Evansville Area Athletes Shine at IHSAA Girls Swimming State Finals

Swimmers and divers from Mount Vernon, Castle, Tecumseh, and North post strong performances at the state championship meet.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Indiana high school girls swimming and diving season concluded with the IHSAA state championship meet at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis. Evansville-area athletes had several standout performances, including a third-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle by Mount Vernon's Peyton McDaniel and a sixth-place finish in the 100 freestyle by Castle's Addison Carlile. Tecumseh's Marissa Schaefer placed ninth in 1-meter diving, and North's Gabrielle Irvin took eighth in the 100 breaststroke.

Why it matters

The IHSAA state swimming and diving championships represent the pinnacle of high school competition in Indiana, showcasing the top talent from across the state. Evansville-area athletes' strong showings at this elite meet demonstrate the depth of swimming and diving programs in the region and the hard work and dedication of these student-athletes.

The details

Several Evansville-area swimmers and divers earned podium finishes and top-10 placements at the IHSAA state finals. Mount Vernon sophomore Peyton McDaniel had the best individual performance, taking third in the 50-yard freestyle and ninth in the 100 butterfly. Castle senior Addison Carlile also reached the podium, finishing seventh in the 50 freestyle and sixth in the 100 freestyle. Tecumseh senior Marissa Schaefer placed ninth in 1-meter diving, and North junior Gabrielle Irvin was eighth in the 100 breaststroke.

  • The IHSAA girls swimming and diving state championship meet was held on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Peyton McDaniel

A sophomore swimmer at Mount Vernon High School who placed third in the 50-yard freestyle and ninth in the 100 butterfly at the IHSAA state finals.

Addison Carlile

A senior swimmer at Castle High School who finished seventh in the 50-yard freestyle and sixth in the 100-yard freestyle at the IHSAA state championship meet.

Marissa Schaefer

A senior diver at Tecumseh High School who placed ninth in the 1-meter diving event at the IHSAA state finals.

Gabrielle Irvin

A junior swimmer at North High School who took eighth place in the 100-yard breaststroke at the IHSAA state championship.

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The takeaway

The strong performances by Evansville-area swimmers and divers at the IHSAA state finals showcase the talent and dedication of these student-athletes, as well as the strength of the region's high school swimming and diving programs. These results demonstrate the Evansville area's continued excellence in the sport and its ability to produce top-tier competitors at the state level.