Artim brings home 2 state medals
South Carolina recruit Artim brings home two state medals for Crown Point
South Carolina recruit earns a pair of medals for Crown Point, finishing fourth in the 50-yard freestyle and eighth in the 100 breaststroke.
INDIANAPOLIS – Crown Point senior Jordan Artim didn’t win a state championship, but she couldn’t have asked for a much better day.
One of Artim’s older sisters, Mackenzie, was a surprise visitor and provided the calming influence Jordan needed in Saturday’s girls swimming state meet at the IU Natatorium at IUPUI.
“She kept telling me she was busy,” Jordan said of Mackenzie. “But then she shows up on the deck. I was surprised for sure.
“She knows what it’s like and talked me through it. She told me to relax and to just make the most of it — to have fun and to enjoy your last meet.”
Artim earned a pair of a medals, finishing fourth in the 50-yard freestyle and eighth in the 100 breaststroke.
“This was honestly the perfect way to end my high school career,” Artim said. “Swimming isn’t over for me, but to end my high school season this way, I couldn’t have asked for anything better to be honest.”
Artim clocked 23.30 seconds in the 50 free and went 1 minute, 4.72 seconds in the breaststroke. Last season, the South Carolina recruit finished 16th and 27th, respectively.
“I was surprised how fast I went in the 50,” she said. “In the breaststroke, I felt great that first 50, but I couldn’t bring it home like I wanted to.
“I definitely wanted to go faster than I did in prelims, but I’m still happy.”
Crown Point coach Bryon Angerman believes Artim, who missed over a month with a broken hand, could have had better times if she would have been 100% all season.
“For her to do what she’s doing, wow,” Angerman said. “Jordan got faster every year. Her goal to begin with was to just get one medal and she got two. She gave everything she had in her.
“She’ll go to South Carolina as an untapped resource and is only gonna get faster.”
Chesterton was the area’s top team finisher, ending up 10th with 77 points. Carmel won its 34th straight state title with 426.5 points.
Junior Maisyn Klimczak took fifth in 500 freestyle for the second straight season, clocking a 4:59.44 for Chesterton.
“The girl I swam next to at prelims barely touched me out so it was like, ‘All right, time to get my revenge,’” Klimczak said. “I haven’t been feeling the best over the last couple days, and knowing that it was the best I could have done, I’m happy with it.”
Chesterton sophomore Alana Jardenil was seventh in the breaststroke in 1:04.28, the second-fastest time of her career.
“I trained really hard this year and I knew what I’ve worked for,” Jardenil said. “It was just trusting what I’ve done throughout the season.”
Repeat performance: Junior Paige Bakker placed fifth in the 50 free and eighth in the 100 free for Lake Central, making it consecutive seasons she has picked up medals in both events.
“It was such a roller coaster this weekend,” Bakker said. “I’ve got some goals that I still want to hit, but I can say I’m satisfied with the weekend.”
Sophomore Jourie Wilson won the consolation heat of the 100 back, placing ninth. Lake Central took 11th overall with 68 points.
Close call: Hobart junior Emma Wright was third in the 100 free, coming up shy in her bid to win back-to-back state titles.
“I tried not to think about it too much,” Wright said of repeating. “I knew I’d get psyched out a little bit. I’m proud of myself. I wished I dropped a little bit of time, but that happens. I can’t be mad.”