Boardman keeps strong swimming tradition alive

February 16, 2019 at 12:10a.m.

Boardman keeps its strong swimming tradition alive

By BOB ETTINGER

BOARDMAN

When the Boardman swim team met before the season, coach Carlo Cordon addressed the Spartans’ tradition and who might step in to write the newest chapter, among other things.

“We have boys in more events than we’ve had in any other year,” Cordon said. “It started 15 or 20 years ago when we first started to go to state. It’s our job as coaches to keep the tradition alive. At the start of the season, we talk about goals, the tradition and we ask who is going to step in and fill in the blanks. We knew we had some pieces, it was a matter of who was going to step in and step up.”

There were no shortage of volunteers as nine Boardman swimmers qualified for the Division I district meet in four events, 13 qualified in at least two events and 21 individuals qualified to compete at Cleveland State’s Robert F. Busby Natatorium beginning at noon today.

Mason Rassega (200-yard medley relay, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay), Jordan Stackpole (200 medley relay, 200 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 400 freestyle relay), Will Linker (200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay), Noah Basista (100 butterfly, 200 freestyle relay, 100 breaststroke, 400 freestyle relay) and Matthew DunLany (100 butterfly, 500 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay) will all compete in four events for the boys team.

For the girls, Alison Kuras (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay), Jennah Markovitch (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay), Mikel Flatley (50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay) and Alyssa DiNapoli (100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay) will all compete in four events.

“Those girls have been fantastic,” Cordon said. “There are so many things I can say about them. Markovitch and Flatley are the most versatile girls on the team. They can swim distance, the backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. I had to move them into different events for the sake of the team in the regular season. Now, they’re back in their best events – short bursts of quick power – and it will be exciting to see what they can do.”

Divers Teddy Anzevino, Madison Ricciuti, Gizzy Kelso and Jordan Jones took part in the 1-meter diving competition Thursday night.

Seven of the 10 boys who qualified will swim in at least two events and six of the 11 girls to make the district will compete in a minimum of two events.

River Flatley (200 medley relay, 200 individual medley, 100 backstroke) will compete in three events. Siman Mascola qualified in the 200 medley relay and 100 breaststroke, Brendan Beam will be in 100 butterfly and Carter Cailor will swim in the 500 freestyle.

Hayley Ho (200 medley relay, 100 breaststroke), Abby Yocum (200 medley relay, 100 breaststroke), Ella Huston (200 medley relay) and Sarah Varga (200 medley relay) will also compete.