Central Ohio shines at DI state swim meet
Saturday, February 24, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Dublin Coffman’s Emily Brown competes during the 200-yard individual medley at the Division I state swim meet Feb. 24 at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton. Photo: Michael Rich
While there were a couple surprises along the way, things went mostly as expected for central Ohio at the Division I state boys and girls swim meet Saturday at Branin Natatorium in Canton.
That proved to be great news considering how much success the area has had in recent years in the big-school division and was expected to have again this winter.
Headlined by a pair of state-record championships by Dublin Coffman senior Emily Brown, Central District athletes were responsible for winning nine of the 11 girls races and three boys races, and the Upper Arlington girls scored 313 points to earn their 13th state team title overall and first since 2017.
For Brown, a Tennessee signee who had won the 200-yard freestyle and 500 free state titles in each of her first three prep seasons, the meet validated her belief in her overall skills as she won the 100 butterfly in 52.69 seconds and the 200 individual medley in 1:57.27 to break the marks previously held by 2021 Olentangy graduate Martina Peroni.
“I couldn’t ask for a better way to end my career,” Brown said. “I wanted to do it for myself, my family, and my teammates. You have to trust in your training and trust in yourself. Nerves are definitely a big thing for me at every state meet, and I try to channel all my energy into my race, especially at state. The whole season, I had my eye on those records, so I’m happy I was able to accomplish my goals.”
Brown, who also swam on the Shamrocks’ 200 medley that finished third (1:44.29) and 400 free relay that was third (3:29.04), led her team to a fourth-place team finish (145).
Dublin Jerome junior Milly Leonard swam 1:49.87 in the 200 free and 4:52.77 in the 500 free to keep those state championships in her community.
She also was on the 200 free relay that was third (1:35.85) and on the 400 free relay that placed fourth (3:30.56) as the Celtics placed third (162).
“Going into it, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel, but my technique came out strong but controlled,” Leonard said. “It felt good. First was definitely a goal this year.”
Dublin Jerome’s Milly Leonard (left) celebrates with her brother Nicky after winning the 200-yard freestyle at the Division I state swim meet Feb. 24 in Canton. Photo: Michael Rich
Depth proved to be key in the UA girls team championship.
Senior McCall Freiburger, junior Hayden Hollingsworth, sophomore Abby Oliphant and freshman Maren Berg opened the meet by capturing the title in the 200 medley relay in 1:42.82.
Freshman Riley Hollingsworth added a fourth-place finish in the 200 IM (2:05.39), UA took three of the top five places in the 50 free as Hayden Hollingsworth captured the title (22.69), Freiburger was third (23.31) and senior Lizzie Oliphant was fifth (23.46) and Hayden Hollingsworth added a runner-up finish in the 100 fly (54.07). The Golden Bears followed with three top-five placers again, this time in the 100 free as Freiburger was third (50.81), Lizzie Olphant took fourth (51.06) and Huddleston placed fifth (51.77).
UA’s 200 free relay of Lizzie Oliphant, Hayden Hollingsworth, sophomore Ashton Mumaw and Riley Hollingsworth won in 1:32.76 and its 400 free relay of Freiburger, Huddleston, Lizzie Oliphant and Riley Hollingsworth closed the meet with a title in 3:26.31.
“Everyone worked super hard, and we wanted it and did our best,” said Hayden Hollingsworth, a Georgia commit who defended her title in the 50 free. “Everyone has been wanting this for a long time, and I’m so happy for my team.”
Another standout in the girls meet was Hilliard Darby sophomore Alexis Peltcs, who captured the title in the 100 breast (1:02.73) and was runner-up in the 200 IM (2:04.18).
“All you can do is hope for the best, have fun and try your best,” Peltcs said. “I’m just so happy. I didn’t swim last year for my high school team because I swam club. My sister swam last year and said it was a lot of fun. All of my friends were like, ‘Ohio (state meet) is the best meet ever.’ I’m glad to be here and represent my team.”
Also in the girls meet, Jerome junior Olivia Matson was runner-up in the 50 free (23.05) and runner-up in the 100 free (50.77), Coffman junior Katrina Kollin took third in the 200 free (1:51.72) and third in the 500 free (4:58.84), Hilliard Bradley freshman Addison Daugherty took third in the 100 backstroke (55.51) and Westerville North senior Madelyn Bosler placed third in the 100 breast (1:03.86). Placing fifth were Olentangy freshman Adelyn Espy in the 100 back (56.3), Gahanna Lincoln senior Cambell Payton in the 200 free (1:51.9) and New Albany’s 200 free relay (1:36.85).
The UA boys team earned its fourth state runner-up finish in five seasons, scoring 229 points to place behind Cincinnati St. Xavier (302) while St. Charles was third (205), New Albany placed sixth (109) and Olentangy Liberty was seventh (101).
“It was truly a team effort,” coach Mike deBear said. “We were third in all three relays. We have some really, really good swimmers but we’re not an all-star team. We’re a true team. We’ve got a lot to be proud of.”
St. Charles left with three championships, as sophomore Austin Carpenter won the 100 breast (54.31), sophomore Jake Lloyd was first in the 50 free (20.28) and the 200 medley relay of Carpenter, Lloyd and juniors Wyatt Julian and Andrew Zarick also took first (1:29.53).
“Last year I placed third (in the 100 breast), and ever since that happened, it’s the only thing I’ve thought about every single day until today,” Carpenter said. “I didn’t care about the time, I just wanted to win the event.”
Lloyd was a state qualifier in the 500 free last season but shifted to sprinting events after enduring an offseason injury and wound up with a championship.
“It feels really good,” Lloyd said. “I didn’t think I was going to win that 50 free, but I had a good start and a good turn. I’ve been working all season on that. (The 200 medley has) been working all season, and (winning) was our goal.”
Carpenter added a runner-up finish in the 200 free (1:36.21), and the Cardinals’ 200 free relay also was second (1:21.55) while Julian was fourth in the 100 back (50.03) and Lloyd placed fifth in the 100 free (46.01).
Leading the way for UA was senior Reid Caswell, who was runner-up in the 500 free (4:32.36) and fourth in the 200 free (1:39.99).
Also for the Bears, senior Andrew Rucker was fifth in the 100 fly (49.88), senior Ben Campbell took fifth in the 500 free (4:38.05), and its 200 medley relay (1:30.78), 200 free relay (1:23.26) and 400 free relay (3:05.74) each were third.
The area’s other third-place finishers were Olentangy Orange senior Brady Farren in the 200 IM (1:51.44) and Olentangy Liberty junior Michael Gaier in the 100 fly (49.71), while New Albany senior Kaden Elkovith took fourth in the 50 free (20.76) and the Eagles added a fourth-place finish in the 200 free relay (1:24.1) and a fifth in the 400 free relay (3:07.42).
Also finishing fifth were Big Walnut senior John Wion (50.42) and Coffman junior Cameron Frazier (1:52.77).
The Upper Arlington girls swim team celebrates with the trophy after winning the Division I state meet Feb. 24 at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton. Photo: Michael Rich