West G sophomore hopeful to build on breakthrough

As the push at the turn commenced Jan. 14 during girls 100-yard freestyle in a dual at Gilmour, Ashley Chase knew she had to dig deep.

Lancers freshman Laina Collis had the lead with a 26.63 opening 50, more than a second ahead of Chase’s 27.64 going out.

But she hammered her last 25 to rally for the win with a 56.05 overall, which at the time it was swam ranked fourth in NewsHerald coverage area leaders.

Chase had a response becoming of a returning Division II state qualifier in the event.

“I was really surprised,” Chase said. “I wasn’t expecting to go that fast. It’s the same time I normally go. It’s what I’ve been practicing at, too, though. But sometimes, I need to perform as well. It depends. It’s really just random sometimes.

“I’m used to (a reel-in). Last year at (the D-II Cleveland State District), the person next to me was going under 1:00 by a lot. So I realized most people go out really fast, so I need to do it the other way around. Normally, I negative split it, so I just need to learn to pace myself and not go out with other people.”

Chase settled into a nice postseason groove a year ago as a freshman, particularly with that CSU swim to which she alluded.

She took fifth in 100 free with a 53.50 in a strong field, along with an eighth in 200 free (1:56.81) to earn at-large D-II state berths in both events.

Being on the podium with the likes of Hathaway Brown’s Mairin O’Brien and Hawken’s Ella Gilson in 100 free was a reinforcement to Chase that she belonged.

“It was good, I guess,” Chase said. “My confidence is all over the place sometimes. It’s helpful in ways, but it’s just district.”

After logging a pair of prelim swims at state, Chase was out of the water like many of her contemporaries due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“I was not swimming before the pandemic, because I was starting to do spring sports more than swimming at the time,” Chase explained. “Everything got canceled, so then I got back into swimming again in May probably, when everything started up.

“Now, I don’t have practices every day. I don’t practice with my team. I practice with my club team (Blazing Barracudas), because there’s so many people here on my high school team, and they have less people. So it’s just easier to practice with them.”

Seven of the top 10 in district competition at CSU last year in 100 free were underclassmen, including O’Brien and Gilson. So in order to contend for the top four, Chase will need to push for at least sub-53 by district this winter.

Whether it’s this year, or in the next two, Chase has a shot at making history for West G. All of its state top-fours all-time have come in diving: Kami Goodrick, with her 2017 D-II state title, 2015 runner-up and a pair of thirds, and Noah Stone with his fourth in 2012.

Something in the low52s eventually may contend for that elusive first state swimming top-four ever for the Wolverines.

She believes that speed could be there with one key refinement.

“Kicking, for one — I don’t kick that much,” the 2020 third-team NewsHerald girls swimming and diving all-star said. “I actually have a knee injury, and I need to kick more. My goal is like 51-52. So, hopefully.

“I’ve had (the knee injury) since I was eight. So I’m kind of used to it. It’s just always been there. It’s like tendinitis. I’ve never had an exact diagnosis. I just be careful.”