CANTON, Ohio — The digital scoreboard on the wall at C.T. Branin Natatorium confirmed what Hudson McDaniel already knew.
The Ashland junior defended his state championship in the 100-yard breaststroke Friday night in the finals of the Division II state tournament, touching the wall in a personal record 55.90 seconds. It was the first time McDaniel has broken 56 seconds.
“I really felt it that last lap,” McDaniel said. “I didn’t really feel it the first couple laps, but then once I turned on that third wall it was like … I don’t know how to explain it.”
McDaniel flirted with 56 seconds in Thursday’s prelims, coasting home in a school-record 56.07. He kept his foot on the gas Friday, pulling away from Ohio State Swim Club teammate Nate Goldfarb of Columbus Academy in the final 25 yards. Goldfarb finished a distant second in 56.77.
McDaniel broke Rob Henikman’s 22-year-old school record in Thursday’s prelims. He has his sites set on the Division II state record of 55.54, set by University School’s Andrew Malone in 2011.
“I’m shooting for it next year,” McDaniel said. “I can’t wait.”
McDaniel also swam in the ‘A’ final in the 100 freestyle. He finished sixth in a PR 46.33.
“Everyone said it looked like I was going to get second,” McDaniel said. “On my third turn, I kind of pushed off weird.”
Banner Day: The Lexington girls team capped a sensational weekend with a ninth-place finish in the final team standings, the best showing in school history. Lady Lex had 62 points.
“The girls had a team goal of top 10 this week,” coach Brock Spurling said. “They were 19th last year and they moved up to ninth this year.”
The 200 medley relay team of Kelsi Brown, Alli McFarland, Sage Moore and Liv Merkel finished fourth in 1:48.80. It was the best ever state finish by a Lady Lex relay team.
“We had high expectations,” Moore said. “That’s the highest place in school history.”
The 200 free relay team of Merkel, Allie Stoyko, Tessa Gerhardt and Sylvia Goldsmith was 14th in 1:41.56. The 400 free relay team of Merkel, Stoyko, Moore and McFarland was 12th in 3:40.75.
McFarland swam the ‘B’ final in the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke. The sophomore was 10th in the IM in 2:08.70 and ninth in the breaststroke in 1:05.48.
“I just wanted to do my best and go out and swim my race,” McFarland said. “I’m really happy with myself and my team.”
The Lexington boys tied for 28th in the final team standings with 22 points. Sophomore Wilson Cannon finished 14th in the 100 butterfly in 52.85 and was a member of the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams. The 200 medley team of Matt Malaska, Cayman Eichler, Cannon and Connor Miller finished 14th in 1:41.05. The 400 free team of David Haring, Cannon, Miller and Eichler was 13th in 3:18.31.
Warriors Finish Strong: The Ontario boys were 33rd in the final team standings with 19 points. Ontario’s 200 free relay team of David Whitaker, Kristian Kowalski, Kenton Cordrey and Kyle Cordrey was 15th in 1:30.59. Kowalski was an All-Ohioan as both a diver and a swimmer. He finished fourth in the 1-meter diving competition Wednesday.
