12 Greater Columbus high school swimmers, divers to watch in OHSAA postseason
Central Ohio swimmers and divers will soon get their chance to continue a dominant run for the area during the Division I and Division II state meets at Branin Natatorium in Canton.
Dublin Jerome’s girls will try to defend last winter’s Division I state championship, the eighth in 10 years for a central Ohio team. Upper Arlington, Dublin Coffman and New Albany were close behind in second, third and fourth place, respectively.
UA, Jerome and Olentangy Liberty took second, third and fourth in Division I boys.
Columbus Academy’s boys and Bexley’s girls were third and fourth, respectively, in Division II.
Sectional meets take place this weekend, followed by the Division II district meet Feb. 17 and Division I the next day at Ohio University. Ohio State, the meet’s usual site, is hosting a collegiate invitational.
State competition runs Feb. 20-24.
Here are 12 area swimmers and divers – six boys and six girls in alphabetical order and not necessarily the top-ranked competitors in their events – to watch in the postseason.
All rankings are from SwimMeet.com.
Boys
Austin Carpenter, St. Charles
One of the state’s top sophomores, Carpenter finished the regular season with Ohio’s best times in the 100-yard breaststroke (54.16), 100 freestyle (44.01), 200 free (1:38.11) and 200 individual medley (1:48.52). He is expected to swim the 100 breast and 200 free in the Division I postseason.
Brady Farren, Olentangy Orange
After finishing fifth at district and 10th at state in the 200 IM as a junior, Farren has trimmed more than a second from his state time to rank fourth overall in Division I (1:52.29). He also is tied for sixth in the 100 butterfly (59.52).
William Harpster, Columbus Academy
The versatile senior is first statewide in Division II in the 100 breast (57.75), second in the 100 free (46.72) and ninth in the 200 IM (1:58.5). Harpster was sixth at state in the 100 free and 15th in the 100 breast as a junior.
Austin Hickok, Worthington Christian
The junior has made big strides this season, ranking second in Division II in the 100 fly (49.89). He was district runner-up in that event a year ago and tied for 15th at state, in addition to placing 28th in the 100 backstroke.
Jake Lloyd, St. Charles
Another of the Cardinals’ deep group of sophomores, Lloyd ranks third statewide in the 50 free (20.56) and fifth in the 100 free (46.03). With junior Wyatt Julian and sophomores Ayden Fortney and Alex Wu also in the top 10 of various events, St. Charles should challenge for the district title and a lofty placement at state.
Gabe Miller, Upper Arlington
The senior will try to advance to the championship finals individually this season after helping the 400 free relay to sixth place but finishing 17th in the 50 free and 21st in the 100 free a year ago. Miller ranks ninth in Division I in the 100 free (46.65), an event he won in the OCC-Central meet, and 11th in the 100 fly (50.98).
MORE OF THE BEST: Reid Caswell, Upper Arlington; Luke DeFrancisco, DeSales; Kaden Elkovitch, New Albany; Aidan Frazier, Dublin Coffman; Cameron Frazier, Coffman; Jack Hensley, Lancaster; Jack Mahaffey, Wellington; Chase McCluskey, Pickerington North; Jackson Monus, Bexley; Hamish Patel, New Albany; Jacob Rider, Watterson; Andrew Rucker, Upper Arlington
Girls
Emily Brown, Dublin Coffman
After sweeping the 200 and 500 free championships each of the past three years in Division I, the Tennessee signee is going for individual titles in the 100 fly and 200 IM. Brown had the luxury of choice, given that she owns Ohio’s top times in the 100 fly (53.93), 100 free (49.67), 200 free (1:48.06), 200 IM (1:59.68) and 500 free (4:55.5).
Carrie Furbee, Grandview Heights
The junior and Ohio State commit won the Bobcats’ first state titles last fall, sweeping the 50 free and 100 free in Division II after doing so at district. Furbee ranks first in Division II in the 50 free (23.24), a time that would be second in Division I, and the 100 fly (54.0).
Riley Hollingsworth, Upper Arlington
The younger sister of defending Division I 50 free champion Hayden Hollingsworth, a junior and Georgia commit, Riley is forging her own path in sprint and middle-distance events. Riley, a freshman, ranks third in Division I in the 200 IM (2:06.01), which she won in the OCC-Central meet, and eighth in the 100 fly (56.29).
Leah Nebraska, Olentangy Berlin
The OCC-Cardinal runner-up in the 50 free and 100 free, Nebraska ranks fourth (23.68) and eighth (51.82) in those events in Division I as well as sixth in the 200 free (1:53.01). The sophomore is seeking her first district and state berths.
Alexis Peltcs, Hilliard Darby
The sophomore hopes a strong season ends with her first state meet appearance. Peltcs ranks first in Division I in the 100 breast (1:03.66) and fourth in the 200 IM (2:06.98). She won the OCC-Cardinal 100 breast and 200 free titles and was on two top-three relays.
Sophia Stamm, Marysville
The senior and Akron signee might be the favorite for the Division I state diving title. She was runner-up by less than a point last year and is the only returnee from last year’s top eight. A three-time district champion, Stamm ranks first in Division I (497.2 points).
MORE OF THE BEST: Madelyn Bosler, Westerville North; Millie Evans, Bexley; McCall Freiburger, Upper Arlington; Katrina Kollin, Dublin Coffman; Milly Leonard, Dublin Jerome; Olivia Matson, Jerome; Ashlyn Morr, New Albany; Lizzie Oliphant, Upper Arlington; Isabella Pribonic, Newark Catholic; Bethany Spangler, Bexley; Lydia Sturgeon, Granville; Angela Wyand, Tree of Life
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 12 central Ohio swimmers, divers to watch in OHSAA postseason
