DISTRICT SWIMMING Boardman's Robinson to state

Hayley Robinson placed third in the 100-yard breaststroke to gain a state spot.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- At last year's district meet, Hayley Robinson broke her goggles minutes before her race, forcing her to run to the other side of the natatorium, grab new goggles and get back behind her block without being late for the start.
"It was not fun," she said.
This season, she learned her lesson. She brought two pairs.
"I wanted to make sure it didn't happen again," she said.
She brought a few other things, too: talent and experience.
The Boardman junior placed third in Division I in the 100-yard breaststroke at Saturday's district meet at Cleveland State University.
Robinson automatically qualified for next week's state meet in Canton -- the only area swimmer to earn an automatic bid.
"I'm a lot more calm this year," she said.
"Last year I had the goggle incident and the year before I was just a freshman. But now I know what to expect and I know all the other breastrokers. We're all friends."
Robinson finished 10th in the state in the event as a freshman, then battled mono the week before last year's meet and finished 12th.
The top eight earn a spot on the medal stand.
"I just want to have fun next week and hopefully place better," she said.
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 bids to the state meet.
Strong showing
Two area swimmers, Canfield junior Rob Frankle and Warren Harding junior Tyler King, finished sixth in their events and will likely earn at-large bids to the state meet.
Motivation
Frankle also swam well on Friday, but was disqualified in the 100 butterfly for allegedly using a "flutter kick."
Rather than dwell on the decision, he used it as motivation.
"Definitely," he said. "You have to try and take that anger and use it to your benefit instead of letting it get you down."
Frankle finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke, dropping more than a second from his sectional time to finish in 1:00.37 -- just .05 off the school record.
What did he think when he saw his time?
"I was just ecstatic," he said.
Frankle advanced to the state meet last year as a member of two relays, but wanted to make it on his own this season, he said. His older brother, Nick, qualified for state in the event last season.
"I'm just trying to follow in my brother's footsteps," he said.
King will do the same. He finished sixth in the 100 backstroke after finishing sixth in the 200 freestyle on Friday. His older brother, Nathan, also qualified in two individual events last season.
"I didn't expect to do this good," King said of Saturday's finish. "I was just trying to go out fast and save a little for the end."
Speaking of saving, King was one of the few swimmers who didn't shave his head before the district meet.
Will he go bald before the state meet?
"I don't know yet," he said with a laugh. "We'll see."
scalzo@vindy.com