CANTON — The Galion High School swim team was able to advance one of its relays to the second day of the OHSAA Division 2 Swimming State Championships.
The Galion boys 400 free relay team of Caleb Strack, Weston Rose, Alec Dicus and Ben Alstadt claimed the 16th spot in the prelims, the last spot to make Friday’s finals.
The swimming quartet did so despite swimming 3:22.35, three seconds slower than the team’s district time.
“It was a little bit of technique problems,” Galion Swim Coach Ted Temple said. “But, they live another day. The thing we want to do (Friday) is break our own record.”
Earlier in the meet, three of the same Tigers also competed in the 200 free relay.
Strack, Rose and Alstadt were joined by Clay Karnes in the relay that finished 19th in the race, missing the finals. The relay team swam a time of 1:31.84.
Versailles, the final team to make the finals, swam the race in 1:31.17.
“Seventh-tenths (of a second) doesn’t sound like a lot, but it only takes one person to be off and you’re in trouble,” Temple said.
Temple said he already is encouraged for next season regardless of the results on Friday.
“That 400 team is going to be all-Ohio regardless of the final results,” Temple said. “We only have one senior on that team (Rose), and our alternate (Braxton Tate) will fill that role.”
The Tigers will try to make the podium in the finals today (Friday) at 5 p.m.