East Sophomore Posts Two Top-10 State Finishes

Pendleton rewrites school records in 500-yard freestyle and 200 freestyle

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Columbus East sophomore Josh Pendleton made a splash at the IHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals, delivering two top-10 finishes and rewriting his own school records in the process. Pendleton moved up from seventh in prelims to finish sixth in the state in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:32.58, and won the consolation heat in the 200 freestyle to finish ninth overall with a time of 1:41.79 - another school record.

Why it matters

Pendleton's impressive performances at the state finals demonstrate his emergence as one of Indiana's elite high school swimmers, and signal a bright future for the Columbus East swimming program. His ability to improve on his preliminary times and climb the podium in highly competitive events highlights his talent and potential.

The details

In the 500-yard freestyle, Pendleton shaved time off his previous school record to finish sixth in the state. In the 200 freestyle, he qualified 11th but came back on Saturday to win the consolation heat and finish ninth overall, also setting a new school record.

  • Pendleton qualified 11th in the 200 freestyle on Friday.
  • On Saturday, Pendleton won the consolation heat in the 200 freestyle to finish ninth overall.
  • Pendleton moved up from seventh in prelims to finish sixth in the state in the 500-yard freestyle.

The players

Josh Pendleton

A sophomore swimmer at Columbus East High School who delivered two top-10 finishes and set new school records at the IHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals.

Dagan Kleffman

A junior diver at Columbus North High School who finished 19th in the state after surviving the first cut and competing among the final 20.

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The takeaway

Pendleton's impressive performances at the state finals showcase his emergence as a rising star in Indiana high school swimming, and suggest that the Columbus East program is poised for continued success in the years to come.