Swimming & Diving 3/2/2022 9:05:00 AM

St. Xavier Swimming & Diving Claims State Runner-Up Trophy

St. Xavier Swimming & Diving Claims State Runner-Up Trophy

Predicted to finish third based upon District results, the Long Blue Lane dug down deep and put in an outstanding performance at Canton at the 95^th Ohio State Swimming Championships. The meet went down to the final event (400 Free Relay).

Beavercreek took first and the title with St. X securing the runner-up position, a scant twenty-one hundredths of a second from sharing the crown. Beavercreek scored 211.5 points to the AquaBombers' 207.5. Dublin Jerome was third with 181.5 Mason finished 5^th (148), Sycamore (95) and Kings (84) demonstrating the quality of the Southwest District.

Friday's swimming prelims set the stage for this classic showdown as both Beavercreek and St. X qualified athletes in 9 of 11 events for Saturday finals. However, diving took the spotlight first on Saturday morning. Junior Gavin Hang, St. X's District champ recorded his highest score ever and finished with the bronze medal. It was a clutch performance by the two sport varsity athlete (also a football player).

From the diving board to the starting blocks, it was time for the guys in "fast suits" to step up and throw down. Beavercreek struck gold in the first two events but the AquaBombers hung tough with an All-American Medley Relay of Chase Guenther [SR], Jaeger Ellerman [FR], Max Ward [SOPH] and Will Froass [SR] moving up a spot. In the 200 Free, sophomores Thackston McMullan and Alex Ingram swam to 3^rd and 6^th place finishes, while Luca Eckert [JR] moved up 4 spots to place 12^th. The "Men in Blue" scored in the next three events highlighted by Guenther's eighth place finish in the 100 Fly. He was joined by Ward who had a lifetime best and moved up to 14^th. The sprint free races (50 and 100) preceded and followed the fly and St. X garnered points from Logan Tobery [SR] in both. Eckert again aided the cause by lowering his prelim time and finishing 12^th.

Led by McMullan (1^st), Ingram (2^nd) and complimented by Nick Stroh [JR] (13^th). The "Boys from Bomberville" took the lead. All were lifetime bests. The fourth place 200 Free Relay of McMullan, Ingram, Froass and Tobery extended the lead with another All-American time. Beavercreek tightened the score in backstroke and breaststroke with multiple scores. Ellerman picked up 3.5 points in breaststroke setting up the dramatic finish.

Beavercreek, Dublin Jerome, Mason and St. X placed one through four, remarkably the fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth fastest in the U.S. The Long Blue Lane was represented by Eckert, Ingram, Tobery and McMullan. McMullan posted the fastest split in school history with an amazing 43.11.

In classic program fashion, the State team which also included Chase Dillon [JR], Oscar Haverkamp [SR], Christopher Perera [SR], Levi Shooner [SR], Henry Stimson [FR], Adam Wade [JR] and Nick Wolfe [SR] accepted the trophy on the podium and sang the alma mater before calling it a season at C. T. Branin Natatorium.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS –

St. X projected to score 192 points – scored 207.5
17 athletes qualified for State in 2022 – 15 qualified in 2021
29 St. X Top 50 Times (18 Top 25)
58% Lifetime Best Swims (71% had at least one)
9 "Rookies" at Canton
39% of swims at State were from SW District
41% of scoring swimmers were from SW District
"Classifieds" – Seniors (7), Juniors (5), Sophomores (3), Freshmen (2)
Since 1970 – 42 State Championships / 7 State Runner-Ups
9 of 11 events faster than last year
85 swims at the Ohio State meet are eligible for All-American status
St. X All-Americans (* denotes automatic All-American)
- 200 Medley Relay: Guenther, Ellerman, Ward, Froass
- 200 Free: McMullan*
- 50 Free: McMullan*
- 500 Free: Ingram, McMullan*
- 200 Free Relay: McMullan, Ingram, Froass, Tobery*
- 400 Free Relay: Eckert, Ingram, Tobery, McMullan*

COACHES' COMMENTS

"Our congratulations to Beavercreek. They swam exceptionally well. It's been quite a season and the State meet certainly offered plenty of excitement and fast times," commented head coach Dave Albert.

"Canton is the hub of the universe when it comes to high school swimming. It just keeps getting faster. Being a part of this experience in my hometown is very special. An emotional couple of days for sure," noted assistant head coach Jim Brower.

"What a meet. Our guys earned the right to make it to State. We will continue to learn from our journey together," offered coach Eric Breissinger.

"When a meet is decided by such a close margin, it's important to appreciate the time and effort put in by athletes, coaches, families, officials and others. The outcome highlights the quality of Ohio swimming," summarized assistant head coach Tom Keefe.

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Players Mentioned

Chase Dillon: Junior; Lakota Ridge Jr. School

Luca Eckert: Junior; Our Lady of the Visitation School

Jaeger Ellerman: Freshman; Mercy Montessori Center School

Chase Guenther: Senior; Indian Hill Middle School

Gavin Hang: Junior; Loveland Middle School

Oscar Haverkamp: Senior

Thackston McMullan: Sophomore; St. Bernard-Elmwood Place High School

Christopher Perera: Senior; All Saints School

Levi Shooner: Senior; Liberty Jr. School

Henry Stimson: Freshman; Mariemont Middle School

Logan Tobery: Senior; Mason Middle School

Adam Wade: Junior; Mason Middle School

Players Mentioned

Chase Dillon
: Junior; Lakota Ridge Jr. School

Luca Eckert
: Junior; Our Lady of the Visitation School

Jaeger Ellerman
: Freshman; Mercy Montessori Center School

Chase Guenther
: Senior; Indian Hill Middle School

Gavin Hang
: Junior; Loveland Middle School

Oscar Haverkamp
: Senior

Thackston McMullan
: Sophomore; St. Bernard-Elmwood Place High School

Christopher Perera
: Senior; All Saints School

Levi Shooner
: Senior; Liberty Jr. School

Henry Stimson
: Freshman; Mariemont Middle School

Logan Tobery
: Senior; Mason Middle School

Adam Wade
: Junior; Mason Middle School

ST. XAVIER BOMBERS ATHLETICS

St. Xavier Swimming & Diving Claims State Runner-Up Trophy

Players Mentioned

Chase Dillon

Luca Eckert

Jaeger Ellerman

Chase Guenther

Gavin Hang

Oscar Haverkamp

Thackston McMullan

Christopher Perera

Levi Shooner

Henry Stimson

Logan Tobery

Adam Wade

Players Mentioned

Chase Dillon

Luca Eckert

Jaeger Ellerman

Chase Guenther

Gavin Hang

Oscar Haverkamp

Thackston McMullan

Christopher Perera

Levi Shooner

Henry Stimson

Logan Tobery

Adam Wade

Scoreboard