The last high school swim season was not a particularly pleasant one for Gracey Payne, even if the results suggest otherwise.
Sure, Franklin’s standout sprinter finished in a tie for third place in the 50-yard freestyle at the state meet and swam on a pair of top-three relays for the Grizzly Cubs, who capped the best team season in school history with a state runner-up trophy.
But it was anything but smooth sailing for Payne, who spent a good chunk of the season in a great deal of — well, she was hurting.
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What originally showed up as lower back pain turned out to be rooted in a growth on her femur right where it met the hip socket. That growth was rubbing against cartilage and causing a great deal of discomfort over the final two months of the season.
Payne gutted it out as best she could — she got a steroid shot four weeks before the state meet and took eight Tylenols the day of — but pain management was only a short-term solution. Just days after state, she underwent surgery and began the frustrating and long road back.
“It was definitely really hard getting back into it; my head wasn’t in it,” Payne said. “But I had a talk with (Franklin coach Zach) DeWitt, and he was like, ‘We need you; this is your time to shine.’”
Shining hasn’t been a problem for Payne over her first two high school seasons. She won the 100 freestyle as a freshman at the sectional, then doubled up in the 50 and 100 as a sophomore before collecting those three top-three state finishes (along with a ninth-place effort in the 100 free).
It may take her some time to get back to that level this winter — Payne just got back to being able to go through full practices a few weeks ago — but DeWitt has no doubt that she’ll get there by the time it matters.
“Gracey’s bread has always been buttered with her strength, and she has not lost that,” he said. “Not even close to having lost that; she’s still very explosive.”
Having gotten back into a rhythm both in and out of the water, Payne is feeling good and setting the same sky-high expectations she was setting for herself prior to getting injured. Anything less than the top of the state podium is likely to leave the ultra-competitive junior unsatisfied, and so she’ll spend the next four months trying put herself in a position to get there.
“I definitely want to win state this year,” Payne said, “but it’s going to take a lot of dedication and a lot of hard work, in practice and out of practice, eating the right thing and just getting back in shape, because I’m still not there yet.
“I’m doing a lot better, so I’m very confident that I’ll be able to do what I want to do.”
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Center Grove Trojans
Coach: Jim Todd
Last season: Second at county and sectional meets; third at MIC championships
Key returnees: Hailey Bellian and Gracie Marsh, seniors; Marie Encarnado, Jessica Holland, Kenzie Mills, Jillian Mitchell, Molly Stiles and Devin Trammell, juniors; Jasmine Cai, Grace McKee and Kiersten Smith, sophomores
What to expect: The Trojans leaned heavily on seniors last season and have some holes to fill, but Todd is hopeful that between the returning veterans and a large group of freshmen, those voids can be filled by season’s end. Mills was a state qualifier in diving last winter, narrowly missing the finals; the hope is that she can return and perhaps challenge for a spot on the podium there.
Franklin Grizzly Cubs
Coach: Zach DeWitt
Last season: Won Mid-State Conference, county and sectional championships; finished second at state meet
Key returnees: Lina Caudill, Sarah Hoffman and Lucy Ho, seniors; Kabria Chapman, Lillian Lacy and Gracey Payne, juniors; Alea Hensley, Paige Lawrence and Ava Ray, sophomores
Top newcomers: Bella Ratzlaff, senior; Lexi Couch and Grace Fisher, juniors; Allie Lacy, freshman
What to expect: With four Division I college swimmers having graduated, some might be expecting a slight dropoff from the Grizzly Cubs this winter, but don’t be so sure. Payne and Chapman were both state medalists last year, and Hoffman reached the second day of the state meet in the 200- and 500-yard freestyles. Ratzlaff, a state qualifier at Indian Creek as a sophomore, should add some quality depth along with Hensley and Ho, both contributors last year who will need to take on larger roles. Expect Franklin to at least be in the mix for another top-five state showing.
Greenwood Woodmen
Coach: Brooke Thompson
Last season: Third in county, conference and sectional
Key returnees: Rachel Knight and Alex Wilson, seniors; Alayna Kenworthy, Ava Leininger and Grace Nuhfer, juniors; Charli Graves and Madison Peckinpaugh, sophomores
Top newcomers: Lydia Johnson, Maddie Johnson and Naomi Weaver, freshmen
What to expect: The young Woodmen experienced a breakthrough last winter, with Nuhfer finishing 18th in the state in the butterfly and leading the medley relay to a state berth as well. This year, Greenwood’s hope is to send a bigger contingent to that final meet and hopefully score some points. With all of the key contributors back and Weaver leading a solid freshman class that adds some needed depth, those goals should be well within reach.
Greenwood Christian Cougars
Coach: Paul Ziegler
Last season: Sixth at county meet and 11th at sectional
Key returnee: Sarah Ziegler, sophomore
What to expect: With her older sister graduated, Sarah Ziegler becomes the entire GCA team. She’ll compete in the distance freestyle events and the butterfly, and while making it to state might not be a real option just yet, she should at least be competitive at the county and sectional meets.
Indian Creek Braves
Coach: Brad Smith
Last season: Fifth at county, ninth at sectional
Key returnees: Sierra Bowman and Lissy Vanette, seniors
What to expect: With the exception of Vannette, who should be solid in the breaststroke and butterfly, and Bowman, one of the county’s top returning divers, Smith isn’t entirely sure. He’s lost some swimmers to injury and doesn’t yet have enough reliable bodies to replace them. The hope is that by the time the conference meet comes around, the Braves will at least have enough numbers-wise to put together some relay teams and be competitive.
Whiteland Warriors
Coach: Alec DeWitt
Last season: Fourth in county, conference and sectional
Key returnees: Gabby Campbell and Alex Halle, seniors; Addison Daily and Avery Herring, juniors
Top newcomer: Amelia Edens, freshman
What to expect: Having had a full year now to get established, DeWitt is beyond excited about his team’s prospects for this season. A healthy Daily could potentially earn a state spot, and a large and talented freshman class, led by Edens, should make the Warriors deep enough to qualify some relays and also contend with the likes of Center Grove and Greenwood at the county and sectional meets.
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