The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
State week has arrived for area contingent
It’s state week once again for another large contingent of area swimmers and divers. Check out Chris Lillstrung’s annual preview of the top performers to watch in both divisions in Canton this week.
By Chris Lillstrung
CLillstrung@news-herald.com @CLillstrungNH on Twitter When: Feb. 24-27
Where: Canton McKinley’s Branin Natatorium, 1715Harrison Avenue NW, Canton Schedule: Feb. 24 — Division II girls (diving at 9 a.m., swimming at 4:30 p.m.); Feb. 25 — Division II boys (diving at 9a.m., swimming at 4:30 p.m.); Feb. 26 — Division I girls (diving at 9 a.m., swimming at 4:30 p.m.); Feb. 27 — Division I boys (diving at 9 a.m., swimming at 4:30 p.m.)
Format: With COVID-19protocols, there will not be preliminary heats this year. All heats will be timed finals.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Boys Division I (full psychs at NEDAB.org): Luke Faulisi, who dives for Euclid but attends and plays hockey for Benedictine, is the lone News-Herald coverage area state qualifier in boys D-I. Last winter, Faulisi was slowed in diving after suffering an ill-timed rib injury in hockey. Faulisi comes in seeded 13th with a 454.35. The scores coming in generally do seem a bit high. But making his fourth career state appearance (two for the Bengals in D-II, two for the Panthers in D-I), Faulisi has the moxie and skill set to vie for the podium. That said, if a top six coming in over 500 isn’t a false flag, Faulisi will need to aim for at least 480.
Girls Division I (full psychs at NEDAB.org): The perennially unforgiving at-large chase in girls D-I did work out for a few area standouts. The one with the best shot at getting on the podium will be Mayfield senior Gianna Leffler. Making her fourth career state appearance and second in her signature event, 100back, Leffler is listed as the eighth seed with a 56.18despite Dublin Jerome’s Libby Grether logging the same time. Albeit with timed finals and no prelims, getting finalheat honors is a well-deserved milestone for Leffler.
It’s a tough field, with Mason’s Emma Dalton and New Albany’s Carly Meeting each coming in under 55. But it feels like there is a top-five path. The Butler recruit has the low-27 speed to the turn to compete with almost everyone in this field. The key will be the back end. To get onto the podium, Leffler needs to get deep into the 28s home, preferably under 28.50.
Chardon’s Gracie Duchon returns to state in 200IM and 100fly for the second straight year. Seeded 21st and 22nd, respectively, that’s obviously a tough path. The chances of breaking into the top half are likely better in IM than fly, but will require deep cuts on back and breast and something in the 2:07 range.
Two relays also make the cut in Mentor’s 200 free and Chardon’s 400free quartets. The reality is, there probably isn’t a path into the top 15. But for the seniors, with the Cardinals’ Mallory Dondorfer and Erin Farmer and the Hilltoppers’ Morgan Debevec and Campbell Tierney, it’s a well-earned swim in Canton to close their high school careers. And it will be great experience for the underclassmen.
Boys Division II (full psychs at NEDAB.org): Hawken has the depth and talent to make a serious run at the team title. This senior class wants that goal badly before exiting the scene for the Hawks.
In 200 IM, Hawken’s Alex Podrez should be a state-title contender. His main competition appears to be Indian Hill’s Gibson Holmes, although the year-over-year improvement of Sandusky Perkins’ Collin Singler is worth noting. Fly and breast will be dialed in for Podrez — it comes down to back. If Podrez can get into the low-27s and have a little more speed on free, preferably in the low-26s, it’ll bode well. Fellow Hawks standout senior Connor Brown can’t be underestimated, either, with his sub-1:54 ability.
The top six, including Alliance’s dynamic Will Rose, all graduated from the state field a year ago in 50free. So it feels wide open for the top four beyond Vandalia Butler’s Matt
Brunsky, who should win with a sub-21. But if University’s Jack Faulkner can keep digging into the 21s, a 21.50 might be enough for a top four. Nobody is likely touching Dayton Oakwood’s Sam Campbell, the returning D-II state runner-up, in 500free with his deep sub-4:35potential. But Hawken’s Michael Butler should be right there in the battle for second, coming off a 4:42.26district swim. A great sign for the senior would be low-to-mid 28middle splits as Butler competes with Legacy Christian’s Preston Troyer and Bryan’s Kellen Rigg.
The chase in 200free relay could be a lot of fun. It will be interesting to see the quartet Hawken puts in the water after a 1:28.43last week, and young Chagrin Falls and University relays are coming along. It will take their best swims of the year — and it has to be well under 1:29.
But it would not be a shock to see all three area powers crack the top four.
In 100 back, with his rapid evolvement, NDCL sophomore Jonathan Ratka is on red-hot form. Jonathan Alder’s Eli Stoll and Seven Hills’ Tim Kalin are tough customers and returning ‘A’ finalists who will probably occupy the top two. But a low-50 and a third is doable for Ratka, especially if Campbell hammers his 500 free. With the trajectory on which he’s been, something in the mid26s on the back end puts him in line for a top three.
The 100breast will be serious business with a top five all coming in under 58. But it would be great to see Chagrin Falls’ Michael Tropf and Podrez get into the mid-to-high 57s and make it interesting for the top half of the podium. Hawken will likely saddle up for its 400free relay. Will Dietz noted at district the Hawks’ desire to get after the D-II state record, which is a 3:04.51. It’ll take four hammers to do it, but with the energy of the day, it’s not out of the question.
Also keep an eye on Chagrin’s Joshua Rooney (100 back) and 200 medley relay and US’ Ben Davis (200IM and 500free). In diving, Hawken’s Angus Williams will be the favorite to win a state title. Columbus Wellington’s Callanan brothers are not back this year, so the main threat for Williams will come from Columbus Centennial’s Alec Proudfoot and Celina’s Holden Cubberly. Williams had a masterful performance at the D-II Massillon Perry District, hitting four 50-plus dives and putting up a 513.30. Something similar should get him to the pinnacle here. Beachwood’s Seth Warner and Kenston’s Clay Foster have the ability and extensive experience in Canton to get on the podium, in Foster’s case for the second year in
a row. Girls Division II (full psychs on NEDAB.org):
As always, Hawken will be Hawken. But it is worth noting to start how much of a battle relays and the team title race should be with one of the best teams Hathaway Brown has fielded. The Blazers are a handful, led by Mairin O’Brien, who swam for the Hawks as a freshman. HB will make Hawken work for it.
Reigning News-Herald girls swimmer of the year Jessica Eden is dialed in nicely for 200 IM and 100back. In IM, if Eden can have someone to go with for a while, maybe Grandview Heights’ Phoebe Ferguson, she should push for around a 2:01. That 100back final with Eden, Columbus School for Girls’ Nyah Funderburke and Chaminade-Julienne’s Mackenzie Reid could be one of the best races of the meet, well under 55.
In 100 fly, Funderburke and Reid will also be the main competition for Kirtland’s Kaley Ream and Hawken’s Maggie Mallett. Funderburke will likely push this sub-26to the turn, so Ream and Mallett have to be careful with measured low-26s and keep some speed for coming home.
Mallett is also positioned well in 50free, seemingly wide open beyond the dynamic O’Brien for a top-four spot.
As usual, Hawken will load up on 500free points with its depth. It would be great to see Tori Culotta close her junior year pushing for around a 4:51in a battle with HB’s Ellie MacPhail. Ream should also be in the hunt for a top five with her low-5ability.
Sydney Bare should be in the 100breast title mix. Cincinnati Hills Christian’s Jessey Li will set the tone, already sub-1:02. But Bare has the sub-30ability to the turn and experience to make this interesting. She needs a low-to-mid 32coming home, though.
The Hawken-HB battle in 400 free relay may be the best race of the night. That probably will get under 3:28, with Eden and O’Brien battling it out on the anchor one more time.
Also keep an eye on Gilmour’s Kylee Radigan (50 free and 100 back) and 200 medley relay, Kenston’s Leilah Shafer (100 free) and Beaumont’s 200 free relay.
As far as diving, Chagrin freshman Samantha Holtz will be a state title contender after her brilliant 469.60at the D-II Massillon Perry District. The competition will be fierce, with returning D-II state runner-up Grace Courtney of Cincinnati Wyoming and Buckeye Valley freshman Sophia Stamm.
Don’t be surprised if that pursuit pushes for 500or better. Chagrin senior and Minnesota signee Kate Lamonica, in her fourth state appearance, will be eager to push for her first top four. Her district score and seeding in 10th is deceiving due to one rough dive at district. She has the wherewithal and 450-plus ability to get into the top four.