Joseph, Gysegem, Moxley qualify for state meet

Staff report

Cleveland

McDonald senior Katie Joseph and Lakeview senior Emilee Gysegem each earned automatic state berths in a pair of events and Maplewood senior Jordan Moxley automatically qualified for Canton in one event after strong performances at Friday’s Division II district swimming meet at Cleveland State University.

Joseph finished second in the both the 100-yard freestyle (51.66) and the 200 free (1:52.50). She finished behind Gates Mills Hawken junior Morgan Cohara in both events, with Cohara swimming a 51.16 in the 100 free and a 1.49.25 in the 200 free.

The top three individuals and relays in each swimming event automatically qualify for next weekend’s state tournament at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton. Eleven at-large swimming qualifiers will be selected on the basis of times recorded in district meets statewide.

Gysegem was second in the 200 IM with a time of 2:06.71, just behind Hawken sophomore Sarah Koucheki (2:06.26). Gysegem was fourth in the 100 backstroke with a time of 58.61.

This is the fourth straight year that Joseph and Gysegem qualified in two events. They went on to earn first team All-Ohio honors in their events each of the past three years.

Moxley placed second in the 50 free (24.02), just behind Gates Mills Gilmour Academy freshman Macie McNichols (23.94).

On the boys side, Western Reserve senior Brian Stahl finished sixth in the 100 free with a time of 49.68. He was the only area boy to finish in the top six at Saturday’s meet.