OHSAA swimming state championships | Jackson boys divers perform well, finish in top 10
CANTON — State-meet week for the county's top boys swimming and diving team is off to a strong start.
Jackson senior Levi Hellmann spun and twisted his way to a fifth place Tuesday in the OHSAA Division I state diving finals. Fellow Jackson senior Andon Haines, the only other Stark County diver in the 32-man field, placed ninth.
Senior Emmalie Mitzell will represent the Polar Bears in Wednesday's girls district diving finals. Several Jackson athletes who will be in this weekend's state swimming championships joined hands across the pool when Hellmann and Haines took to the 1-meter board in C.T. Branin Natatorium.
"Levi and Andon and Emilie have scored our team a lots of points," Jackson swim coach Doug Nist said. "They're seniors. Them leaving is going to hit the program pretty hard."
Hellmann enjoyed his last action as a Polar Bear, seeming not to notice pressure or time in the 3 1/2-hour meet. The crowd was large enough to generate a steady stream of applause and atmosphere.
"It was my last meet in high school, and that was different," Hellmann said. "I love talking to all of the other divers.
"Districts in Cleveland are actually more fun than this meet. The whole team is there. But states is also very fun."
The top five finishers were defending state champion Dominic Roberto of Solon with 591.75 points, Hamish Patel of New Albany with 545.5, Mitch Caldwell of Solon with 531.30, Trevor Madigan of Perrysburg with 527.90 and Hellman with 508.70.
Roberto is headed for Ohio State.
"(Roberto) is awesome," Hellman's coach, Phil Barr, said. "He's one of those kids who has natural athletic gifts and puts them to good use."
Hellmann's college team will be West Virginia.
"Levi was pretty smooth. He was pretty spot on today," Barr said. "He was plugged in from the start. After the second round he was in first place. That didn't last, but he stayed tuned in.
"Andon did a good job, too. He was here last year, and he improved on his finish."
Haines cracked the top 10 in a tense battle among divers from Avon Lake, West Clermont, Anderson and Milford. Their scores ranged from 442.75 to 433.80.
In the Division II diving finals earlier Tuesday, Jackson Monus of Bexley ran away with the championship, scoring 483.05 points. Charles Vatolin of Bay Village (419.85) and Kaedyn Ward of Bryan placed second and third.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jackson High School divers crack top 10 in OHSAA state championships
