The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Bay pair, Rocky River swimmer head to state
MacMillan qualifies for state meet in two events, Miedza in one; Pirates’ Linville headed to Canton
Less than a 10th of a second does not mean anything to most people.
To Bay senior Colin MacMillan, it means everything.
MacMillan automatically qualified for the state meet in Canton after placing second in both the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly at the Division II Northeast District meet on Feb. 16 at Cleveland State’s Robert F. Busbey Natatorium.
The combined time he missed out on district times by? Six one hundredths of a second. The person who beat him in both races?
Hawken senior Zeb Hart, who placed ninth in 50 freestyle and second in the 100 butterfly at state last
year.
“It’s huge,” MacMillan said of the close losses. “I mean, he’s a great swimmer. An incredible flyer. Being that close, it’s definitely something that can motivate me next week.”
Across the various districts, the top two times in each event automatically qualify for the state meet. The next 16 fastest times across the districts receive at-large bids to the state meet.
Which means, for MacMillan, he’s all set to make the trip down I-77 next week.
“I’m definitely happy I got those automatic qualifications,” MacMillan said. “I didn’t really know what to expect today, so to know I’m going to Canton next week for sure is a great feeling.”
In both races, MacMillan appeared to have the edge midway through the race — however, as with the finishes, the leads were my hundredths of a second.
In the end, Hart edged MacMillan in the 50 free, 21.03-21.07, and 100 fly, 49.46-49.48.
Even with some of the top times in the state in the race, MacMillan said he is encouraged because there are some errors in his swims that he knows he can fix to get faster.
“I really wasn’t expecting those races,” MacMillan said. “This week has been kind of inconsistent with my training. Some days I was feeling really good and others not.
“There’s some stuff I can fix, for sure. Especially on the fly. Controlling my breath, particularly in those last 15 yards. Those are so important to finishing the race. I’m happy with the rest, but that’s something I need to clean up.”
MacMillan will be joined by teammate Maja Miedza in Canton.
Though the sophomore did not earn an automatic berth at the District meet, her third-place finish in the 50 freestyle (24.05) makes her all but a guarantee to compete at the state meet. The Northeast District D-II meet is widely regarded as a top-two meet in the state — if not the top meet — and typically a top-four finish gets a swimmer to Canton.
“The 50 (freestyle) is my main event,” Miedza said.
“I knew I had a pretty good shot at making it in that heading into the meet.”
Miedza, who placed third in the state in the 50 freestyle last year as a freshman, said that she was a caught off-guard by how fast the 50 was this year compared to last year.
“Everyone keeps getting faster,” Miedza said. “Last year I finished third in the state, so I thought it would be easier (today), but you always have to be aware that people are getting faster and there’s going to be new faces that you aren’t ready for.”
Miedza, who helped the Rockets place seventh as at team with 95 points, is hoping to make it to Canton in the 100 freestyle as well, but is on the bubble in the event following her seventh-place finish (54.44). She also hopes to travel to Canton with more than just MacMillan for company, as the 200 freestyle relay of Miedza, Kolby Johnston, Gabby Mastromatteo and Kelsey Reid placed fourth with a time of 1:42.39.
“I was definitely focusing more on my 50, so I guess I’m not too disappointed with the 100,” Miedza said. “Hopefully I can make it in both, but we’re just going to have to wait and see. All I know is that I need to work on my entry. I need to get into the middle of the lane since I keep diving in on the side.
“It would be really fun (to get the 200 freestyle relay to Canton). It’s always better when there’s more people. We’re really close, so I hope we make it.”
Joining Miedza as a virtual lock for Canton is Rocky River’s Elijah Linville.
The senior placed third in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.30) and stands a chance at qualification in the 200 IM (seventh, 2:01.41).
Linville said he is excited for the chance to swim again in Canton, particularly since he’s tapering for the state meet.
“Last year I tapered for district,” Linville said. “This year I’m tapering for state. So, this meet was kind of just get through
it. Swim my races, get to Canton and really go for it there.”
In addition to potentially swimming in two individual races, Linville has a chance at two relays. The 200 medley relay of Linville, Harrison Shaw, Tristan Abood and Aiden Morris placed fifth (1:41.69) and the 200 freestyle relay of Linville, Morris, Abood and Ben Mahoney took sixth (1:32.42).
“It would be great to have some other guys down there with me,” Linville said. “The girls don’t swim until tomorrow (as a Division I school), so we’ll see how they do, but if we can have a few guys already heading down, it will be great.”
Rocky River, led by 2018 D-II Northeast District boys Coach of the Year Mark Harris, finished fifth as a team with 135.5 points.
While MacMillan, Miedza and Linville can start preparing for Canton, one area swimmer in particular is playing the waiting game to see if he makes it in one, two or no events.
Fairview junior Marvin Kreis placed sixth in both the 200 freestyle (1:46.42) and 100 freestyle (47.96). Both times but Kreis right on the bubble for the last at-large bids to Canton.
The experience of swimming at the state meet would be an incredible opportunity for the exchange student from Germany.
“I’m happy,” Kreis said. “I was sick yesterday, so I was worried today would not go as I had hoped. I was worried that my 200 freestyle might not get me to states. It kind of bummed me out. But coach (Eileen Bringman) said that I am very close to making it. I am nervous and excited.
“I am very hopeful that I get another chance to swim better next week. In one event would be a great experience. In two would be even better.”
Other area swimmers on the bubble for the state meet include:
• Bay: boys 200 freestyle relay (eighth, 1:32.69), girls 200 medley relay (ninth, 1:56.66) and 400 freestyle relay (ninth, 3:53.55)
• Rocky River: Aiden Morris (seventh, 200 freestyle, 1:46.46), Alec Robertson (tenth, 500 freestyle, 5:02.23)