DISTRICT SWIMMING Harding's Tyler King places sixth to lead area

Howland's Heather Gilmour and Poland's Cody Robson also placed in the top 12.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- When your older brother is a former all-Ohioan, an Ohio State athlete and one of the best swimmers in the area's history, you know you have a lot to live up to.
You also have a lot to rely on.
Which is why, when Warren Harding junior Tyler King was preparing for Friday's district swim meet at Cleveland State University, he turned to a familiar place for advice: his brother, Nathan.
"He told me to just swim my own race and don't worry about anyone else," said Tyler King. "All the tension and nervousness will go away as soon as you hit the water."
King, whose older brother is now a freshman at OSU, didn't swim his best race of the season, but he did swim well. He finished an area-best sixth in the 200-yard freestyle, earning a spot on the awards podium and, most likely, a trip to the state meet.
"I wasn't too happy with my time," Tyler King said. "I went out too fast and when I got to the last 50 [yards], I didn't have enough left."
King went to the state last year as a member of two relays, but this will be his first trip in an individual event.
Has he set any goals?
"Yeah," he said. "Hopefully go faster."
Looking ahead
Two other area swimmers placed in the top 12 and will look to earn at-large bids to next weekend's state meet in Canton.
Howland junior Heather Gilmour placed ninth in the 200 freestyle and Poland junior Cody Robson was 12th in the 200 IM.
The top five individuals and relays in boys and girls Division I and the top three individuals and relays in girls Division II earned automatic berths in the state meet, along with 11 at-large qualifiers in each event. At-large qualifiers will be announced Sunday.
Since many of the area's best swimmers graduated after last season, this was a rebuilding year for many area teams.
"We have a young team," said Boardman coach Terry O'Halloran, whose son, Tyler, won two state titles last season. "It looks like in the next year or two, we'll be able to mix it up with some of the better teams."
Building character
For now, he's happy to have his athletes experience the atmosphere at the district meet.
"This is one of the top high school districts in the country," he said. "It's a pressure cooker and you almost have to go through this meet the first time before you can do your best.
"But out of that adversity, comes a lot of character."
Canfield coach Andrea Linnelli, who lost 13 seniors from last season, was pleased with how her team fared.
"The boys, especially, swam really great," she said. "We just have to rest up and get ready for [today]."
The second day of the district meet begins at noon today at Cleveland State.