CANTON — Multiple area swimmers are heading to Canton for the OHSAA Division 2 State Swimming Championships.
Colonel Crawford, Galion and Upper Sandusky all will be represented during the preliminary races Thursday at 5 p.m. at C.T. Branin Natatorium.
Colonel Crawford has seven swimmers participating in three relays at the state meet.
The relay teams participating at state are:
- 200-medley relay: Cassidy Vogt, Emma Swisher, Maddy Keller, and Katie Hanft. The team is seeded 19th of 24 with a 1:53.96 qualifying time.
- 200-free relay: Katie Hanft, Kayla Payne, Abby Martin, Cassidy Vogt. The team is seeded 20th of 24 with a qualifying seed time of 1:41.78.
- 400-free relay: Katie Hanft, Abby Martin, Jayden Ward, Cassidy Vogt. The team is seeded 22nd of 24 with a qualifying seed time of 3:46.06.
“This is the first year in history that the girls have sent all three relays and seven girls,” Colonel Crawford Coach Ashley Shelli said. “They have worked for this all season. They worked together and made the dream happen.”
Shelli also said she is excited the teams have three juniors, two sophomores, and two freshmen with no seniors.
Vogt is returning to state for the third time after qualifying with the medley in 2018 and individually in the 50 free last year.
After sending two boys relays to the 2019 state championships, Galion is sending two swimmers from the girls team to represent the Tigers.
Sophomore Troie Grubbs will be competing in the 50 free and 100 free, and junior Kaisey Speck will compete in the 100 breaststroke.
Grubbs broke two 20-year-old records during the season, success Galion Coach Ted Temple expects to see continued Thursday.
“Troie has the athletic ability to make finals in both events,” he said. “Her attitude is upbeat and ready to go.”
He also expects Speck to continue her success after swimming her best time of her career at districts.
“Her goal is to break a 28-year-old record for Galion,” Temple said. “Kaisey is looking to enjoy a good experience and to build on next year.”
Grubbs is seeded 11th of 24 with a qualifying time of 24.21 in the 50 free and is seeded 20th of 24 with the qualifying time of 53.77 in the 100 free.
Speck is seeded 23rd of 24 with a qualifying time of 1:08.31 in the 100 breaststroke.
Upper Sandusky is sending representatives to boys state championship meet for the first time since 2010 and Coach Justin Richardson said the team is obviously excited.
“The only reason that we are here is from the determination and preparation of the seniors, and from the continued development of talent with our underclassmen,” Richardson said. “The seniors have pushed each other and our younger swimmers all season to improve themselves. We can see that it has certainly paid off.”
The Rams will be represented by its 200-freestyle relay comprised of Trever Daughenbaugh, Wes Ogden, Brody Williams and Gage Frey.
The relay is seeded 23rd of 24 -with a qualifying seed time of 1:31.7.
Richardson said the team is continuing to be motivated, including making the agreement to shave Richardson’s head if they make the finals.
“Once again, they found a way to set new goals,” he said. “Knowing their motivation, I’m not betting against them.”
The Division 2 Finals are Friday at 5 p.m. for the top 16 swimmers for the prelims.