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Canfield High’s swim team eyes success in Canton
BY MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Eric Davis, a three-time state qualifier, is one of seven boys athletes who will represent Canfield High School in three relays and four swimming events at the boys state swimming meet.
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The meet begins today, at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, with diving competition, then continues Friday and Saturday with swimming qualifications and finals.
A senior co-captain, Davis will participate in the 100-yard butterfly and 200 medley, 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
He qualified for the state meet in two relays as a sophomore, then competed in the 200 and 400 free relays and the 100 free and 100 fly last year.
He’ll be joined by teammates James Hunter, Ryan King and Garrett and Gavin Trebilcock in boys competition, while Elizabeth Wilkens, a Canfield sophomore, qualified in diving.
Davis has not only been swimming for Canfield coach Andrea Linelli on the high school team, but as a middle school student on her swimming club.
“Coach Linelli passed out goal cards at the beginning of this season and mine are a lot different than in past years,” said Davis. “In the past they were individual, but this year it was a team thing.
“I have three main goals this year. They are to place in the top eight as a team at state, win a relay and place in the top three in an individual event and win the Northeastern Aquatic Conference because our boys have never won it before. We accomplished that by 100 points because the guys really came together,” said Davis.
Davis credits Linelli with the success at Canfield.
“She is one of the best swimming coaches in the state and has been like a second mom to me,” said Davis. “She has helped me grow up and has always been there for me.
“We have fun, but she can be very disciplined and gets us on the same page so that we go through our swimming procedures in a correct way.”
According to Linelli, Canfield has its most participants and events entered in the program’s history.
After winning all three relays in school record times at last week’s district meet, the Cardinals’ 200 medley relay is seeded fourth, while the 200 and 400 free relays are seeded third.
“All three relay times have qualified to be All American,” said Linelli.
A three-time state qualifier, Hunter will compete in the 100 freestyle, 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Jordan Graham, a three-time state qualifier, will be competing in the 400 free relay.
Garrett Trebilcock, a sophomore, will compete in the 200 individual medley and 200 medley and 200 and 400 freestyle relays. His time in the 200 individual medley (1 minute, 54.14 seconds) has qualified him for All-American status.
King, a junior, is entered in the 100 backstroke, 200 medley and 200 free relays, and Gavin Trebilcock, a freshman, will compete in the 200 individual medley and 200 medley and 200 free relays.
Senior Marcus Suffolk will also attend the meet as an alternate on the relays.
“It’s been such a dream season,” said Linelli. “We surprised a lot of people at district by taking first place in all three relays.”
“The kids are so dedicated, they are close and work well together and this is what it’s all about,” said Linelli. “They set a goal for themselves and worked hard to achieve it and they know a lot about the sport and competition. They research times of their opponents and know what they need to do to. They are very coachable.”
Nine other athletes, competing in 13 events, and two relays will represent the Valley at the state meet.
miller@vindy.com