The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Hawken, Mentor at JV championship
As swimmers get into tapering and preparation for the postseason charge, competition was typically quiet during the final week of the regular season, with eight duals contested all week.
Hawken and Mentor swimmers got an opportunity, though, to compete in the annual JV championship meet Feb. 1 in Canton.
The Hawks sent four swimmers to the meet: freshmen Erin Butler and Audrey Ours and sophomore Kennedy Cull on the girls side and Abraham Silvers on the boys side.
It was a unique chance for Silvers, a sophomore. A transfer from Shaker Heights, Silvers is ineligible to compete in the postseason for Hawken because of OHSAA transfer rules.
An adjustment was made in the Hawks’ boys schedule to afford Silvers the JV meet in which to compete.
He was third in 100yard freestyle with a time of 53.53 seconds and third in 200 free in 1:55.86. Splits of 25.71 to the turn and 27.82 coming home in 100 free were drops of .55 and .56, respectively, from Viking Invitational prelims in December.
In 200 free, Silvers logged a 25.70 opener and 30.36, which are 1.80 and 1.40 faster, respectively, from when he was fourth in the event at the Chagrin Valley Conference meet.
Butler won 200 free with a 2:02.76 and was second in 500 free in 5:20.46. Cull took second in 100 free with a 58.03 and was fourth in 200 free in 2:07.64. Ours was fifth in 100 breast with a 1:19.34.
Top-15 individualevent placers for the Cardinals were Alya Calabrese (eighth, 100 fly), Gianna Coliano (sixth, 200 IM and seventh, 100 fly), Lola Frenchko (eighth, 200 free), Keegan Gray (seventh, 100 back), JoJo Kirkner (ninth, 200 free and 14th, 500 free), Sammy Marshall (seventh, 200 IM and 10th, 500 free), Jaden McDonald (11th, 100 breast), Samantha Stack (eighth, 500 free and 11th, 100 back) and Isabella Veri (eighth, 50 free).
• During University’s dual win Jan. 31 against Hudson WRA, three pool records were set on senior night, with Nick Tekieli taking down marks in 200 IM and 100 back and opening US’ record-breaking 400 free relay with Jack O’Brien, Carter Faulkner and Frank Applebaum.