Westlake sophomore Emily Splain was just one of many local swimmers to qualify for the district meet at Cleveland State this weekend. (Photo by Brian E. Maciag)

Westlake girls take second at sectionals,
many local swimmers advance to districts
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published Feb. 15, 2006

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Sometimes second place feels like a championship. The Westlake girls swim team was ecstatic with their second place finish at the D-I girls sectional swim meet held at Lakewood High. The Lady Demons had 360 points, edging Magnificat’s 332 points. Strongsville won the meet with 445 points.

“It was a major accomplishment,” senior captain Lauren Schaefer said. “We were a come from nothing program. To beat Magnificat was huge. They are such a huge swim team and intimidate us a little. It was a big surprise to finish ahead of them.”

The top three individuals and top two relays automatically qualify for the District meet at Cleveland State this weekend. The top 14 times from across the district also qualify.

Automatically qualifying for Westlake was Katie Knurek (third in 200 IM), Emily Stephenson (third 100 fly, third 100 breast) and the second place 200 medley relay team of Stephenson, Abbie Deleve, Emily Splain and Casey Hamilton.

Other indvidual qualifiers for Westlake: Lauren Schaefer (100 free, 200 free), Jenni Smith (200 free, 500 free), Aubree Bailey (200 IM, 500 free), Sarah Stephenson (200 IM), Splain (fly, 100 back), Alaine Perconti (fly), Hamilton (100 free), Deleve (back) and Knurek (back).

The sectional meet did not begin as Magnificat coach Mark Vandervort had envisioned. Rather than win the 200 medley relay, the Blue Streaks were disqualified.

Westlake’s Katie Knurek was one of several local swimmers to qualify for districts in at least two individual events. (Photo by Brian E. Maciag)

“We got off to a rough start with that disqualification,” Vandervort said. “The girls did rebound nicely but it cost us second place overall. We would have had a lot of momentum if we had won that race. When you get dq’ed it is crushing. The silver lining is that all four of those girls qualified in an individual events so they will still be going to districts.”

Vandervort expects stronger performances next week at Cleveland State.

“We are looking for a better finish next week,” he said. “It is a fast pool and the best pool in northeast Ohio and maybe all of Ohio.

Automatic qualifiers were: Elaina Suba (first in 200 free, second in back), Stephanie Bagi (first in 200 IM), Jackie Trudeau (second in 500 free) Kim Baumbick (100 breast) as well as the 200 and 400 free relay teams.

Also qualifying were: Maddie Kete (50 free), Trudeau (200 free), Laura Herron (200 free, 500 free), Bagi (100 back), Samantha Tamas (100 back), Alex Leach-Wick (breast), Jessica Baumbick (breast), Stefani Nemec (fly), Ashley Mrugacz (fly) and Kim Baumbick (IM).

While many of the qualifiers are familiar names in swimming circles, there have been a few pleasant surprises for the program.

“Maddie Kete and Samantha Tamas are two freshmen who were on the bubble at the start of the year,” Vandervort said. “Both stepped up this year and have been able to settle in nicely. Maddie in particular has a good shot at doing something special at districts and maybe get to have one more meet.”

In D-II girls district meet, Rocky River finished fourth overall and will be taking a full bus to the district meet next weekend.

“I was really pleased on the whole,” coach John Conner said. “We had a lot of kids, both boys and girls drop a lot of time.” A lot of kids stepped up and swam fast.”

Individual qualifiers for River were: Amanda Shaughnessy (50 free, 200 free), Karen Benko (50 free, 100 free), Gabrielle Kariotakis (100 free, 100 back), Katie Scherry (back, fly), Krista Hanson (breast, 200 IM). Tori Bartolozzi and Alex Anderson will also compete in diving at the district meet.

In addition all three River relays qualified. The team of Kariotakis, Hanson, Scherry and freshman Paige Ferber won the 200 IM relay with a time of 1:56.53.

“I thought all of our relays did well,” Scherry said. “In the medley, it was a really close race and we just out touched Orange. Our freshman Paige anchored that race and held them off. She did great.”

Conner is hopeful of sending all three relays to state.

“We want to get a relay back to states,” Conner said. “On the girls side, we look good. We could send all three. We want to swim our fastest relays at districts.”

Scherry took second overall in the butterfly with a time of 1:02.39. She was just edged out by Orange high school’s Shireen Ganapathi.

“For the most part I was happy with how I swam,” Scherry said. “I wasn’t tapered yet so I am really looking forward to next week.”

Conner was quick to credit a few other swimmers who did not individual qualify but came up with big swims.

“Paige Ferber, Maggie Gerard and Abby Kacpura all scored for us,” Conner said.

The Fairview girls team had a strong day. Eileen Bringman and Diana Mruk both qualified in two individual events.

Bringman will swim the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle. Diana Mruk will swim the 200 freestyle and the 100 freestyle. The two joined senior Tiffany Andrako and junior Jane Pozydaev to advance both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. The quartet just missed breaking the school record in the 200 freestyle relay by just three hundredths of a second. Junior Katie Begany will begin her championship season at Districts in diving as there is no sectional qualifier for diving.

Bringman, who qualified for districts last year in two individual events and relay, was excited to be joined by several teammates as well.

“I knew we had a strong team,” Bringman said. “I am really happy for Diana and the boys who made it. Everyone did a great job and it was a lot of fun.”

Mruk was a part of the 400 free district relay team last season, but this was her first time qualifying as an individual.

“I am very excited,” Mruk said. “I worked really hard. I have been sick and I did my best to come back from it.”

Mruk said that Bringman has helped her reach this level.

“Eileen is such an awesome person,” Mruk said. “It is a honor to swim with her. I have looked up to her since I was a freshman.”

Fairview will be sending two boys to the District meet at Cleveland State. Senior Mike Crowe qualified for the 100 breaststroke, and senior Matt Kilbane advanced in the 500 freestyle and the 200 individual medley.

The Lady Rockets will have four individuals and a relay at the district meet. Senior Caitlin Lanning (200 free, 500 free) and freshman Amanda Ritzenhalter (50 free, back) were joined by Gabrielle Adkins and Kristian Dewees in the 200 relay. Hallie Klugman and Claire Meaney will compete at the district diving meet.

Lanning, a district qualifer last season, really wants the relay team to do well.

“I have always wanted to be a on relay team that went to states,” Lanning said. “Amanda has really stepped up this year. She is our safeguard. If the rest of us can all swim personal bests, we are confident, we can do it.”

Rebecca Lauer and Madonna Chesney of North Olmsted both qualified in diving. As did Olmsted Falls’ Lindsey Auten.