Northmont looks to build on GWOC title
Thunderbolts to hang division banner after win.
There’s no banner for the boys swimming team hanging in the Northmont High School gym. When asked recently by the athletic director if she’d like to hang one, Northmont swim coach Maria Schreiber said she preferred to wait until there was a reason to hang one.
Guess what the Thunderbolts are buying now?
Northmont won its first Greater Western Ohio Conference division title, claiming the National West championship last weekend. Northmont scored 178 points to runner-up Springboro’s 154.
Springboro finished ahead of Northmont in the overall GWOC standings, but when National West swimmers only were calculated in the results Northmont’s depth won out.
“It was all a surprise. I had no idea we had won,” said Schreiber, who found out after AD Micah Harding came running out of the arena to the Thunderbolts bus. “We walked into the pool and someone told us, ‘You won, where’s your team’ I told them they were on the bus.’ ... The all ran back in. It was a total and complete surprise.”
Also winning GWOC division titles were Centerville, Butler and West Carrollton. Centerville won the overall meet with 547 points and Beavercreek was second with 372.
Centerville, Springboro, Tippecanoe and Xenia won girls division titles. Centerville’s girls also won the overall GWOC championship.
As for the T-Bolts, they look to carry that momentum into the Division I sectional championships. The Division I and D-II sectionals take place Friday and Saturday at five sites in the district, including Centerville and Trotwood. The top swimmers advance to the district meet Feb. 15-16 at Miami University.
Northmont’s best chances to advance likely come in the relays with the combinations of seniors Mitchell Asbury, Josiah English and Eric Woods, juniors Joey McKarns and Nick Sanders, sophomores Johan Mergler, Jonah Scoville and Cole Rife and freshmen Cameron Roberts, John Hoying and Kyle Delano.
“I would think they’re a little bit more eager and wanting to do better,” Schreiber said. “... I’m thinking when these freshmen and sophomores get to be juniors and seniors, I’m really hoping one of their relays goes to state. We’re really proud of the boys. They’ve come a long way this year.”
Among other swimmers to watch this weekend:
■ Centerville senior Liz Quarin holds the Southwest district’s fastest D-I times in the 200 freestyle (1:51.51) and the 500 free (4:54.64).
■ Springboro sophomore Hannah Hill has the fastest D-I time in the 50 free (23.87) and second-fastest time in the 100 free (51.98).
■ Springboro’s 400 free and 200 medley relays are the teams to beat with the top times of 3:28.45 in the 400 and 1:44.59 in the 200.
■ Alter senior Kevin Leibold highlights the D-II meet with the district’s best times in the 200 free (1:41.57), 500 free (4:28.65) and the second-best time in the 100 free (47.47). Leibold was named the Greater Catholic League boys swimmer of the year for the co-ed division.
■ Waynesville junior Owen Conley holds the top D-II time in the 200 individual medley in 1:48.54.
■ Among other league champions, Oakwood’s boys and girls swept the Southwestern Buckeye League championships.
■ Carroll’s Emily Sullivan was named the GCL’s Co-ed division girls swimmer of the year.