CANTON — Galion High School will be represented at the second day of the 2020 Division 2 OHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships.
Galion Sophomore Troie Grubbs swam her second-fastest 50-yard freestyle race of the season to clinch her spot in the second heat of the finals Friday.
Her time was second just to the 24.21 she swam at the district meet to qualify her for state.
Grubbs’ time of 24.53 was good enough to tie her for the 13th seed with Kenton Ridge’s Sydney Jones. Grubbs clinched her spot as an all-Ohioan by finishing in the final 16.
Pre-race jitters and a slow start were all things Grubbs said she had to overcome.
Galion Coach Ted Temple said he was proud of the effort Grubbs put into the race to overcome the adversity.
He said it is difficult for any swimmer to try to compete just six days after swimming at the district meet, and especially so for Grubbs who also swam in the 100-yard freestyle.
Grubbs finished where she came into the meet, seeded 20th of 24. She swam a 54.95 to finish her first day of competition.
Galion was represented in a third race during the first day of competition.
Junior Kaisey Speck was seeded 23rd in the 100-yard breaststroke. She swam a 1:09.59 to finish 24th in the competition.
Temple said he is proud of both swimmer’s accomplishments getting to state and is looking forward to what they continue to do with their careers as they return to the pool for the Tigers next season.
Grubbs swims in the finals of the 50-yard freestyle Friday. The Division 2 finals meet begins at 5 p.m. at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton.