2023-24 Dispatch All-Metro: Who are the best boys swimmers and divers in central Ohio?
Three individual state champions are among the 12 honorees on the 2023-24 Dispatch All-Metro boys swimming and diving team.
The Athlete of the Year in each sport – 30 in all – will be announced at the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 20 at Mershon Auditorium. Each member of the All-Metro boys swimming and diving team will receive a free ticket to that live event, where nine premier awards also will be announced, including boys and girls overall athletes of the year, boys and girls overall coaches of the year, boys and girls overall teams of the year, courage award, school spirit award and lifetime achievement award.
All-Metro Coach of the Year: Mike de Bear keeps Upper Arlington at elite level
Austin Carpenter, St. Charles
The sophomore won his first Division I state championship in the 100-yard breaststroke (54.31) and was runner-up in the 200 freestyle (1:36.21) by 0.08 of a second. He was the top seed in both events at state after sweeping them at district. Carpenter also was on the state championship 200 medley relay (1:29.53) and led off the runner-up 200 free relay (1:21.55).
Reid Caswell, Upper Arlington
The senior, an Ohio State signee, led the Golden Bears to their fourth Division I state runner-up finish in five seasons. Caswell was runner-up in the 500 free (4:32.36) and fourth in the 200 free (1:39.99), and he was on the third-place 200 free (1:23.26) and 400 free (3:05.74) relays. He won district in the 500 free (4:35.12) and finished second in the 200 free (1:38.74).
Kaden Elkovitch, New Albany
A senior and two-time Division I state qualifier, Elkovitch swept the district titles in the 50 free (20.77) and 100 free (45.96) and then finished fourth (20.76) and sixth (46.08) in those events, respectively, at state. Elkovitch also was on the fourth-place 200 free relay (1:24.1) and fifth-place 400 free relay (3:07.42).
Brady Farren, Olentangy Orange
The senior and University of Tampa signee thrived in his second Division I state appearance, placing third in the 200 individual medley (1:51.44) and sixth in the 100 butterfly (50.04). He won district in the 200 IM (1:51.62) and was third in the 100 fly (50.27).
Michael Gaier, Olentangy Liberty
A junior, Gaier clinched his second consecutive Division I state appearance by winning the 100 fly district title (49.37) and placing third in the 50 free (21.09). He was third (49.71) and eighth (21.22) in those events, respectively, at state, and also was on the sixth-place 200 free relay (1:24.67) and seventh-place 200 medley relay (1:33.14).
William Harpster, Columbus Academy
The senior anchored the Vikings’ Division II state championship 200 free relay (1:27.01) and state runner-up 200 medley relay (1:36.09) and was state runner-up in the 100 free (45.96) and fourth in the 100 breast (57.83). Harpster won district in the 100 breast (57.64) and was second in the 100 free (46.28). Academy finished third at state for the second consecutive season.
Austin Hickok, Worthington Christian
The sophomore took a huge step forward this year, finishing second in the Division II state meet in the 50 free (20.81) and fourth in the 100 fly (50.18). Hickok, who qualified for state in the 100 backstroke and 100 fly as a freshman but did not make the championship finals in either event, won district in the 100 fly (49.72) and was second in the 50 free (20.77).
Jake Lloyd, St. Charles
Another of the Cardinals’ strong group of sophomores, Lloyd won the Division I state title in the 50 free (20.28) by 0.06 of a second, was fifth in the 100 free (46.01) and anchored the winning 200 medley relay. Lloyd was district runner-up in the 50 free (20.78) and 100 free (46.45) and also was on the 200 free relay at state. The team finished third.
Jackson Monus, Bexley
A freshman, Monus rolled to the Division II district and state diving championships by a combined 282.95 points. He won district by 219.65 points, then led state virtually from start to finish in racking up 483.05 points, 63.2 ahead of Bay Village Bay’s Charles Vatolin. Monus is Bexley’s first boys diving champion.
Hamish Patel, New Albany
The senior finished his high school career as Division I state diving runner-up for the second consecutive season. He scored a personal-best 638.35 points to win his third consecutive district title and earn his fourth state berth. Patel, who finished in the top five in each state meet, will dive at Ohio State.
Cameron Petitt, Wellington
The junior and Penn State commit had his best Division II state meet yet in three trips, placing second in the 500 free (4:31.42) and third in the 200 free (1:39.98). Petitt repeated as district champion in both events, becoming the meet’s only multiple-event winner, and was the top seed in both at state.
Jacob Rider, Watterson
The junior and three-time state qualifier won his first Division II district championship in the 100 back (50.87) and was runner-up in the 200 free (1:43.91). At state, he was fourth (51.14) and ninth (1:43.05) in those events.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2023-24 Dispatch All-Metro high school boys swimming & diving team
