2022 Circle City Classic
- January 28-30, 2022
- IUPUI Natatorium, Indianapolis, IN
- 25 Yards (SCY)
The 39th Annual Circle City Classic took place this past weekend at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis, IN. The meet features club swimmers from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Kentucky. USA Swimming’s “BB” motivational time standards were required for entry. The meet is formatted as timed finals Friday evening for distance events and prelims/finals for 13 & over and timed finals for 12 & under on Saturday and Sunday.
On the girls’ side, Karen Austin (BBA) kicked off the meet swimming to victory in the open mile. Austin dropped over 11 seconds to win in a time of 16:51.62. Austin is committed to swim at the University of Buffalo beginning this fall. This best time in the 1650 freestyle now moves her from what would have been ninth to fifth at the 2021 MAC Championships. Later Friday evening, Austin won the open girls 400 IM in a time of 4:23.21 (a best time by over three seconds). That best time would have moved her from the ‘B’ to the ‘A’ final at the 2021 MAC Championships.
Claire Jansen (HSC) won both the 100 (54.92) and 200 (2:01.51) backstrokes. Both were best times for Jansen. She also broke Missy Franklin’s 100 backstroke meet record. Franklin’s record was a time of 55.38 from 2009 when she was 13-years-old.
Piper Wood Prince (FMC) won two events on the weekend. She won both the open 500 freestyle in a time of 4:56.40 and the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:51.47. Her best times are a 4:52.92 in the 500 freestyle and a 1:51.21 in the 200 freestyle.
Kit Schneider (HSC) also won multiple events at the meet. She won the 200 IM in a time of 2:05.23. That was a time drop of over three seconds, although it is still off of what it took to score at the 2021 Big Ten Championships. She also won the 50 (23.53) and 100 (50.61) freestyles. Schneider is committed to Wisconsin and will arrive on campus in fall 2023.
HSC teammate Carolina Kramer swept the open breaststroke events as she won the 100 in a time of 1:03.66 and the 200 in a time of 2:18.80. Her best times are a 1:02.97 in the 100 breaststroke and a 2:18.23 in the 200 breaststroke.
Josh Noll (PAWW) won the open boys 500 freestyle in a time of 4:38.24. That was over three seconds off his best time of 4:34.47. Noll also won the 50 (21.21), 100 (45.92), and 200 (1:41.29) freestyles. Noll is committed to begin at Auburn University in fall 2023. His 50 freestyle was a best time by 0.44 seconds, although it is still out of scoring range for Auburn at SECs.
BBD’s Angus MacDonald earned three wins on the weekend. MacDonald won the open 400 IM (4:01.99), the 200 IM (1:52.46), and the 200 breaststroke (2:07.01). His 200 IM was a best time by over two seconds.
Michigan commit Ethan Schwab (BBD), won the open boys 100 breaststroke (56.32). He also was top seed headed into finals in the 200 breaststroke (2:02.76) but scratched finals. Teammate Drew Collins won the open 200 backstroke in a time of 1:51.24. He also was top seed in the 100 backstroke (49.62) before scratching finals.
Top 14 & Under Highlights
FOX’s Blake Torpey (10 years old) won the 50 freestyle in a time of 27.00. That was a best time by 0.49 seconds and places him tied at #17 in the country this year for 10 and under boys. Torpey also won the 100 butterfly on day 2 in a time of 1:05.74. That was a best time by over six seconds and places him at #8 in the country this season for 10 and under boys. On day 3, Torpe won the 50 butterfly (29.04), 50 breaststroke (35.65), and 100 backstroke (1:07.67)
12-year-old Luke Vatev (HOSC) dropped over 15 seconds on day 1 in the 11-12 500 freestyle to win in a time of 5:11.98. Vatev continued his success into day 2 winning the 11-12 boys 200 IM (2:12.03, best time by over five seconds), 50 freestyle (24.37), and 50 backstroke (27.56). On day three, Vatev won the 50 butterfly (26.63), 100 backstroke (57.11), and 100 freestyle (53.38).
Mitch Niemiec (HSC) won the boys 13-14 400 IM touching the wall in a best time by over two seconds with a time of 4:13.17. Niemiec also won the 13-14 200 IM (1:56.91), 100 breaststroke (59.41), and 200 breaststroke (2:08.79). All three events were best times for Niemiec.
10-year-old Kam Gardiner of PAWW won the girls 10 & under 200 IM in a time of 2:28.95. That was a best time by over four seconds. It also places her at #16 in the country this season for 10 & under girls in the event.
Izzy Kula (PAWW) won the girls 11-12 500 freestyle, dropping over 13 seconds to finish in a time of 5:34.76.
Imogen Duffy (HSC) won the girls 13-14 400 IM swimming to a best time by over four seconds. She touched the wall in a time of 4:29.51.
What was Missy doing at a BB meet in the middle of winter in Indiana at 13yrs?? Odd travel meet for a CO swimmer.
Colorado Stars used to do a lot of travel meets. I never heard a reasoning for it, but Schmitz really used to like them.
Remember: even if she was a fast 13 year old, who became a crazy-fast 14 year old, she was still a member of an age group program that had different goals outside of her.
Thank you sir, I honestly didn’t expect an answer.
GO HSC!!!
These kids are dropping like, 15 seconds on races meanwhile I’m struggling to get past a 26 on my 50 fly