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Boardman 200 relay surges to second-place, school mark
By charles grove
CANTON
While they weren’t up there with the giants of Ohio Division I swimming with the likes of St. Xavier and St. Charles, the Boardman swimmers all agreed they had a strong showcase at the state level.
“As coaches we couldn’t be more pleased than we were they the boys’ performances all the way around,” Boardman head coach Terry O’Halloran said. “To get this many people back in both the individual events and getting both relays back is a big plus for our program.”
The Spartans competed in their 17th straight state tournament in four competitions. Sophomore Callen Aulizia competed in the 50 freestyle championship final and the 100 freestyle consolation final while both the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams also competed in consolation finals.
Aulizia finished sixth in the 50 and sixth in the consolation final of the 100 to finish 14th overall in the state in the latter.
“I’m very happy,” Aulizia said after stepping off the podium for the 50 freestyle championship. “My coaches have worked us hard all year long and I wouldn’t be here without them.”
The highlight of the evening took place in the 200 freestyle relay consolation final. The team, comprised of Aulizia, Kyle Kimerer, Ethan Schwendeman and Aaron DunLany, looked to be heading to a mediocre seventh-place finish through the first three legs until Aulizia, the anchor, swam a 20.73 leg to push the Spartans to second place. The team swam a 1:27.23, breaking a school record which had stood since 2007.
“It felt great. Especially to do it at the state tournament,” Kimerer said. “We’ve been trying to get that record the entire year and it feels really rewarding to get it in our last 200 relay. We finally got it.”
Said Schwendeman: “It was really cool. I was shaking after the race. The excitement and everything was just so much.”
The foursome followed up their record-breaking performance by setting their best time this year in the 400 freestyle relay a few races later, finishing sixth in the consolation final with a time of 3:13.07.
“We still felt like we had the momentum,” Kimerer said. “We really just wanted to finish it off with a bang and give everything we had possible. I felt like we did that. We’re happy with both races.”
O’Halloran said he credited the strong performances in both relays to the bond the group of boys created throughout the season that culminated at the best possible time. “As a unit those boys have really bonded and that’s the difference,” O’Halloran said. “You can do all the training you want but when the kids mentally get all on the same page and they’re working together as a group then big things happen.”
Warren Harding’s Michael Miller was the other area representive at the Division I level. Miller missed out on qualifying for the championship final of the 50 freestyle by .05 seconds and was sent to the consolation final where he finished sixth with a time of 21.46.
“I saw my time and it wasn’t what I was hoping for so I was a little disappointed, but I knew there’s nothing I could do to change it so I had to be happy with it,” Miller said. “I had a good breakfast with my family this morning and after that I just focused on my race. I thought about every second of the race and everything I needed to do.”
Miller reviewed pictures and videos of previous events to try to perfect his time. He said he was thankful for the opportunity to swim at the state level, even though he fell just short of his own expectations.
“That helped me mentally definitely, but I was as physically prepared as I could be and I guess it wasn’t enough,” Miller said. “I’m happy with how I ended up and thankful for all the opportunities I had.”
The Spartans have an off day today, but will continue training on Monday for next year.
“I told them they get to take one day off and then they’re back at it,” O’Halloran said.