The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Hawken wields hammer at D-II district meet
US, Chagrin also impress as road to Canton draws near
Hawken unfurls its typical assembly line of greatness to sweep the team titles at Division II Cleveland State District, and University and Chagrin Falls swimmers also notch encouraging swims.
Whether it’s Alex Podrez, Jessica Eden or anyone else who dons the red and black swim cap for Hawken, they know the process well on the podium at the Division II Cleveland State District.
Stare straight ahead to coaches and others deckside for a picture, then look up to the stands for parents’ sake and smile broadly.
With all due respect to the consistency there, though, the assembly line of greatness in the adjacent competition pool Feb. 14 at Busbey Natatorium is more impressive as far as exact sciences go.
Hawken swept the team titles at CSU, the boys with 429 points and the girls with 543, combining to produce seven event champions and 16 automatic qualifiers for state next weekend in Canton.
“Oh, it’s very big,” Podrez said of the Hawks capturing the team crown. “I’m very proud of where the team is and how far the team has come, especially some swimmers that weren’t able to make state last year. They really came through and really put in the work this season.
“They got through and showed some great times. I am proud of them and really proud of the team coming as far as we have, especially going up against some of these other teams and especially in some of these relays, which are really competitive now. I am very proud of where the team is now.”
Podrez was dynamic en route to taking first in the 200-yard individual medley, recording a time of 1 minute, 51.70 seconds. In capturing the 200 IM for the second time in three years at CSU, the standout junior recorded a 27.74 backstroke split to seize control, a .69 drop from when he was third at state last winter.
He also took third in the 100 breast (58.96) and swam legs on Hawken’s runner-up 400 freestyle relay (3:13.84; 47.63 opener) and third-place 200 free relay (1:29.70; 21.51 anchor).
“My IM was very good,” Podrez said. “I am very happy about where it is right now, especially that backstroke split, the breaststroke split as well I think is very good. I’m very hopeful, though, where I can be at state, trying to swim my best. I’m not fully tapered going into district, and I showed exactly my best time by a hundredth. So I’m very happy with where I am right now and hope for improvement at state.”
Eden was dialed in for an individual double, as well as her typically noteworthy work on relays.
The sophomore won the 200 IM with a 2:04.24, featuring a 36.38 breast split that marks a .70 drop from when she was third at state in 2019, and repeated as CSU District champion in the 100 back in a smooth 56.97. Eden also delivered a 51.58 popper on the Hawks’ victorious 400 free relay (3:29.15).
“That was a really good swim,” Eden said of the 400 free relay. “It created a lot of positive energy going into Canton. It made it exciting because it’ll be an amazing experience no matter what, but just going in all hyped and energetic is really nice.
“I thought (IM) was a great baseline. It made me feel good going into state. I still think I can push my breaststroke a little bit harder, and I’ll try to do that in Canton. (The 100 back) was a solid swim. Everything was pretty solid, and I’m hoping to just carry it into Canton.”
University’s Frank Applebaum will gladly accept similar trajectory after a clinic of a 100 butterfly, securing his first career district title in the event with a 49.93. His 26.30 coming home marks a .68 cut vs. his runner-up swim at district a year ago. The senior also took a close second to teammate Carter Faulkner in the 200 free with a 1:45.67 to Faulkner’s 1:45.64.
US’ 400 free relay of Nick Tekieli, Jack O’Brien, Faulkner and Applebaum punctuated the meet in style with a 3:13.32, as Applebaum went 47.74 to outduel Connor Brown (48.14) and Hawken (3:13.84) on the anchor.
“The 400 free relay is the last event of the meet,” Applebaum said. “It’s a long meet. Everyone is really tired, especially for me as the last leg of that relay. Lots of pressure, but I kind of enjoy it. To have a close race going in, and then to win it, means everything at the end of the day.
“I wanted to make sure I was under 50 (in the 100 fly), just to make sure I could still do it and really just punching my ticket to get to state.”
Chagrin Falls’ boys 200 free relay of John Cashy, Michael Tropf, Parker Broz and Clark Reboul carried over its strong form from the D-II SPIRE Sectional, digging deep to outlast US in a hot ‘A’ final and win with a 1:27.83. Cashy hit a 21.67 to open the relay and Tropf went 21.71 on the second leg to set the right tone.
“It felt really good, especially with the middle two (Tropf and Broz) and they’re going very nice splits,” Cashy said. “As you saw, it was a close one at the end. I had the confidence in Clark to be able to bring that back and understand that he’s got to step up the gas a little bit. I think the relay shows a lot of promise for state, and hopefully it can continue.”
Coming soon
For more from this meet, including Riverside freshman Julia Hixson on her individual double in para events and journey to her first high school postseason, check back in the coming days on News-Herald. com and in our print edition.