Columbus East High School

INDIANAPOLIS – The Columbus East boys swim and dive team made a strong showing at the IHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships this weekend at the IU Natatorium, delivering record-breaking performances and top finishes on the state’s biggest stage. Freshman standout Josh Pendleton stole the spotlight in the 500-yard freestyle. After finishing 11th in Friday’s preliminaries, he secured a spot in the consolation final. Pendleton made the most of the opportunity, charging from behind in the final stretch to win the heat in a school-record time of 4 minutes, 34.07 seconds, breaking the previous mark of 4:35.67 set by Brady Beyer in 2023. His ninth-place overall finish made him the fastest freshman in the event, cementing his place among Indiana’s rising swimming talents. Senior Misha Machavariani also put on an impressive performance in the 100-yard breaststroke. Competing in the consolation final, he finished 13th with a time of 57.97, narrowly missing the school record of 56.94. His effort capped off a successful high school career, contributing valuable points to East’s team total. Diver Gavin Day, making his third state appearance, was in 10th place after six rounds but slipped to 17th after eight dives, just missing the cut for the final round. Despite the setback, Day closed out his season with a positive outlook, having finished 11th at last year’s championships. In Friday’s preliminaries, senior Keaton Stephenson competed in the 200 freestyle, placing 22nd with a time of 1:45.55. The Olympians also made a strong bid in the 400 freestyle relay, with Stephenson, Pendleton, Machavariani, and senior Eli Isaacs finishing 18th in 3:15.81. Columbus East wrapped up the state meet with 13 team points, finishing 26th overall. Meanwhile, the Carmel Greyhounds won their 11th straight state title with a commanding 412.5 points. With young talent like Pendleton emerging and seniors leaving behind a strong legacy, the Olympians have plenty to build on as they look ahead to the future of their program.