Bailey, Canfield relays lead state swimming qualifiers

Staff report

It’s been 10 years since a Boardman swimmer won a state title.

Spartan senior Ryan Bailey is in good position to end that drought.

Bailey enters Saturday’s state swimming meet at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium with the fastest time in Division I in the 100-yard butterfly (49.32). It’s more than a second faster than Cincinnati Moeller junior Greg Nymberg (50.51), who is seeded second.

Tyler O’Halloran was the last Spartan to win a state swimming title, capturing the 50 and 100 freestyle titles in 2003.

Bailey placed third in the 100 fly at last year’s state meet. Bailey is also seeded ninth in the 100 breaststroke.

Warren Harding sophomore Dylan Thirion, the area’s only other boy state qualifier in Division I, is seeded 21st in the 100 freestyle.

In Division II, Canfield’s 200 free and 400 free relays are both seeded in the top four. The 200 free relay enters with a time of 1:28.34 — just two-tenths of a second slower than top-seeded University School.

The Cardinals’ 400 free relay is fourth at 3:14.05. Top-seeded Dayton Oakwood enters with a time of 3:10.58.

Three Cardinals qualified in individual events. Senior Nicholas Montalto is seeded 14th in the 50 free and ninth in the 100 free; junior Daniel Bogan is 15th in the 100 free and 19th in the 200 free; and sophomore Connor Brady is 12th in both the 100 back and 100 butterfly.

Ursuline senior John Tomko is seeded fifth in the 200 free and sixth in the 500 free.

Hubbard senior Joe Spurio is fifth in the 100 butterfly and Howland junior Brandon Sekanick is 20th in the 100 breast.

On the girls side, Boardman qualified two relays to Canton after setting school records in both events. The 200 free relay is seeded 23rd and the 400 free relay is 21st.

Warren Harding sophomore Emily Thirion is ninth in the 100 breast and 21st in the 100 butterfly.

Howland sophomore Aimee Gysegem is 19th in the 500 free.

Two area girls advanced in Division II: Cardinal Mooney sophomore Taylor Tofil (22nd in the 100 butterfly) and Girard freshman Savannah Teter (17th in diving).

Division II diving starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Preliminaries for the Division II swimming events are 5 p.m. Thursday with finals at 5 p.m. Friday. Preliminaries for the Division I swimming events are 9 a.m. Friday with finals at 4 p.m. Saturday.