Granville, Northridge swimmers add excitement to early-season action
COLUMBUS — Lydia Sturgeon’s work was done for the evening, but her adrenaline was never higher Monday.
Granville’s junior swim star was jumping up and down at the end of the pool as her teammates neared the finish of the 400 freestyle relay. The Blue Aces did win that one, as they did all but one event during the meet with Northridge, Johnstown and host Grandview Heights at the Columbus Aquatic Center.
“That’s one of my favorite parts, seeing everyone get excited about the sport because we all work so hard at practice. To see it pay off for everyone is super exciting,” Sturgeon said moments after cheering on the final relay of her sister Malana, freshmen Abi Westnedge and Lylah Jacobs and sophomore Sydney Lauffer to victory.
That foursome finished in 4:15.45. Lydia Sturgeon previously joined sophomores Lauffer and Grace Largent and freshman Lily Hyslop on the winning 200 medley relay (1:59.61) and Largent, Hyslop and Westnedge on the winning 200 free relay (1:48.92).
What are notably missing are seniors. It is a young but extremely talented crew led by Lydia Sturgeon, who has been a part of three All-Ohio relays in her first two seasons at the Division II state meet.
“Being a team captain, I am super excited to share my experience with the younger girls and spread the love for the sport,” said Sturgeon, who also won the 200 individual medley (2:19.35) and 100 butterfly (1:04.11).
The competitive juices got going for Northridge junior Sophia BeVier as she neared the end of her 100 backstroke. She eventually took runner-up in a time of 1:15.02 as she went stroke for stroke with third-place Malana Sturgeon, who was right beside her.
“I can usually see her out of the corner of my eye, so I knew I had to push harder," BeVier said. "With doing club, I am starting where I left off last year, so that’s really good."
BeVier and classmate Kayla Vance and senior Caitlin Fuller are the most experienced Vikings.
“I definitely try to cheer (on my teammates) to make them feel welcome,” BeVier said.
It was the same story for Johnstown sophomore Kaci Grice. At the end of a long battle in the 500 free, Grice’s sprint to a runner-up time of 6:37.76 was less than four seconds ahead of a Grandview opponent.
Grice and classmate Lauren McFadden are practicing full-time this season with the Northridge team and under the direction of Vikings coach Rachel Furr.
“I could hear my best friend, counting for me and yelling at me the whole time, and I could see my coach telling me to pick it up," said Grice, who was only 10 seconds off her time from the Division II district meet last winter. "I was watching the girl beside me, and it’s going to sound bad, but I wanted to beat her so I was sprinting that last (stretch).
“It’s been really fun getting to know all of the Northridge kids, and that just makes practice fun and motivates me more just having them there beside me cheering me on."
Granville’s additional individual winners were Hyslop in the 200 free (2:04.04) and 500 free (5:35.67), Largent in the 50 free (27.41) and 100 breaststroke (1:11.77) and Westnedge in the 100 back (1:09.90).
Granville, Northridge boys relish leadership role
For veteran club competitors, opening the season with last weekend’s Ned Reeb Invitational at Ohio State was old hat. Granville junior Eli Winterhalter, however, knew the anxiety for the least-experienced Blue Aces, but all reached Monday better for it.
“I couldn’t even imagine what it is — unbelievably stressful,” Winterhalter said.
Winterhalter has reached the next step in his journey. He earned a spot on two of Granville’s “A” relays.
On Monday, Winterhalter joined the sophomore trio of Nolan Schneider, Miles Baker and Drew Bergstrom on the winning 200 medley (1:51.61) and 400 free (3:40.20) relays. He also was an individual double winner in the 200 free (2:04.34) and 100 free (54.73).
“I am incredibly honored to swim A-flight,” Winterhalter said. “To place in large events with sophomores who are really good swimmers — some better than me — it’s really great to give all of us good memories of high school swimming.”
Northridge senior Travis Allen took runner-up to Winterhalter in the 200 free (2:11.90).
“It helps to know your competitors,” said Allen, who also took runner-up in the 100 back (1:10.24). "You know you are going to have a good swim against Granville, but it’s also something to look forward to help our team be the best we can be."
Allen joins Caden Hewett as the Vikings’ senior leaders.
“It’s something special,” Allen said. “There is something to be said about training at a different level during the offseason and then coming back and trying to help your peers.”
Like the girls, Granville won all but one event. Other individual winners were Schneider in the 100 fly (58.11) and 100 back (1:00.37), Baker in 500 free (5:20.37) and 100 breaststroke (1:08.70), Bergstrom in the 200 IM (2:15.97) and junior Henry White in the 50 free (25.95).
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Granville, Northridge swimmers add excitement to early-season action
