Anne Fowler gained Diver of the Meet honors at Huge Tens after successful 1-meter and 3-meter, in addition to posting a Seventh-place end on platform. Along with the 2 convention titles Peplowski and Fowler every gained, the Hoosiers claimed victory within the 200 breast (Noelle Peplowski) and 800 free relay (Anna Peplowski, Ching Hwee Gan, Mac Looze, Kristina Paegle) at Huge Tens.

At NCAAs, the Hoosiers have been highlighted by a 2nd-place end from Fowler in 3-meter diving, in addition to a 2nd-place end from Ching Hwee Gan within the 1650 free.

SPRINT FREE: ★★★

The core of this dash free group, which was a lot improved final season, stays intact, thanks largely to Ashley Turak opting to make use of her fifth yr of eligibility. Turak had the very best season of her school profession final yr, incomes 7 factors at NCAAs because of a Tenth-place end within the 50 free.

Turak makes a fantastic duo with Kristina Paegle, who was a freshman final season. Paegle, an area product, made an instantaneous impression for the Hoosiers. She led the crew within the 100 free final season, posting a private better of 47.99. She scored 9 factors at NCAAs final season, qualifying for the ‘B’ ultimate of the 50 free and 100 free.

Exterior of Turak and Paegle within the 50 and 100, IU can even see the return of Huge Ten Swimmer of the Meet Anna Peplowski for her junior yr. Peplowski gained the 200 free at Huge Tens final yr, occurring to take sixth within the occasion at NCAAs. Peplowski can also be coming off a summer time during which she earned a silver medal on the 2023 World Championships after competing on the preliminary 800 free relay for the U.S. ladies.

Indiana has an opportunity to have extra depth within the 200 free this season than final as effectively. Ella Ristic was their 2nd-fastest 200 freestyler final season, clocking a season better of 1:45.45. Ristic has been as quick as 1:44.77 within the occasion, which is simply off what it could take to attain at NCAAs. Moreover, Paegle went 1:46.20 final season as a freshman. It’s attainable we see extra enchancment from Paegle in her sophomore season.

DISTANCE FREE: ★★★★

Whereas Indiana is traditionally seen as a fantastic breaststroke and IM program, coming into this season it’s very attainable that distance free is their strongest swimming self-discipline. As said above, the Hoosiers had two All-People within the 1650 free final season, seeing Ching Hwee Gan take 2nd at NCAAs, whereas Mariah Denigan got here in Seventh. On high of the good NCAA finishes, each ladies swam lifetime bests within the occasion final season.

Whereas IU doesn’t add any milers to the group, Gan and Denigan symbolize some of the formidable pairs of milers within the NCAA proper now.

Whereas Indiana is barely weaker within the 500 free, they’re nonetheless in a superb place total. Gan got here in Seventh within the 500 at NCAAs final season, giving the Hoosiers a returning All-American. Denigan went 4:40.52 final season, whereas sophomore Elyse Heiser swam 4:41.48 and Ristic clocked a 4:44.44. Ristic specifically is one to look at for after she swam a lifetime better of 4:16.38 within the LCM 400 free over the summer time.

BACKSTROKE: ★★

Backstroke is actually a weak spot for Indiana proper now, particularly by way of depth. The one scoring backstroke swim that they had at NCAAs final season was Anna Peplowski within the 200 again. Peplowski swam a career-best of 1:51.32 at NCAAs, which put her ninth in prelims earlier than she touched 1st for ninth total within the consols.

Freshman Mya DeWitt was the 2nd-fastest 200 backstroker on the crew final yr at 1:54.64. That point was good to earn her a spot within the ‘A’ ultimate at Huge Tens. As she enters her sophomore season, it’s completely attainable extra enchancment is on the horizon for DeWitt, nonetheless, it took a 1:52.76 to qualify for the ‘B’ ultimate within the occasion at NCAAs final season, so she’ll want to enhance fairly a bit to attain there.

Kacey McKenna was the 2nd-fastest Hoosier within the 100 again final season, posting a season better of 52.82. That being mentioned, McKenna was a bit off final season, as her career-best 100 again is a 51.93, which she swam on the 2022 Huge Ten Champs when she was a freshman. McKenna swam lifetime bests within the LCM 50, 100, and 200 again over the summer time, which is an encouraging signal for her heading into her junior season.

BREASTSTROKE: ★★★

This Indiana breaststroke group is an attention-grabbing one. Whereas the lack of Noelle Peplowski and Mac Looze is critical, particularly within the 200 breast, this Indiana recruiting class is as classically IU because it might presumably be. It’s a small class, that includes solely 5 swimmers. That being mentioned, 4 out of the 5 are breaststrokers.

Main that group, and the one swimmer coming in with NCAA-scoring velocity, is Justine Delmas. Coming to IU from France, Delmas is a terrific breaststroker. She has but to race yards in her profession, nonetheless, she’s been extraordinarily profitable in LCM. Delmas boasts a career-best of 1:08.25 within the LCM 100 breast, which converts to 59.68 in yards.

Delmas additionally holds a private greatest of two:25.12 within the 200 breast, which converts to 2:07.13 in yards. After all, meters to yards conversions are difficult and never an actual science in swimming, nevertheless it provides us an thought. The underside line is Delmas is a superb 200 breaststroker. For context, her 2:25.12 200 breast would have been quick sufficient to win the occasion by two seconds at U.S. Summer time Junior Nationals this summer time. Her 100 breast time would have are available in 2nd at that meet.

Delmas will be part of Brearna Crawford, who’s IU’s fastest-returning breaststroker from final season. As a sophomore within the 2022-23 season, Crawford was IU’s #2 100 breaststroker, clocking a season better of 59.86, whereas she was third within the 200 breast at 2:09.36. Of word, Crawford skilled a slight dip in her occasions final season, as she clocked her profession bests in each breast occasions throughout her freshman season (2021-22). Crawford has been as quick as 59.32 within the 100 breast and a couple of:06.86 within the 200 breast.

Delmas and Crawford symbolize the scoring potential of the Indiana breaststroke group as issues stand proper now. There’s fairly a little bit of potential within the freshmen class as effectively. Reese Tiltmann is a 1:02.92/2:13.75 breaststroker, Caroline Foltz is 1:01.83/2:14.54, and Olivia Roumph is 1:02.82/2:16.24.

BUTTERFLY: ★★

The Hoosiers gained some stable depth in fly occasions final season, which marked a step in the fitting path for his or her fly group. Whereas final yr’s fly group had some respectable depth to it, Indiana nonetheless lacks the top-end velocity they’ll want to attain at NCAAs and have really elite medley relays.

Indiana had six swimmers go 53-point within the 100 fly final season. They have been led by junior Elizabeth Broshears, who swam a 53.36 at Huge Tens. Behind Broshears have been freshmen Sze Yeo (53.44) and Lily Hann (53.64). One other freshman, Katie Forrester, clocked the highest time on the crew within the 200 fly, swimming a 1:56.87 at Huge Tens. Hann was 2nd in that occasion with a 1:57.91.

IU will likely be hoping that trio of freshmen will proceed to enhance, which might yield some NCAA qualifying occasions if it pans out. On high of that, incoming freshmen Lucie Delmas and Ava Whitaker give them loads of optimism that they will have their greatest fly performances in recent times.

Coming from France, Delmas has been 59.02 within the LCM 100 fly, which is a superb time for an incoming freshman. For what it’s price, 59.02 converts to 51.90 in yards.

Nearly as good as Delmas is within the 100 fly, she’s arguably a greater 200 flyer. She’s been as quick as 2:10.42 within the LCM 200 fly, which converts to 1:54.97 in yards. As such, Delmas stands an excellent likelihood of being an NCAA qualifier in each fly occasions, with an excellent shot at scoring in each with just a bit little bit of enchancment.

Whitaker owns greatest occasions of 52.36 within the 100 fly and 1:57.04 within the 200 fly, along with her 100 time inside two-tenths of the 2023 NCAA cutline and the 200 simply over a second shy.

IM: ★

The Indiana medley group has some promise heading into the 2023-24 season. We’ve given them a single star, nonetheless, this group might simply find yourself being scoring, although that’s largely depending on the freshman class.

The Hoosiers will likely be rebuilding on this self-discipline after shedding their two quickest 200 IMers from final season in Noelle Peplowski (1:55.37) and Mac Looze (1:56.32). IU retains Brearna Crawford, who was #3 on the crew with a 1:58.97 final yr, nonetheless, that point continues to be a couple of seconds off what it can take to attain at NCAAs.

Looze was additionally the quickest 400 IMer on the crew, having swum a season-best of 4:09.33. She was the one Hoosier below 4:10 within the occasion final season.

The longer term seems to be vibrant, nonetheless, as IU is bringing in three proficient IMers with this freshmen class. Justine Delmas leads that group, having been 2:16.00 within the LCM 200 IM and 4:46.27 within the 400 IM. These occasions ought to put her safely below 2:00 and 4:10 in yards coming in, however we’ll need to see how she adapts to yards swimming. It ought to be famous that Delmas will all however actually swim the 100 breast, which implies it’s most likely unlikely she’ll race the 400 IM at championship meets, as these occasions are on the identical day. That being mentioned, proper now it appears probably that Delmas’ occasions would be the 200 IM, 100 breast, and 200 breast this yr.

Her sister, Lucie Delmas, is also an possibility within the IMs. She holds a private greatest of two:19.72 within the LCM 200 IM. Whereas that point doesn’t essentially flip heads, it’s price noting she posted that point again in 2019.

Reese Tiltmann is among the premier IMers in her highschool class as effectively. Tiltmann has been 1:58.67 within the 200 IM, an excellent time for an incoming freshman, in the meantime, she’s been 4:11.11 within the 400 IM.

If we venture the advance we usually see out of freshmen at Indiana, this might transform a really stable IM group by the top of this season, although it’s somewhat up within the air proper now.

DIVING: ★★★★★

Indiana stays one of many premier diving applications within the NCAA. Whereas their outcomes from final season would most likely put them within the 4-star class, Indiana ought to profit in an enormous method from the return of Tarrin Gilliland. Gilliland didn’t compete final season, and even with out her, IU’s diving squad carried out very effectively.

Gilliland was the NCAA champion in platform diving in her freshman and sophomore seasons. In her sophomore season, she was certainly one of two divers within the NCAA to qualify for the ‘A’ ultimate in all three diving occasions at NCAAs. Along with her win in platform, Gilliland took third in 3-meter and eighth in 1-meter.

Gilliland is a drive by herself, nonetheless, she’s rejoining the likes of Anne Fowler and Skyler Liu, each of whom have been ‘A’ finalists in an occasion at NCAAs final season. Fowler, the Huge Ten Diver of the Meet final yr, got here in 2nd on 3-meter, whereas Liu took 4th on platform.

After all, with this being an Olympic yr, it’s attainable there are Olympic redshirts we don’t but find out about, however given how issues stand now, IU could have probably the greatest diving squads within the NCAA this season.

RELAYS: ★★★★

IU’s relays look to be in superb form heading into this season. The Hoosiers posted high 8 finishes in all three free relays at NCAAs final season, in addition to a Twelfth-place end within the 200 medley relay. That’s related as a result of IU is simply shedding three of the 20 relay legs from final season. Noelle Peplowski was the breaststroker on each medley relays and Mac Looze swam on the 800 free relay. Exterior of that, each different leg from final yr’s relays return.

Let’s begin with the free relays, as a result of 11/12 legs will return from final yr. When it comes to changing Mac Looze on the 800 free relay, it shouldn’t be too powerful for the Hoosiers. Looze cut up 1:45.23 on the anchor at NCAAs final season. Coming into this season, the plain alternative could be to place Ella Ristic, who swam a 1:45.45 flat-start final season and has a lifetime better of 1:44.77, on the relay. On condition that, there’s motive to consider IU’s 800 free relay might be somewhat quicker this season, which is extremely encouraging since they completed Seventh within the occasion final yr.

Shifting backward down the distances, Indiana took sixth within the 400 free relay at NCAAs final yr. Anna Peplowski (48.46), Ella Ristic (48.79), Ashley Turak (47.94), and Kristina Paegle (47.20) swam a 3:12.39. All 4 legs return, which implies we are able to anticipate Indiana’s 400 free relay to be proper round the place they have been final yr.

The 200 free relay noticed Peplowski (22.13), Turak (21.43), Paegle (21.65) and Broshears (22.27) crew as much as swim a 1:27.48 for eighth at NCAAs. As soon as once more, that entire relay returns, which implies we are able to anticipate one thing comparable this season.

The Indiana medley relays are way more attention-grabbing as we head into this season. We all know they’ve robust lead-off and anchor legs, as both Anna Peplowski or Kacey McKenna will swim backstroke, and both Kristina Paegle or Ashely Turak will swim free. The lack of Noelle Peplowski on the breaststroke leg is a little bit of a success, nonetheless, both Justine Delmas or Brearna Crawford ought to have the ability to choose up that torch. Peplowski was 26.96 on the 200 medley relay and 58.97 on the 400 at NCAAs final season. Given Delmas’ and Crawford’s private bests, they need to have the ability to match, perhaps even beat, these splits.

All of that being mentioned, Indiana’s medley relays are in place to be improved from final yr. The reason being that they need to have much-improved fly legs. Final yr at NCAAs, Broshears cut up 23.15 on the fly leg of the 200 medley relay and 52.58 on the 400 medley relay. These have been each nice swims for Broshears, nonetheless, even so, Lucie Delmas and Ava Whitaker be part of the crew this yr with occasions that point out they need to have the ability to be even quicker,

As issues stand now, it’s very sensible that Indiana might put up top-eight finishes in all 5 relays at NCAAs this season.

Whole Stars: 24/40

2023-2024 OUTLOOK: 

Although Indiana misplaced two of their leaders from final yr in Mac Looze and Noelle Peplowski, the Hoosiers are primed to be somewhat bit higher this season than final. The presumed return of Tarrin Gilliland can’t be overstated, as she’s certainly one of (if not the) greatest ladies’s divers within the NCAA at the moment. Her return will present an enormous increase to IU each at Huge Tens and NCAAs.

Along with Gilliland, the Delmas sisters appear to be they need to make an instantaneous impression of their first NCAA season. Although we haven’t seen them race yards earlier than, their LCM success signifies they’ve NCAA-scoring potential in a number of occasions as freshmen. Furthermore, the addition of Lucie Delmas is large for the Hoosiers, because it’s been a couple of years since they’ve had an NCAA-scoring caliber flyer on the roster. She ought to be enormous for Indiana each individually and on the medley relays.

When it comes to returners, Huge Ten Swimmer of the Yr Anna Peplowski ought to be a pacesetter within the pool as soon as once more for Indiana. An ‘A’ finalist within the 200 free and ‘B’ ultimate winner within the 200 again at NCAAs final season, Peplowski is large for IU each in her particular person occasions and on relays.

Ching Hwee Gan was IU’s high scorer within the pool final yr at NCAAs, having taken 2nd within the 1650 free and Seventh within the 500. Coming off a fantastic summer time of LCM racing, Gan is primed for an additional nice season.

Maybe one of many largest issues Indiana has going for it this yr is that they return almost all of their legs from their relays at NCAAs final season. Between that and the potential for improved medley relays, Indiana is in nice form relay-wise.

Given all of that, Indiana ought to as soon as once more compete for the Huge Ten title this season, and they need to be proper there on the sting of a top-five end at NCAAs after taking Seventh this season.

WOMEN’S 2023-24 COLLEGE PREVIEW INDEX

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