The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Postseason in full gear for hockey, swimming
Chris Lillstrung has you covered with district preview capsules for Kent hockey and Cleveland State swimming. Plus, a look at Hawken swimmers who will continue their careers in college.
Feb. 14-17 Cleveland State University, Busbey Natatorium (corner of East 24th and Chester)
Feb. 14 — Division II diving (11:30 a.m. boys, 6:30 p.m. girls); Feb. 15 — Division I diving (11:30 a.m. boys, 6:30 p.m. girls); Feb. 16 — Division II swimming (3 p.m.); Feb. 17 — Division I swimming (noon)
There appear to be multiple openings for top-two placements and subsequent automatic berths — which is not always the case here . ... Euclid’s Andrius Kijauskas is positioned nicely in 200 freestyle. It could be a wide-open ‘A’ final given a top five all 1:45.10 or better and last year’s district champion, Green’s Tyler Doerrer, has moved to sprint free. With a 1:43.59 coming in, a low-1:42 would put Kijauskas in the argument. If he can get under 26 on his second 50 and ride it home, that could be a fun swim to watch . ... Nobody is challenging BrecksvilleBroadview Heights’ David Madej in 100 butterfly, but Mayfield’s Gianna Ferrante, left, and Chardon’s Katherine Jerry sprint to the wall in girls 100 freestyle Feb. 10 at the Division I SPIRE Sectional.
Riverside’s Kyle Silver could break 51 and make the race for second intriguing after his 51.30 at sectional . ... Typically, 500 free is a spot in which area swimmers have a good shot at state. This winter is no exception. It will likely be a race for second behind Brecksville-Broadview Heights’ Eric Chimes, a deep sub-4:40 threat, but Mayfield’s Steven Grieshammer and Cameron Kim and North’s Brian Regovich have a shot. It will probably take at least a 4:45, though . ... Relays will be a quest for at-larges in all likelihood. After two straight trips to state, Riverside needs a 1:29
at minimum in 200 free relay, and North will need to build to that after that big-time sectional swim at SPIRE.
This is as promising a CSU District area-wise in girls D-I as there’s been in a while with the depth and quality heading to Busbey . ... Mayfield’s Gianna Ferrante should be in the top-two mix for 200 IM and 100 free. The new individual event combination suits her well, with IM, in which she became the lone area swimmer to compete in D-I at state last year, and 100 free, harkening back to her freshman year when she did sprint free. With the graduation of Walsh Jesuit’s Hanna Gresser, a 2:05 could do the trick in IM. A sub-32 in back would be huge for Ferrante here. In 100 free, North Canton Hoover’s Parker Timken could push that race into the mid-51s. ... Madison’s Zoey Fedele will assuredly be heard from in 200 free and in 100 fly . ... Chardon’s Katherine Jerry will need a low-24 in 50 free and a sub-52 in 100, but that is within her skill set. ... With Nordonia’s Christina McFarland pushing the opening 50 into the low-27 range in 100 back, it would be wise for Chardon’s Sarah Bennett and Mayfield’s Gianna Leffler and Emily Steffey to be measured at the turn — not too much, but a mid-28 would go a long way and they have the ability to get there . ... Elsewhere individually from the area ranks, Kenston diver Mary O’Neill and 100 breast standout Sofija Raudins could contend for top three or better . ... For relays, Chardon and Mayfield have good shots — the Hilltoppers in 200 medley and 200 free and the Wildcats in 200 medley and 400 free.
No surprise, of course, but Hawken and University will be heard from a lot . ... On relays, 200 medley and 200 free could be hot ‘A’ finals — especially with Canfield added to the mix in the latter. That 200 free relay could flirt with 1:25 or better . ... The highlight battle early could be Hawken’s Zeb Hart and Bay’s Colin MacMIllan in 50 free and 100 fly. There are five sub-22s coming into 50 free — that race could realistically get into the high-20s . ... The way he’s been locked in all year in 500 free, US’ Ethan Banks is likely to put up quite a number — maybe under 4:40, but not too much more is needed here . ... Alliance’s Will Rose will be the main competition for US’ Zach Halawa in 100 free and Owen Hanna in 100 back. Could Hanna break 51 again? ... Hawken’s John Byrne (200 free) and Alex Podrez (200 IM) will also be deep in the conversation for district crowns. In diving, Beachwood’s Spencer Bystrom returns seeking a district crown after taking second to Chagrin Falls’ Peter Nachtwey a year ago. He is joined by a solid local contingent, including Benedictine’s Luke Faulisi.
If you’ve read this space around this time over the years, you already know — Hawken will drop the hammer often. It’s not a matter of if the Hawks will win several events, but simply how many . .... Among the cavalcade in individual events, 200 IM could get hot with a field paced by Hawken’s Portia Brown and Abby Hay. Both have displayed 2:02 capability, and a district swim getting to that point wouldn’t be a shock . ... Hawks freshman sensation Mairin O’Brien will be a handful in sprint free. With the sub-24 ability she has shown in 50 free and 51 potential in 100, expect a couple of fine swims there. ... Hay will be the prohibitive favorite in 100 fly. The junior is one of the most technically refined butterfliers this area has had in recent memory . ... Brown could get a challenge in 100 back from a very solid non-area performer in Laurel’s Morgan Miklus, a race that could get into the low-57s . ... Gilmour’s Cate O’Haimhirgin has been dialed in for 100 breast all year. Coming off a 1:06 at sectional, a deep-1:05 could very well be in the cards there . ... In diving, West Geauga’s Kami Goodrick returns in defense of her D-II state crown, and she is joined by some solid young performers from the area including West G teammate Hannah Zahniser and Beachwood’s Amanda Leizman.