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Poland’s Lanterman makes history as state qualifier.
Lanterman’s work in the pool pays off
with bid to Division II state meet in Canton
By BOB ETTINGER
Poland Swimmer Headed To State
Video
Poland swimmer Mark Lanterman will be competing in the state high school swimming tournament.
Mark Lanterman is charting new waters for the Poland swimming program as competitors around the state prepare for the Ohio High School Athletic Association State Swimming and Diving Championships this week.
Lanterman is the first male swimmer to qualify for the Division II meet for the Bulldogs.
“It means a lot [to be the first],” said Lanterman, a senior. “I’ve worked hard to get here. I’m glad I get it see it paying off.”
The Division II meet begins with preliminaries at Canton McKinley’s C.T. Branin Natatorium at 5 p.m. today. Division I prelims are at 9 a.m. Friday and the Division II finals start at 5 p.m. that day. The Division I finals will open at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Lanterman, under the tutelage of Poland coach Rachel Emerson, has come into his own in the pool.
“I couldn’t be here without her,” Lanterman said. “I wasn’t that good as a freshman. She’s been able to push me. I know she talks about technique and that helps a lot. My times have really dropped. The season just went really well.”
Lanterman qualified 22nd in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 49.60.
West Branch junior Jamyson Robb is competing in the Division II girls meet for the third time.
“I’ve become more confident,” Robb said. “I used to be laid back. I didn’t go out and race. I’ve gained confidence in myself and, now, I’m willing to go out and race. As a freshman, I didn’t know what to expect. I was really nervous and wasn’t willing to go out and race.”
Robb is chasing not only a state championship, but a state-record time in the 100-yard breaststroke and aims to place in the 200-yard individual medley.
“I’m very excited,” Robb said. “I’m where I want to be in my placing. I’m positioned ninth in the IM and my goal is to be in the top eight. In the breaststroke, I’m first, so I’m in a good spot.”
In winning the district championship and setting the meet record with a 1:03.08 in the breaststroke, Robb is seeded first.
“That can change, too,” Robb said. “I definitely expect people to go faster, but my goal is to win.”
Being the swimmer the other girls are aiming to beat is new to Robb.
“I think being seeded first gives me more pressure, but it makes me more confident,” she said. “I’m sure the girls seeded below want to beat me. I’m not expecting to blow everyone away. I’ve never been first. I’ve always been right there, but I was never the person people said, ‘Oh, my gosh! She’s going to win.’ There’s definitely more pressure. Last year, I was third. I was chasing the girls in front of me, but it’s different this year.”
Robb’s time of 2:07.97 in the IM has her seeded ninth.
Boardman’s Matthew DunLany will compete in three events in the Division I meet.
“That’s what I was looking at,” DunLany said. “I was hoping to qualify for all three. I’m excited to go back again with the team.”
DunLany will compete in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays and the 100-yard butterfly.
“The team and I have worked hard all year and it has prepared us for districts and states,” DunLany said. “It was kind of stressful waiting for the other districts to finish up. We were watching them closely, but some of them finished up kind of late.”
DunLany is seeded 21st in the butterfly and will compete along with Noah Basista, Mason Rassega and Will Linker in the 200-yard freestyle relay, which is seeded 13th. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, seeded 17th, he will join Basista, Linker and Jordan Stackpole.
Basista qualified in the 100-yard breaststroke where he is seeded sixth and in the butterfly where he is ranked 11th.
Howland’s Jared Mindek is seeded fifth in the Division II breaststroke and Jason Paris of Canfield is seeded 12th in the Division II 50-yard freestyle.
Paris will join teammates Bobby Kutsch, James Dietz and Matthew Peckman in the 200-yard freestyle relay, ranked sixth, and Kutsch, James Dietz and Luke Dietz in the 400-yard freestyle relay, seeded seventh.
Mikel Flatley, Alison Kuras, Alyssa DiNapoli and Jennah Markovitch qualified 22nd for Boardman in the 200-yard freestyle relay.