Canfield’s record-setting Paris having fun

Canfield swimmers

set for district meet

By BOB ETTINGER

sports@vindy.com

CANFIELD

Jason Paris can find enjoyment in swimming in a couple of ways. But ask him if he enjoys being challenged and you can almost hear the spark it ignites and the challenge in his voice.

“You bet your [butt] I do,” Paris said. “There’s a difference [in swimming free and easy and being pushed]. When it’s close, it’s really exhilarating. Everything has to be perfect. Everything has to be exact. I find it fun when it’s super close, but it’s also fun being idiots on the side of the pool and hanging out as a team. It’s fun either way.”

Paris faced one of the toughest challenges he’s ever had in a pool and walked away as the fastest competitor of the fastest field in the fastest event ever at the Division II sectional meet at the University of Akron last weekend. He now owns the meet record with a 22.19 in the 50-yard freestyle. Five other swimmers, including teammates Bobby Kutsch and Matthew Peckman, all bested the previous meet record, but fell victim to Paris.

“To be honest, I didn’t even know about [breaking the record],” Paris said. “It wasn’t until a couple of days later when we looked at the results to see who qualified for the district meet. It made me smile. I wasn’t overly ecstatic, but it made me happy.”

Paris and the Cardinals will compete in the district meet at Cleveland State University’s Robert F. Busby Natatorium beginning today at 3 p.m.

Paris also anchored the 200-yard freestyle relay in claiming the sectional championship. That relay team also included Kutsch, Peckman and James Dietz.

Dietz, Kutsch, Peckman and Paris will all compete in four events at the district.

Paris will swim in the 50 and 100 freestyle races as well as the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Kutsch will enter the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, and the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Dietz is in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200 and 400 freestyle relays and Peckman will compete in the 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle and 100 and 200 freestyle relays.

The Cardinals boast real depth and talent in all events.

“It’s good for us because we’re able to keep the team together, keep everyone looking out for each other in the stressful tournament season,” Canfield coach Conor Brady said. “We expected a lot from the boys this year, maybe not for so many to qualify, but for them to perform well. I’m pleased and proud. Some of the younger boys came through when it was time to perform.”

Robby DiDomenico (200 medley relay, 200 free, 500 free), Luke Dietz (200 individual medley, 100 backstroke, 400 free relay), Joe Klepec (200 medley relay, 100 breaststroke), Connor Fritz (200 medley relay, 100 backstroke) and Ty Schaab (100 breaststroke) will all compete at the district.

Competing in the Division I girls meet Saturday at noon for the Cardinals will be Sydney Schuler, who was 10th in the 200 freestyle and 11th in the 500 freestyle at the Division I sectional meet at Canton McKinley’s C.T. Branin Natatorium, and Elle Dawson, who placed 12th in the 100 backstroke.