INDIANAPOLIS — As sophomores, they were taught by seniors.
It only seemed right, as seniors, they should be teaching sophomores.
The combination of veterans and the less-experienced has led to big things for the Pendleton Heights girls’ swimming and diving team.
Seniors Karly Riffey and Emma Robison combined with sophomores Grace McKinney and Jaima Link to set a school record in the 400-yard freestyle relay at the Hamilton Southeastern Sectional on Feb. 8. They found out the next day that time was good enough to qualify for the IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals.
At the state finals preliminaries at the IUPUI Natatorium on Friday, they set a school record again.
It was the second time Riffey and Robison had been to the state’s biggest meet. They swam in the same race two years ago with two seniors, Sarah Dudley and McKenna Jule.
This time they were the mentors.
“I hope that is what they see, but I can’t speak for them,” Riffey said of her younger teammates. “I definitely felt like they have been my girls for this season. It’s been really great and really fun. They’ve become my family.”
In 2018, the relay team finished 22nd in the state with a time of 3:39.73. That time was beaten, with McKinney and Link, at the this year’s sectional, good for third in 3:39.64.
The record was surpassed again in the prelims, with a time of 3:38.60. The Arabian foursome finished 22nd, the same as in 2018. The placing was one spot better than they were seeded.
“It’s kind of really cool to see the role reversal,” McKinney said. “They were here with two seniors as sophomores, and we’re here with two seniors as sophomores. It was comforting to know that they had this experience and they were in our shoes two years ago.
“They definitely mentored us and taught us a lot about being leaders and how these meets work. I hope when we are seniors we can take a group of freshmen and sophomores, or any underclassmen, and teach them what we know, because they have taught us.”
“It’s an honor to be with them,” Link added. “Emma has been my training partner both years because we swim the same events, and Riff has been one of my closest friends on the team. They’ve been with us the entire time. It’s really comforting.
“This (last race) gave us a chance to prove ourselves to them.”
It was a great way to wrap up the season. Along with setting a school record at the final competition, the Arabians swim team went unbeaten during the regular season in dual meets and finished runners-up in the Hoosier Heritage Conference.
“I’m really happy,” Robison said. “I think we all did a great job and gave our all for the last swim of the season. I couldn’t be happier with how it went. It was a fun night.”