The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
‘The Streak’ turns 23 for Hawken
Hawks cruise to Division II state title
As the announcement was made Feb. 24 proclaiming her a state champion in 100-yard breaststroke during the Division II girls state meet, Sydney Bare paused for a moment, briefly closing her eyes.
So many aspects to the journey can flash through a Hawken girls senior swimmer’s mind at Canton McKinley’s Branin Natatorium, especially a journey with the extent of success Bare has witnessed and to which she has contributed:
The days in a neighborhood pool or rec swimming, well before joining the Hawks’ state powerhouse.
The long hours of practice, refining their craft.
But above all, amid this winter of uncertainty, perhaps the prevailing feeling is one of gratitude. Because a season unlike any has been completed — and at its conclusion, “The Streak” lives on.
Hawken got state titles from Bare (100 breast), Jessica Eden (200 IM), Tori Culotta (500 free) and its 400 free relay to capture another D-II state team title with 387 points, well ahead of fellow Ohio juggernaut Hathaway Brown (260).
It’s copy-and-paste in its assuredness at this juncture, but as always it bears repeating: This is the 23rd straight state crown for Hawken, the third-longest active girls swimming state championship streak in the United States, and 30th overall for the girls program.
“It’s so exciting,” Bare said. “Every single person, every day of the year, does their part. That’s the one thing: You do your part. You practice every day. You do your best. And it pays off in moments like these.
“When you’re there for individual events, it’s like, ‘Oh, I’m not swimming for myself. I’m swimming for those Hawks at the other end of the pool.’ It’s the greatest feeling, because
you know every single person is supporting you. Every person is excited to see each other do well. There is no better feeling in the world.”
Much like the crescendo that came for Bare in 100 breast.
The last two seasons at state, she was third in hot ‘A’ finals. On this occasion, it meant having to take down a hammer in Cincinnati Hills Christian’s Jessey Li. Bare wielded some force of her own, though.
A 29.24 to the turn was encouraging enough, but the eight-time top-three state placer roared through a 32.40 closer in pursuit of Li. Bare stretched for the wall and edged out the win by one one-hundredth of a second in 1:01.64.
“One thing I’ve really been working on is getting those walls and finishing on a full stroke,” Bare said. “We’ve worked
on it a ton this season with the coaches, and that was something I knew, if I could nail those walls, that would make a huge difference for me.”
Eden repeated as D-II state champion in her trademark, 200 IM. The Hawken junior stalwart was in rare form on fly, turning in a 26.06 split, a .48 drop from her winning time at state a year ago, and recorded a 2:02.44 overall.
The 2020 News-Herald girls swimmer of the year punctuated the meet with a 51.05 anchor on 400 free relay as the Hawks reigned with a 3:28.27, their 24th state championship all-time in the event.
“That (fly split) was great,” Eden said. “It was really nice. It’s the fastest I’ve ever been out, which is great to see.
“(The team title) is very meaningful. It’s a longstanding
tradition. Being able to be a part of it is really special and meaningful to me.”
Culotta joined Hawken legend Alyssa Kiel as the only swimmers in girls program history to capture at least three state titles in 500 free, clinching the three-peat with a 5:00.63. A series of 29s on splits 3-6 set the proper tone.
“It’s great, and I am so lucky to be a part of this team, where I’m able to train with people who push me to be able to do that,” Culotta said. “It’s great, and it’s so much fun.”
Especially given the unknown before this state meet.
The doubts inevitably had to enter swimmers’ mind: Will there be a trip to Canton this year amid a pandemic?
It looked different, but it persisted — just like “The Streak.”
“Each year has its own feel,” Bare said. “Each year has a different team to keep up ‘The Streak’ — and I love this team this year. I could not ask for a better team my senior year. And it really does kind of feel like a normal season.
“There are some differences, but we got to come to Canton. We got to race. We swam well. It’s as special as every one before, maybe even a little more — definitely for me. It’s my last year, and it’s so awesome to be able to swim with them.”
Coming soon
For more from this meet, including Riverside’s Julia Hixson on competing in the first para events contested at state and Chris Lillstrung’s annual by-thenumbers look at D-II, check back in the coming days on News-Herald.com and in our print edition.