Valley swimmers set for district meet

February 13, 2013 at 12:05a.m.

Area swimmers and divers are out to make a big splash this week in district competition as they battle for berths in the state meet.

Division II diving competition is scheduled today at Cleveland State University’s Robert F. Busbey Natatorium with the Division I schools diving on Thursday. Division II swimming competition begins Friday at 3 p.m. and Division I schools swim Saturday starting at noon.

The Canfield boys team, which competes in Division II, has several swimmers and two relay teams in very good position at the district.

“We have 10 boys as individuals and all three relay teams made it to district,” Canfield coach Andrea Linnelli said. “Our 400 and 200 freestyle relays are both seeded first at district. Both were at state last year and hope to repeat this year.

“Connor Brady has been to state in two individual events and he should make it again. Daniel Bogen has a chance to make it and Nicky Montalto hopefully can make it in an individual event. We really have a good group of boys going to district so we’re looking to get not just the relays out, but a couple of individuals as well.”

Brady, a sophomore, is seeded second at district in the 100 butterfly and fourth in the 100 backstroke. Montalto, a senior, is seeded third in both the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, and Bogen is sixth in the 100 freestyle and 10th in the 200 free. Other Cardinals with high seeds are senior Mike Cardone, seventh in the 50 free and 10th in the 100 free; sophomore Kyle Anderson, seventh in the 200 individual medley; junior Drew Bennett, ninth in the 500 free; and junior Mike DiDomenico, 10th in the 500 freestyle.

Linnelli said Canfield also had some pleasant surprises.

“A freshman boy [Jared Rothbauer] made it in the individual medley. He dropped a ton of time and placed 26th among qualifiers. They take 30 swimmers and he was 26th,” she said. “Another freshman boy, Alec Gaetano, qualified in two individual events. He was 27th in the 100 backstroke and 16th in the 100 butterfly.

“For them to get a taste of what districts is as a freshman is a great experience. Next year they know what it takes to get there and what it’s like. Also, they will not have to taper for sectional to make district; their times should already be there.”

Other area boys with high seeds in the district include Boardman senior Ryan Bailey, seeded first in the butterfly and second in the breaststroke in Division I. He finished third in the state meet last year in the butterfly and eighth in the breaststroke. Also, Warren Harding sophomore Dylan Thirion is seeded sixth in the 100 freestyle.

In Division II, Ursuline senior John Tomko is second in the 500 freestyle and third in the 200 free; Hubbard senior Joe Spurio is seeded third in the butterfly and seventh in the 200 freestyle; and Howland junior Brandon Sekanick is fifth in the breaststroke.

“Brandon has broken the school record in the breaststroke three times in the past year,” Howland coach Frank Supancic said. “He has done a lot of hard work during the season and should perform quite well with rest. We think he is going to do good things this weekend.”

On the girls’ side, Canfield’s top hopes are junior Mallory Allen, who is seeded fourth in the butterfly and eighth in the 500 freestyle in Division I, and the Cardinals’ 200 medley relay team which is seeded eighth.

“We are really hoping for a relay team this year to get to state. We think the 200 medley relay team has a chance,” Linnelli said. “We have to wait and see with the individuals because I hate to jinx it and say someone definitely will make it.”

Other area girls with high seeds in Division I: Howland sophomore Aimee Gysegem, second in the 500 free and fifth in the 200 free; Harding sophomore Emily Thirion, third in the butterfly and seventh in the breaststroke; and Boardman sophomore Brooke Bailey, eighth in the butterfly.

“Aimee has performed at a highly-successful rate all season. At this point of the season she already has been near her best time in both events,” Supancic said of Gysegem. “We’ve tried to stay in our routine, keep doing the things we have done all season. I think she has an outstanding chance to make it to state.”

In Division II, highly-seeded area girls include Hubbard junior Julia Castner, second in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 freestyle; Youngstown Christian senior Mikayla Morrow, third in the 100 breaststroke; YCS sophomore Jessica Morrow, sixth in the 200 individual medley; Cardinal Mooney sophomore Taylor Tofil, seventh in the butterfly and ninth in the backstroke; and Mooney sophomore Annie Boniface, sixth in the 100 freestyle.