MANSFIELD — There’s a youth movement underway in swimming pools across north central Ohio — and these area underclassmen are good.
Of the 25 north central swimmers to qualify for this week’s state meet in individual events or as members of relay teams, only four are seniors. There are eight juniors, 11 sophomores and two freshmen who will be in action at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium beginning Wednesday.
“We have a lot of talent on this squad and we’ve got a lot of talent coming up,” said Lexington coach Brock Spurling, who will accompany a contingent of 13 athletes — all underclassmen — to the state meet. “We’re still so young. Success breeds success.”
Lexington sophomores Alli McFarland and Wilson Cannon both qualified in two individual events. McFarland will swim the 200 yard individual medley and the 100 breaststroke, while Cannon will compete in the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. Sophomore Sage Moore qualified in the 100 butterfly and sophomore Cayman Eichler will swim the 100 breaststroke. Junior Tanner Donley will compete in the diving competition.
All three of the Lexington girls relay teams will be in action. McFarland and Moore are joined by junior Kelsi Brown and sophomore Sylvia Goldsmith on the 200 medley team, while juniors Liv Merkel and Allie Stoyko team up with McFarland and Moore on the 400 free relay. Stoyko, Goldsmith, Merkel and freshman Tessa Gerhardt make up the 200 free relay.
Cannon and Eichler are both members of the two Lex boys relay teams that will be in action this week. They are joined by junior Matt Malaska and sophomore Connor Miller on the 200 medley relay. Cannon, Eichler, Miller and junior David Harding comprise the 400 free relay team.
“Every day is a battle for these kids,” When you can have people fighting for relay spots across the board, that makes us stronger as a group.”
And they will only get stronger, Cannon said.
“We have at least another year with the same people,” Cannon said. “We are literally losing nobody. It’s definitely exciting.”
Lex isn’t the only area team loaded with underclassmen. Ashland’s Hudson McDaniel, who will try to defend his state title in the 100 breaststroke, is a junior. McDaniel also will compete in the 100 freestyle. Sophomore Ross Garrison will compete in the 200 individual medley.
Ontario sophomore David Whitaker will compete in the 50 freestyle, while junior Kristian Kowalski will compete in the diving competition and senior Kyle Cordrey will swim the 100 butterfly. The trio will be joined by sophomore Kenton Cordrey on the 200 free relay.
“I’m very pleased with our kids,” Ontario coach Deb Henry said earlier this season. “They are young, but they are getting better.”
Galion senior Eli Skaggs will swim in the 100 freestyle and is a member of two qualifying relay teams. Freshman Caleb Strack, junior Sam Rigdon and sophomore Clay Karnes team with Skaggs on the 200 medley relay. Skaggs, Karnes, Rigdon and senior Landon Rose make up the 200 free relay team.
Mansfield Christian’s Abby Reynolds is the lone senior girl from the area to qualify for state. She will swim in the 50 freestyle.
The Division II tournament begins Wednesday with the diving competition. The preliminaries are set for 5 p.m. Thursday with the finals at 5 p.m. Friday.
