Area has the best in OAC

Two Youngstown-area women — Heather Gilmour and Mary Vallinger — who swim for different teams and don’t know each other, dominated the Ohio Athletic Conference women’s championships last week at the University of Akron’s Ocasek Natatorium.

Gilmour, a junior for John Carroll University from Howland, was named OAC swimmer of the year for the second time, while Vallinger, a freshman for Mount Union College from Poland, was named OAC diver of the year.

Gilmour was involved in six wins during the three-day meet, all in freestyle events, to lead the Blue Streaks to their 16th OAC championship in 19 years.

The daughter of William and Annette Gilmour won the 50 (24.86 seconds), 100 (54.08) and 200 (1:57.07) freestyles, and was a member of the winning 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relay teams.

The 50 and 400 and 800 relay times were school records, while the 100 and 200 times were her career bests.

Gilmour also turned in a great anchor leg of 53.68 in the 400 relay to team with Andrea Kovacs, Liana Sved and Heidi Benson for a winning time of 3:42.95, that clinched the championship.

Vallinger, the daughter of Gloria and Frank Vallinger, won both the 3-meter (392.95) and 1-meter (406.30) diving, setting a school record in the 3-meter event, to lead Mount Union to a third-place finish.

Gilmour in first year
as sprinter for JCU

Gilmour’s six OAC wins this year are all the more impressive since this is her first year as a sprinter.

“I always have been a distance swimmer, but this year I got moved into the sprinter’s lane,” said Gilmour.

“We got a pretty fast freshman who swims distance as well, and in order to get most points we spread around people.”

She said being a distance swimmer has made her a better sprinter because “especially for the 100 and 200, my distance background gave me more endurance than the other swimmers.”

Gilmour was introduced to swimming by her mother when she was 7-years old. “[My mother] was a synchronized swimmer, but not now although she still swims laps at the Easwtood Y,” said Gilmour, who swam for Howland High under coaches Debbie Mann and Leanna Dunaway.

Gilmour, who was also OAC swimmer of the year in 2006 as a freshman, now has 13 OAC championships, having won the 200, 500 and 1,650 freestyle events last year and also in 2006.

She has a 2.8 GPA majoring in criminology with a minor in military science, and is a member of ROTC and plans to join the Army after graduation.

Vallinger credits coach
for improving as diver

Vallinger credited a lot of her improvement at Mount Union to diving coach Rich Blough.

“He helped me with a lot of technique and form. He definitely has a lot of experience,” said Vallinger, who has been diving only about four years.

Vallinger is majoring in psychology and has a 3.2 grade-point average.

While a member of the Poland swim team, her coach was Jamie Frank and her diving coach was Nick Gavolas.

Another Youngstown-area standout in the OAC championships was Matt Carlozzi (Canfield) of Mount Union, who won All-OAC honors in two events in the men’s meet.

Carlozzi placed third in the 1,650 freestyle (17:06.80) and also was a member of the 800 freestyle relay that placed second (7:18.74).

He also was fifth in the 100 butterfly (54.90).

XJohn Kovach covers area college athletes for The Vindicator. Write him at kovach@vindy.com.