Central Ohio storylines for state swim meet
Central Ohio’s top swimmers and coaches spent much of the weekend scouring results, searching out other times across the state to see where they stood as they hoped to compete on the final weekend of the season.
Once the final lists of qualifiers were released, 173 area swimmers and divers had secured spots at state. The top three finishers in each individual district swimming event and top two relays, in both divisions I and II, advanced to Branin Natatorium in Canton, and the field was rounded out by at-large qualifiers based on time.
The week starts Tuesday with boys diving, followed by girls diving Wednesday. The Division II and paralympic finals are Friday, and Division I finals cap the week Saturday.
Here is a look at the state meet with five storylines from a central Ohio perspective:
Division I girls: New Albany seeks state title three-peat
After snapping New Albany’s threeyear string of district championships, Upper Arlington now will try to derail the Eagles’ run at a third consecutive state title.
The Golden Bears got wins at district from Hayden Hollingsworth in the 100yard butterfly (54.64 seconds) and the
200 freestyle relay, padding their lead with eight top-four finishes. Hollingsworth is seeded first at state.
“We’ve talked about knowing every point will count,” said UA coach John Sands, whose team scored 340 points at district, finishing ahead of Dublin Jerome (302), New Albany (252) and Dublin Coffman (248). “It hasn’t been any one or two people carrying us.”
New Albany’s Carly Meeting is defending state champion in the 100 backstroke, in which she is the top seed (53.48). The Florida recruit also leads the field in the 100 free (49.54), eschewing a run at a second consecutive title in the 50 free, in which Jerome’s Olivia Matson is seeded first (22.98).
Coffman’s Emily Brown will try for a three-peat of her own in both the 200 free and 500 free. She is the top seed in both events (1:48.12 and 4:47.43, respectively).
Division I boys: Upper Arlington tries to recapture title
Until Beavercreek won the Division I team championship last year, UA’S title in 1987 was the most recent for a public school. Coach Mike de Bear is confident this team, which he called the best in his 13 years at the school, has a chance to win its first trophy in 36 years.
Louisville signee Grant Gooding is the top seed in the 100 breaststroke (54.29) and is on the 200 medley relay that owns the state’s fastest time (1:31.74). The Bears amassed 427 points at district to win their third title in four years.
Olentangy Liberty’s Hudson Williams, a North Carolina State recruit, is seeded first in the 50 free (19.59) and 100 free (43.79). Westerville Central’s Chase Swearingen has the fastest time in the 200 individual medley (1:47.73).
Division II girls: Columbus-area sophomores grab spotlight
Bexley’s Millie Evans won the 100 fly district title by 3.84 seconds and is seeded third (55.54) at state, a role with which last year’s state runner-up admitted she is comfortable.
Evans and Bethany Spangler, a transfer from Columbus School for Girls who won the 500 free (5:04.71) and was runner-up in the 200 free (1:54.51), powered Bexley to its first district title.
Division II boys: Columbus Academy leaning on depth
Academy’s boys relied on secondlevel scoring to repeat as district champions, amassing 303 points to easily defeat runner-up Dover (199). The Vikings have five individual state qualifiers, including sophomores Mircea Butnariu (100 breast) and Andy Li (100 back, 100 fly) and freshman Andrew Huang (100 back, 200 IM).