The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Area swimmers shine at state tourney
CANTON >> For Rocky River junior Aiden Morris and Bay junior Maja Miedza, it was all about representing their programs well at the Division II state swimming meet. On Feb. 22 at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, they did. Morris put forth a performance he won’t soon forget in the boys race, placing fifth in the 100 freestyle (47.84) and earning a spot on the podium. He also took 12th in the 200 free (1:45.39) and the 200 free relay led by Morris along with Harrison Shaw, Braden Devorace and Ben Mahoney took 10th in the state with a 1:30.18. Anchoring the 400 free relay, Morris helped the Rockets to a 13th place finish (3:19.78) along with Shaw, Devorace, and Mahoney. “Today started off when my teammates came over to me and told me to do something crazy,” Morris said. “All my friends helped me get here. The state has always been a favorite experience of mine.” In the 100 free, Morris didn’t even qualify last year in the event and made a huge leap this season. “One of my friends from my club team (Lakeshore Swimming Club) inspired me when he went fast in his own race,” Morris added. “He told me this summer to go to Junior Nationals and he said he knew I can go fast.” Morris had a back injury last season that slowed him down and received help from a physical therapist to get him to full strength. Because of that, Morris represented the Pirates in a tremendous way. “I liked his mindset,” Rocky River coach Mark Harris said. “All year he’s been a very confident young man and he set a goal last year that he was going to make it to this meet. Last year, he was ranked 25th in the 200 free and just missed making it here and he also didn’t qualify in the 100. He came back strong this year and he’s a confident dude.” Morris had one final motivation and that was freshman teammate Devorace, who pushed him all season. “He is really fast and he inspired me to go faster next season,” Morris said. “I want my senior friends who are leaving to come back and see how much we’ve improved.” The Pirates 200 medley relay of Harrison Shaw, Tristan Abood, Garrett Morris, and Devorace placed 15th (1:42.25) and the Pirates finished 15th overall as a team (47). In the girls race, Bay’s Miedza made sure to maximize every opportunity at shining, placing ninth in the 50 freestyle (24.12) and 14th in the 100 free with a 53.77. Miedza has led the Rockets all season. “This was my last race and I wanted to give it my all today,” said Miedza after the 100 free. “I also ran a better time in the 50 free than last year so that’s all I wanted.” Miedza’s 200 free relay of Claire Lindway, Kolby Johnston and Kelsey Reid finished 20th (1:42.67). Miedza is a three-time state qualifier and has a chance to qualify all four years of her career next year. “It’s so much fun being in this experience with so many fast runners,” Miedza said. “It’s hard to get here and it’s fun to be able to swim individually and in my relay.” Bay head coach Gabby Kariotakis is in her first season leading the Rockets and fifth overall with the program. Miedza didn’t even qualify in the 100 free last year and a step up is all Kariotakis asked. “I was thrilled she came back and finished the season strong with it,” Kariotakis said. “She was a lot more committed to her training this year. She hit a little bit of a wall in her training last year and it lit a fire under her. We’re hoping to add to her training and get her on the podium.” Miedza trains for a hourand-a-half at the North Olmsted Recreational Center. A lot of athletes have the advantage of having their own swimming pool at the school, but Miedza doesn’t. Kariotakis added that Miedza still has another level to go and next year should be a sensational season. “Her ceiling is so high,” Kariotakis said. “She will be a force to be reckoned with next year. A lot of these other kids are training two to three hours a day in their own swimming pools at school and I think it shows just how talented she is that she is still performing at this high level.”