Carmel Named Swimming World National High School Champ

Carmel Named Swimming World Girls’ National High School Champion for 10th Time (Full Results)

For the 10^th time, Carmel High School (Indiana) can celebrate being named Swimming World’s girls’ national high school champion. And this latest title might come with a little more excitement, as the Greyhounds had to overcome illness at the end of their season to once again land in the top spot.

When a bout of the flu plagued Carmel High last winter, the timing was unfortunate. The illness popped up during the Indiana postseason, and while it did not deter the Greyhounds from capturing a 39^th straight state championship, the squad’s performances were not what was envisioned. Would that sickness prevent coach Chris Plumb’s team from capturing another mythical national crown?

Nope.

As a nod to the incredible firepower and depth annually put on display by the school, Carmel earned its 10^th national championship with 131 points for the 2024-25 scholastic season. That total was eight points clear of the 123 accumulated by Rosary (Illinois), which is recognized as the Independent Schools champ. In third was California’s Santa Margarita, which scored 118 points.

Swimming World, thanks to the calculations and dedicated time of Bob Klapthor, annually recognizes the top high school programs in the country. All times produced by athletes in high school competition are scored by Klapthor using a 16-place system. Swimmers are limited to two individual events and two relays or one solo event and three relays, per high school rules. Klapthor ensures each school’s entries reflect their maximum scoring.

In reaching double-figure national championships, Carmel was sensational in relay action. The Greyhounds registered the top times in the country in the 200 medley relay (1:39.10) and 400 freestyle relay (3:18.39), and finished with the second-fastest time in the 200 freestyle relay (1:31.54).

Individually, Olympian Alex Shackell accounted for the remainder of Carmel’s scoring, thanks to a No. 2 ranking in the 100 butterfly. Shackell had a best of 50.67, which was .05 shy of the top time by Hatboro-Horsham’s Annie Jia.

“Dealing with the flu was both a mental and physical challenge —  not being at your best while competing against elite competition is a daunting task, and the team really came through,” Plumb said after Carmel won the state title. “This team was deep in all the events and speaks to how difficult it is just to even make the roster.”

The Top-10 Teams (Overall)

1. Carmel (Indiana) – 131
2. Rosary (Illinois) – 123
3. Santa Margarita (California) – 118
4. Bellevue (Washington) – 114
5. New Trier (Illinois) – 101
6. Windermere (Florida) – 100
7. Phillips Exeter (New Hampshire) – 89
8. The Bolles School (Florida) – 78
9. Mira Costa (California) – 78
10. Saint Charles North (Illinois) – 74

The Top-10 Teams (Public)

1. Carmel (Indiana) – 131
2. Bellevue (Washington) – 114
3. New Trier (Illinois) – 101
4. Windermere (Florida) – 100
5. Mira Costa (California) – 78
6. Saint Charles North (Illinois) – 74
7. Hatboro-Horsham (Pennsylvania) – 59.5
8. Riverview (Florida) – 41
9. Pine Creek (Colorado) – 37
10. Wawasee (Indiana) – 36

The Top-10 Teams (Independent)

1. Rosary (Illinois) – 123
2. Santa Margarita (California) – 118
3. Phillips Exeter (New Hampshire) – 89
4. The Bolles School (Florida) – 78
5. Germantown Academy (Pennsylvania) – 56
6. Charlotte Country Day (North Carolina) – 46
7. Sacred Heart Academy (Kentucky) – 38
8. Cary Academy (North Carolina) – 20.5
9. Liberty Christian (California) – 16
10. Cardinal Gibbons (North Carolina) – 13
11. Woods Charter (North Carolina) – 13
12. Raleigh Charter (North Carolina) – 13