District swimming and diving preview capsule

When: Where:

Feb. 14-17

Cleveland State’s Busbey Natatorium, 2451 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Schedule: Feb. 14 — Division II diving (11 a.m. girls, 6 p.m. boys); Feb. 15 — Division I diving (11 a.m. girls, 6 p.m. boys); Feb. 16 — Division II swimming (noon; note the time change from the traditional 3p.m. start of years past); Feb. 17 — Division I swimming (noon) Qualifiers: A list of top-20district qualifiers from coverage area schools can be found at News-Herald.com. What’s next: The top three in individual events and top two in relays automatically advance to state. There are also 20 individual-event and 16 relay at-large state qualifiers based off compiled results from all four districts.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Division I boys (full psychs on OHSAA.org): There are some opportunities for automatic advancement here, led by South’s Joris Boeman. The Rebels’ standout senior is positioned well as the second seed in 100-yard backstroke and third in 100butterfly. With the graduation of Akron Firestone’s Jonny Marshall, it’s no longer a race for second in 100 back. But with Walsh Jesuit’s Caleb Smesko, North Royalton’s Jacob Florio and 2023 district runner-up Peter Helmuth of North Canton Hoover in the field, Boeman will have to at least get into the high-51s to vie for an automatic. Hovering around low-25 to the turn would go a long way. With 100 fly, that final likely go sub-51. This is another race in which Boeman has competitive closing speed, but must be dialed in on that opening 50, in the low-23 range, to be in the mix. … Hitting for a sub-22 to win the SPIRE Sectional was a breakthrough for Mentor’s Dylan Tackett in 50freestyle, seeding him second. This district ‘A’ heat, though, will probably require at least 21.60 for an automatic given the field depth. … Elsewhere, Mayfield’s Leo Iacovetta (200free) and Riverside’s Matt Hribar (50free and 100breast) will really have to shed some time sectional-to-district but could make a decent run at an automatic if they do.

Division I girls (full psychs on OHSAA.org):

As a general point, it feels like the Northeast District in both divisions is slower vs. years past. That, of course, is not meant in a detrimental way toward current swimmers — it’s only stated to make the point there may be a silver lining if that’s true of increased potential for more wide-open runs for automatic berths. … Mayfield’s Danielle Grande provided herself two faster benchmarks in distance free as she won 200 and 500 free at SPIRE. That 500in particular, with a 5:10.25, should set her course toward competing for a repeat district title in the event. Akron Firestone’s Julia Quernemoen, whom she edged at CSU last winter with 5:01.56, returns, as does Massillon Jackson’s Nina Shulik with a 5:04.54 out of sectional. So it’ll likely take another 5:01 or better to earn another gold. Shulik likely has 200 free under control with her sub1:52 speed. But Grande should be in automatic contention there if she goes around 1:55. … Mentor’s Annie Berrow has the big-stage acumen and speed to contend for district crowns in 50 and 100 free, perhaps moreso the former. If Berrow can hit for a sub-24 in 50, at minimum she should be set for an automatic berth. She might have to dig into the low52 in 100 with a deep sub-25 split to the turn in a battle with Hudson’s Ava Sawicki. Speaking of Berrow and the Cardinals, you get the sense they’ve got a real top-two shot with their 200 free relay. It’ll need to be sub-1:39at least, but getting a 1:39 at the Greater Cleveland Conference meet last month showed the promise is there. To close out in a Mentor sense, that 200 medley relay was a pleasant surprise at SPIRE and goes in seeded fourth. Perhaps the Cardinals have another surprise in store there. … Chardon’s Briella Hewitt found her niche with a 100 fly/100breast double. In fly, Green’s Sydney Peterson, the returning district champion, is a handful with her sub-57 ability. But a race for second in high-57s feels doable for Hewitt. She’s likely going to have to be in the low-31s coming home. With breast, North Canton Hoover’s Anna Helmuth will be the favorite, after showing 1:04 speed as a freshman a year ago. On her current trajectory, along with the fact the CSU field was so senior-heavy in 2023, Hewitt could nail down a high-1:06 and an automatic.

Division II boys (full psychs on OHSAA.org):

As is usually the case in D-II, doing any sort of deep split breakdowns seems a bit much because it’s going to be the usual conga line toward the top of the podium. In boys D-II, for example, of 33 available top-three seeds across all events coming out of sectional, News-Herald coverage area swimmers have 23 of them, including the top seed in all but one event (100 breast). And even in that, University’s Ben Davis, after his usual outstanding work early in the meet on 200 medley relay and in 200 IM, should have a deep sub-1 in him to vie for a district crown. … Along with Davis, Andrews Osborne’s Krys Gorski (200free and 100back) will be seeking an individual double. Gorski’s 100 back could be the highlight of the afternoon. The way it’s setting up, with his underwaters and opening-50 pace, it would be no surprise to see that swim in the low-49s en route to Canton. That 200 free could get fun with US senior staple Miguel Figueroa as well. … The Preppers’ Quinn MacPhail put on a clinic in 500 free at SPIRE for a 4:42.33, with encouraging early pacing. He has the skill set to get that under 4:40 at district and not be overly concerned more isn’t there for state. … Beachwood should be a top-two factor in 200 medley and 200free relays, particularly the former after giving US such a race at SPIRE. And the way Bison junior Kevin Zhang has come on in 100 fly has been fun to watch. … Perry’s Brody Hicks has been on form in 100 fly and 100 back and should turn in two strong performances as he sets his sights on Canton in both. … Among a plethora, also keep an eye area-wise on Geneva’s Nathan Reigle (200 free and 100 breast), Gilmour’s P.J. Koerwitz (50and 100free) and US’ Paul Moody (100 fly and 100 back). Lake Catholic has a penchant for deep drops district over sectional with both its boys and girls and could log a few of those.

Division II girls (full psychs on OHSAA.org):

This is an unusual year in girls D-II, as Hawken senior Sarah Pophal is the only News-Herald coverage area swimmer heading in with a top seed, in this case 500 free in which she is the reigning D-II state champion. That swim could get sub-5 with an eye on Canton and the quality of the field there. … And let’s just get this out of the way, too: The Hawks will turn in two strong weeks of swims at district and state. But there isn’t much doubt in 2024 as far as the team race. Non-area powerhouse Hathaway Brown has that under control. … Gilmour should score well here, led by Laina Collis (50 and 100 free), Maddie Sammut (200 free and 100 breast) and its vaunted relays, especially that 200 medley. Those sprint free battles with Collis against Akron Hoban’s Rylee Jackson could be intriguing. Collis has the sub-24 and sub-53 speed, respectively, to go for district gold. Sammut’s big-meet experience in 200free will serve her well and place her high, but seemingly she’s better positioned for a top-three run in 100 breast. If Sammut can get deep into the 30s toward the turn, a 1:05and swim for first is possible in a good field. … As Pophal winds down her career, Nina Newton is making her case to help lead the Hawks into the future. The promising sophomore should be well into the automatic conversation in 100 free and 100 breast and will deliver capable legs on relays. … AOA’s Daniela Perez should be a factor in 100 breast as well for an automatic spot, perhaps 1:07 range. … While automatics might be tough to come by with HB and others in the field, there are plenty of chances for at-large berths. In that sense, watch individually for Chagrin Falls’ Alexandra Scharpf (200 IM and 100 breast), Lake Catholic’s Carley Dondorfer (50free), Gilmour’s Anna Johannessen (100 fly) and Gianna Minotas (100 back), Perry’s Grace Kitchen (100fly) and NDCL’s Brooke Dynes (100 breast), along with an armada from Hawken.