Girls swimming watch list

SWIMMERS AND DIVERS TO WATCH

(in alphabetical order) Sarah Bennett, Chardon: Given her quality in the 100 backstroke in the first half of her career, punctuated by a Division I at-large state berth in 2018, don’t be surprised to see this dynamic junior pushing for sub-28 opening 50s and sub59s overall more frequently in addition to her strong relay acumen. Tori Culotta, Hawken: The Hawks’ distance freestyle corps is always an embarrassment of riches – but it just got better with this freshman, who is already a deep sub-5 performer in the 500 free coming into high school and whose name you’re likely to be hearing a lot over the next four years. Jessica Eden, Hawken: If her pre-high school times are indicative – including 2:04 potential in the IM and 56s in the 100 back already – this freshman, who was a Central Zone 14-and-under champion in the 200 back and 200 IM in August, is the next great area swimmer. Zoey Fedele, Madison: A first D-I state berth is getting closer for this ever-developing and affable junior, who will need to cut about a second in the 100 fly toward the 56s but her trajectory has been edging toward that level, and her 200 free is rock-solid as well. Gianna Ferrante, Mayfield: A three-time first-team NewsHerald all-star, this senior will go for a fourth with one of this area’s top skill sets in the 200 individual medley with her sub-2:08 ability, sprint free, relays – basically anywhere Coach Rick Balcam puts her, she is a hammer. Ella Gilson, Hawken: Between being the Division II state cross country champion, a D-II state runner-up in 800 and 1,600 AND top-four state ‘A’ final ability in the pool in the 200 free and the 100 back, is there anything this dynamic sophomore can’t do? Bainon Hart, Hawken: This junior and the youngest sibling left competing for the Hawks from the venerable Hart clan continues to impress in sprint free, coming off a D-II state runner-up in the 50 free with deep sub-24 potential and a fifth in the 100 free. Abby Hay, Hawken: What a Buckeye State debut it was for the Louisville signee last winter, during which she was D-II state runner-up in the 200 IM and the 100 fly and was a relay hammer, and with her technical precision, she will assuredly push for state crowns in 2019. Katherine Jerry, Chardon: It has been fun to watch the development over the last four years of this standout senior in sprint free, culminating with a Day 2 swim in the D-I 100 free last year in which she was 11th and with one last exciting chapter left to author. Cate O’Haimhirgin, Gilmour: It takes a special performer to embrace and master the 100 breaststroke, and this junior, who was D-II state runner-up in the event a year ago to go with outstanding medley relay work, is certainly in that category with her sub-1:04 potential.

MEETS TO WATCH

Viking Invitational (Dec. 8 at Cleveland State), SPIRE Winter Invitational (Dec. 15), Hilltopper Invitational (Dec. 22 at SPIRE), WRC meet (Jan. 5 at SPIRE), Orange Invitational (Jan. 5), Perry Invitational (Jan. 12), Northeast Classic (Jan 12), CVC meet (Jan. 19 at Hawken), NCL meet (Jan. 26 at Gilmour)

CANNONBALLS

• In lieu of the annual gaudy Hawken postseason statistic this year in this space, perhaps it would better served to note how young the Hawks’ roster is. There’s only four seniors, albeit a very good class paced by Hay. But there’s 26 underclassmen, counting divers, and Culotta and Eden will be among seven Hawken swimmers competing at junior nationals in Greensboro, N.C. In other words, there’s no need to be concerned about the health of “The Streak” for quite a while. • Area diving will feel different with the graduation of 2017 D-II state champion, four-time top-four state placer and West Geauga staple Kami Goodrick. But Hannah Zahniser returns as well for West G, who was 11th at state a year ago, and Chagrin Falls’ Kate LaMonica capped a breakout freshman campaign by taking eighth at state. • Mentor is in good stead as a program, with 48 girls out and its new pool opening at LakeHealth Wellness Center. Sophomore Mallory Dondorfer got some Cleveland State District experience as a freshman in the 100 and 200 free and could be vying for a state berth eventually in her career if she continues to drop time in both events. • Kenston senior Sofija Raudins could push for a state berth this winter in the 100 breast. As a junior, she was the D-I SPIRE Sectional champion with a nice low-1:07 and 11th at the CSU District. The D-I 100 breast field in the Northeast District was young a year ago, so Raudins is likely to have to aim for sub-1:06 range with low-31 openers come February. • As always, Mayfield should be a load in relays with its depth in place. In addition to Ferrante, promising backstroker Gianna Leffler, Emily Steffey and Karen Argie will return with state experience from a year ago. That 400 free relay in particular peaked well at CSU and state, getting into the mid-3:30. The Wildcats will need to find a fourth leg on the 200 medley and the 400 free relays to replace the graduated Sara Peters, but Coach Rick Balcam is as good as it gets locally in finding that personnel.