The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
High school swimming watch list SWIMMERS AND DIVERS TO WATCH
(in alphabetical order) BOYS Ethan Banks, University: The present and future of area distance freestyle is in capable stead led by this junior, who was fifth at state last winter in 500 free and seventh in 200 free with deep sub-4:40 and deep sub-1:45 potential, respectively Spencer Bystrom,
Beachwood: A breakout campaign for this versatile performer, who was fifth in diving, 15th in 100 back and ninth on 200 free relay at state, earned this now-junior 2017 first-team News-Herald honors. Isaac Esposito, Hawken:
Butterfly is an embarrassment of riches for the Hawks between Zeb Hart and this junior, who was fifth in 100 fly at state and is a strong 200 medley relay leg as well. Zach Halawa, University:
As a junior, this returning first-team N-H honoree and powerful sprint free standout took the ‘B’ final at state in 100 free and was an outstanding member of three US state-placing relays. Owen Hanna, University:
After a breakout sophomore campaign for NDCL, in which he was sixth in 100 back and ninth in 200 free at state, this dynamic junior has transferred to US and makes an already deep squad markedly better.
Zeb Hart, Hawken: There is not a more technically sound and fast performer in fly than this Hawks senior and returning first-team N-H all-star, who was Division II 100 fly state runner-up last winter and will likely figure into the 2018 N-H swimmer of the year debate. Charles Marshall, Riverside: With the second half of his career left to go, this junior may already be the most successful boys swimmer in school history between legs on 200 free relay and nearly making the D-I 100 back ‘B’ final individually at state last year. Calvin Tecson, Hawken:
Probably this area’s best sprint freestyler, this senior’s growth as a sub-21 threat on relays — including his gaudy 20.53 on the Hawks’ state champion 200 medley relay — and individually in 50 free was
impressive to watch last year. GIRLS Portia Brown, Hawken: There’s no need to worry about IM at Hawken even through Crile Hart graduated: This senior is a sub2:02 in 200 IM waiting to happen on big stages, and how she navigates that with her 200 free prowess back-to-back is a sight to see. Spencer Crawford,
Hawken: The three-time first-team N-H all-star should make a charge for a fourth as a senior with her strong work in 200 free, 100 fly and as a veteran performer on the Hawks’ venerable relays. Gianna Ferrante, Mayfield: The area’s lone D-I second-day swimmer a year ago as a sophomore will try to crack an ‘A’ final as a junior in 200 IM — and the list of area girls swimmers you’d trust as much on a relay anchor is limited. Kami Goodrick, West
Geauga: She was already West G and local royalty for her postseason diving work in the first half of her career, but winning the D-II state title this past February as a junior cemented it for good after taking second as a freshman and third as a sophomore. Bainon Hart, Hawken:
Sprint free is in good hands for a while with this Hawks’ sophomore stalwart on the case, coming off D-II state runner-up in 50 free, fifth in 100 free and mature work on relays as a ninth-grader. Katherine Jerry, Chardon:
It seems like the Hilltoppers’ breakthrough for a state berth is not too far off — and this junior will seemingly play a key role in it after D-I top-eight swims at district a year ago in sprint free and on 200 medley and 400 free relays. Libby Miller, Hawken:
The premier returning 100 breast performer in the area ranks was fourth in the event at state a year ago and is also a developing IM standout in addition to nice relay work. Cate Ohaimhirgin, Gilmour: The Lancers have a number of promising young standouts, and this sophomore, who was 10th in 100 breast at state last winter and put in some solid work as Gilmour took third in 200 medley relay, could be poised for a big campaign in the former.
MEETS TO WATCH
Viking Invitational (Dec. 9 at Cleveland State), SPIRE Winter Invitational (Dec. 16); Ned Reeb Invitational (Dec. 16), University at Bloomington South (Ind., Dec. 30), WRC meet (Jan. 6 at SPIRE), Perry Invitational (Jan. 13), Northeast Classic (Jan. 13), Geauga County Invitational (Jan. 15), CVC meet (Jan. 20)
CANNONBALLS
• One big postseason change to note: The Division II SPIRE Sectional will be on a Friday this year (Feb. 9), with a 3:35 p.m. start, after D-II and D-I were both on Saturday last winter. • It wouldn’t be Cannonballs without the annual impressive Hawken statistic: Of 609 area top-four state finishers all-time, the Hawks have 386, or a little more than 63 percent. And a bonus stat: Of the 61 area swimmers and divers to ever win state titles individually, 40 are from Hawken. • With the graduation of Lake Catholic’s Silvija Taraska, one swimmer who could take over the mantle as the leader for Lake County high schools on the girls side is Madison’s Zoey Fedele. Nearly making the podium as a freshman last year at D-I district (ninth in 200 free, 13th in 100 fly) was an encouraging debut. If she can keep her middle splits in 200 free well under 30 and get to the 58s in fly, she should crack the podium this time. • Goodrick obviously paces the local diving charge, but another area diver who had a strong campaign last year was Kenston’s Mary O’Neill, who was D-I district runner-up and 14th at state. Provided she can get well into the 400s score-wise in Canton, she should place higher at state in 2018. • As always, there’s a need for an uptick in D-I fortunes from the local contingent. The Riverside boys have another chance to score well at district led by Marshall (once he returns from his foot injury) and their veteran-laden relays and should be in the conversation again for state berths. The Mayfield girls could contend for a relay state berth again but will have to find a way to replace the graduated Carmen Ferrante. Other area D-Is who could push for improved placement at district individually include Euclid’s Andrius Kijauskas, North’s Brian Regovich and Jimmy Wallace, Mayfield’s Emily Steffey and Alison Imhoff and Chagrin Falls’ Catherine Coffey.