The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Amherst, Avon Lake athletes claim titles
Comets sensation wins 200 free, places second in 100 free; Shoregal Williams takes first in 200 free and third in 500 at meet at CSU
There’s a bit of the waiting game to be played.
While The Morning Journal area posted some excellent swims at the Division I Lakewood Sectional meet at Cleveland State’s Robert F. Busbey Natatorium on Feb. 10, eight individuals and four relays achieved a top-two finish necessary for an automatic berth in the Northwest District meet on Feb. 17 at Bowling Green.
Of those automatic berths, only Amherst senior Nathan Moore and Avon Lake sophomore Maggie Williams claimed sectional titles.
“Now that the Fremont sectional is just one, this is one of the toughest,” Amherst senior Nathan Moore said. “It’s nice to know that if you get a second or first today, you’re going to probably get a good seed and be in a center lane next week.”
As Moore alluded, the Lakewood Sectional is the fastest in the Northwest District, so typically a top-15 finish results in a district berth. There are 28 atlarge bids to district for individuals and 20 relay bids still up for grabs.
Moore, however, will be doing no waiting.
The Comets’ standout claimed automatic berths with a victory in the 200 freestyle (1:46.81) and a second in the 100 freestyle (48.24). Additionally, he won’t have to wait for his relays, as he teamed with Sam Parker, Max Mlincek and Jake Kiska for a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay (1:38.82) and then joined Mlincek, Kevin Heyd and Kiska for automatic berth in the 200 free relay (second, 1:29.05).
“I’m pleased, but I’m tired,” Moore said. “We’re comfortable heading into next week and looking forward to Bowling Green. I wasn’t the happiest with my swims, but I’m pleased to get the results I wanted. I’m tired by design, so I’m excited for next week.”
The win in the 200 freestyle was Moore’s first sectional title.
“It’s exciting,” Moore said of getting a sectional title. “I’m really more worried with what’s going to happen next week, but it’s nice.”
Moore was not alone in individual qualifications, as Kiska will join him at Bowling Green.
Kiska placed second in the 50 freestyle (22.23) and should also make it as an atlarge bid in the 100 freestyle (eighth, 49.96).
While excited for the trip to Bowling Green, Kiska said he wasn’t as pleased with his swims, particularly the 100 freestyle. Having not tapered, he knows that faster times are still to come.
“My first performance today, the 50 fly in the relay, it felt good. It felt strong and felt like what it was supposed to be,” Kiska said. “The 50 free felt iffy and the 100 free was horrendous. I did not like that at all.
“I’m tired, but I know that’s the intention of it. I mean, I know I’m in a Speedo and that I’m tired, but I’m happy with it still. And I know next week is going to be a lot more smooth.”
Joining Kiska and Moore with an automatic berth is Max Mlincek, who placed second in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.62).
On the girls side, Williams claimed a sectional title in the 200 freestyle with a first-place finish of 1:59.20. She placed third in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:23.51, and is a virtual lock to make two individual events at districts.
“I came in not expecting a ton,” Williams said. “I had a rough week of practice and it’s been really busy. I’m blown away by the results and I’m really happy with them.
“I started having some issues with my shoulder (during practice) and certain ways I was doing a stroke. It just got heavy to swim, so I was like, ‘Well, I’ll go into sectionals and hope for the best and see what happens.’”
Williams will be joined by teammate Chloe Casterline at Bowling Green. Casterline placed second in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.58). She should also be a lock in the 200 IM, where she placed fifth (2:18.91).
The two Shoregals will be joined by a pair of Pirates, as Rocky River sophomore Anna Skapoulas claimed an automatic berth in the 100 butterfly (second, 59.51) and sophomore Mackenzie Schuld bested Williams for second-place in the 500 freestyle (5:23.46).
Skapoulas, who should be a lock in the 50 freestyle for an at-large bid (fourth, 24.83), also qualified as a member of the 200 medley relay (1:51.49) with Morgan Schuld, Katherine Burgess and Peyton Sperry and the 200 freestyle relay (second, 1:42.17) with Morgan Schuld, Spearry and Burgess.
Other Morning Journal area finishes in the top-10 that should be locks for the district meet include:
• Amherst: boys 400 freestyle relay (seventh, 3:29.47), senior Adam Cook (seventh, 200 freestyle, 1:53.79), sophomore Kevin Heyd (sixth, 200 IM, 2:09.77), senior Brad Golski (eighth, 200 IM, 2:10.49), senior Robby Beal (sixth, 500 freestyle, 5:15.77), junior Sam Parker (eighth, 100 backstroke, 57.22) and freshman Chase Aruskevicius (fourth, 500 freestyle, 5:11.56; 10th, 100 backstroke, 58.70).
• Avon: boys 200 medley relay (fifth, 1:45.55) and 400 freestyle relay (eighth, 3:21.20), girls 200 medley
relay (eighth, 1:57.41), 200 freestyle relay (sixth, 1:45.06) and 400 freestyle relay (seventh, 3:49.75), junior Kyle Brown (fourth, 100 butterfly, 55.10; sixth, 100 backstroke, 56.02), senior David Hammerschmidt (fourth, 100 backstroke, 55.91), sophomore Katt Benny (fifth, 200 freestyle, 2:01.78; fourth, 100 freestyle, 55.04), junior Kaitlyn Hunt (third, 200 IM, 2:17.61; ninth, 100 backstroke, 1:02.11) and junior Caitlin Downing (fourth, 100 butterfly, 1:01.14).
• Avon Lake: boys 200 medley relay (seventh, 1:48.98) and 200 freestyle relay (10th, 1:38.69), girls 200 medley relay (fifth, 1:54.20), 200 freestyle relay (seventh, 1:45.69) and 400 freestyle relay (10th, 3:54.48) and sophomore William Moses (fifth, 200 freestyle, 1:52.04; seventh, 100 freestyle, 49.96).
• Olmsted Falls: girls 200 freestyle relay (ninth, 1:47.97) and junior Masen Collins (ninth, 200 freestyle, 1:54.65; eighth, 500 freestyle, 5:18.11).
• Rocky River: junior Katherine Burgess (sixth, 200 IM, 2:19.40; third, 100 breaststroke, 1:08.84), sophomore Mary Claire Flynn (eighth, 200 IM, 2:20.37; 10th, 100 breaststroke, 1:12.68), sophomore Peyton Spearry, (third, 100 freestyle, 54.81; seventh, 100 backstroke, 1:01.06) and sophomore Morgan Schuld (fourth, 500 freestyle, 5:23.61; sixth, 100 backstroke, 1:01.01).
• Westlake: boys 200 medley relay (ninth, 1:52.60), 200 freestyle relay (seventh, 1:35.17) and 400 freestyle relay (fifth, 3:27.29), girls 200 medley relay (10th, 1:59.46), 200 freestyle relay (fifth, 1:44.23) and 400 freestyle relay (sixth, 3:47.74), freshman Luke Heberle (third, 100 butterfly, 53.94), sophomore Katie Sanchez (eighth, 50 freestyle, 25.41; eighth, 100 freestyle, 56.14) and senior Erin Kelleher (sixth, 100 butterfly, 1:02.78).