West G freshman impresses in free

A swim in 50-yard freestyle last month during the Perry Invitational was likely a rare off-event venture for Ashley Chase.

What the West Geauga freshman did when she ventured into swims typically in her regimen, though, during her first regular season of high school competition was encouraging.

In final News-Herald coverage area girls leaders from the regular season, a list typically dominated in numbers and pace by Hawken and generally speaking by upperclassmen, Chase hung in there throughout with a pair of top-10 swims in free.

She concluded the regular season with a best of 1:56.78 in 200 free, good for seventh in the area, and a 54.23 in 100 free that also wound up seventh.

The 54.23, recorded in prelims at the Viking Invitational in December, stuck around in the top five in this area for much of the first half of the season and afforded her an ‘A’ final spot, taking eighth in 54.57. The 54.23 featured a 26.32 to the turn and 27.91 coming home.

“It just helped me prepare to do better and do what I can do best, at that meet and throughout the season,” Chase said. “It gave me confidence in what I can do, and going forward, hopefully I can go faster.”

Chase has displayed versatility throughout free this year, showing 5:30 ability in 500 free, the solid aforementioned 100 and 200 free work and winning at Perry in 50 free despite having to do so out of the penultimate heat.

The 1:56.78 in 200 free also came in Viking prelims.

Dropping around a second in 100 free to the low-53 range would put Chase in contention for the top four at the Division II Cleveland State District and a strong shot at a state berth.

Since 1999, the only West G girls swimmer to crack the top five at district is Kirstin Boni, who was third in 100 breast in 2014 and 2015 and fifth in 200 IM in 2014.

If Viking and other invitationals are indicative, Chase may start adding to that list soon on the road to Canton.

“I’d like mid-distance, probably 200 — that’s my fastest,” Chase said what may be in play for postseason events. “Maybe 100 or 500. I’m not really sure, but we’ll see how it goes.”