Boardman’s Bailey captures district crown in 100-yard butterfly

Staff report

CLEVELAND

Boardman junior Ryan Bailey is headed to Canton. He’ll have to wait to see if anyone else will join him.

Bailey cruised to victory in the 100-yard butterfly at Friday’s Division I district swim meet at Cleveland State University, earning the only automatic state berth among Mahoning Valley swimmers.

The top two swimmers in each event advance to next week’s state meet at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium. The 16 at-large berths in the event will be based on statewide times from the four district meets.

Bailey’s winning time of 49.66 was nearly two seconds faster than Cleveland St. Ignatius sophomore Peter Simcox (51.40), who took second. It was also a Boardman school record.

Bailey also took third in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 58.88, finishing behind Ignatius junior Derek Hren (57.21) and Hudson freshman Ross Palazzo (57.65).

Boardman’s 200 medley relay team of Bailey, seniors Alex Downie and Alec Santamas and junior Nick Barone placed sixth.

Warren Harding freshman Dylan Thirion was fourth in the 100 freestyle. He was also a member of the fifth-place 200 free relay, joining seniors Kieran Hernon, Vaughn Deuble and sophomore Zackary Williams.

Harding placed an area-best eighth in the team standings while Boardman was 11th.

On the girls side, Boardman’s 200 medley relay team of senior Emily Bodamer, juniors Gaby DeAscentis and Colleen Manning and freshman Brooke Bailey placed sixth and broke a school record time. The girls 400 freestyle relay team of Jordyn Markovich, Jessica Hilke, Bodamer and Manning broke also broke a school record with a time of 341.83

Warren Harding freshman Emily Thirion was sixth in the 100 breaststroke.

Boardman was 12th in the team standings while Harding was 16th, Howland 24th and Canfield 32nd.