Bees To Compete In Two Events At State Swim Championship

sophomore Claire Savage is going to Canton for the Division I state swimming and diving championships next weekend after placing third in the 50-yard free on Saturday afternoon at the Cleveland State University district meet.

Savage goes to the state meet as an automatic qualifier as a top-five finisher. Her time in the 50 free was 24.15, topped only by Elaina Lanson of Wadsworth (23.33) and Chase Kinney of Jackson (23.54).

"We are looking at our 200 free relay and 200 medley relays getting in," said Brecksville-Broadview Heights swim coach Mike Schmidt, before he left the pool deck at Cleveland State on Saturday.

However, after Sunday morning's announcement by the Ohio High School Athletic Association for state qualifiers, only one of Schmidt's relay teams will be traveling to Canton.

The girls' 200 free relay team of Savage, senior Jacquelyn Zola, sophomore Kelly Roddy and junior Megan Zart advance after finishing ninth at district with a time of 1:40.52.

"It's all plusses," said Schmidt. "We didn't have a bad swim, and we had a number of personal bests along the way."

Schmidt had looked positively on the chances of Leandra Trudeau reaching the state meet in the 100 breaststroke after her seventh-place finish with a time of 1:09.30. Her time was not good enough to secure an at-large bid. Gabi D'Abato of Strongsville was awarded the last spot with a district time of 1:07.91.

The Bees' 200 medley relay was a seventh place finish with a 1:52.48 using sophomore Emma Schlabig, Trudeau, Savage and Zart. Like the 100 breaststroke, Brecksville-Broadview Heights just missed the last available at-large slot. Cincinnati St. Ursula Academy earned the 24th and final spot with a 1:51.69.

The Brecksville-Broadview Heights boys had senior Tyler Kotchman take ninth in the 100 fly, and senior Ryan Ainger finish 19th in both the 50 free and 100 free. Both swimmers missed out on receiving an at-large bid.