At this year's state swimming and diving tournaments in Canton, Canfield diving coach Nick Gavolas

At this year's state swimming and diving tournaments in Canton, Canfield diving coach Nick Gavolas was asked which area swimmer had the best chance of winning a state title.
"Well, Tyler has the talent," Gavolas said. "He probably has the best chance. He just has to put it together in a race."
"Tyler" was Boardman junior Tyler O'Halloran -- and Gavolas was right.
O'Halloran finished first in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal record time of 20.87 -- almost a half-second ahead of his closest competitor -- to win his first state title at C.T. Branin Natatorium.
"It's been fun and I'm just trying to keep my head on straight," O'Halloran, the Vindicator boys swimmer of the year, said. "It's a little overwhelming, but I worked real hard this season and it's nice to see it pay off."
Overcame illness: He was the first Boardman boys swimmer to win a state title.
"That's just icing on the cake," he said.
O'Halloran also took second in the 100 freestyle with a time of 45.87, finishing behind Akron Firestone senior Jon Albrecht, who swam 45.62.
O'Halloran struggled with illness at districts -- which made his showing all the more impressive.
He also pulled double-duty on Boardman's relay teams. The 200-freestyle relay team of O'Halloran, Grant Brown, Ryan Yosay and Lee Knight placed 11th at state and the 200 individual medley relay team of O'Halloran, Brian Katz, Yosay and Knight took 14th.
O'Halloran also improved on his 2001 showing, when he placed sixth in the 50 freestyle and ninth in the 100 freestyle.
"I took a big step toward next year," O'Halloran, who owns a number of Boardman swimming records, said. "I'll need to set some new goals."
Track athlete too: For now, he's taking time to rest -- at least mentally. He'll run the 400-meters in track this spring.
"I usually take a couple weeks off from swimming after the season," he said. "I just sit around and do nothing. It helps."
He'll return to the pool this month, swimming at the Boardman tennis and swim club and Penguin swimmers, a USA swimming club.
In October, he's back to high school competition.
And with all but Yosay returning for Boardman next season, the Spartans could have a lot to holler about.