Sidelines: Zuch repeats in swimming; St. Francis takes second in state

Napoleon senior Sami Zuch celebrates a state record after winning the 200-yard freestyle. She also captured the 500 freestyle crown.

It was a story of past,present and future for northwest Ohio at the state swimming and diving championships in Canton.

The present was dominated by Napoleon senior Sami Zuch, who repeated her effort of last season by once again claiming theDivision II girls titles in the 200- and 500-yard freestyles.

Zuch, who will swim at the University of Utah, claimed the 200 free with a time of 1:48.38 while taking first in the 500 free with at 4:53.50.

The top local D-II boys swimmer was Otsego senior, Michael Cavanaugh, who took second in the 100 free (46.92), while placing sixth in the 200 free (1:44.37).

St. Francis took second in the Division I boys team competition despite not having a single senior score a point.

The Knights finished with 218 points, just 10 behind Cincinnati St. Xavier, which won the team title for the 10th time in 11 years.

St. Francis was led by junior Phil Barone, who placed second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 58.33. Other top finishers for the Knights included juniors Rowan Williams, who was fourth in the 200 free (1:41.14) and 100 backstroke (52.23); sophomore Dan DiSalle, who took fourth in the 100 free (46.33) and seventh in the 50 free (21.38); and junior Michael DiSalle, who placed fifth in the 200 free (1:43.33).

The Knights claimed a pair of relay titles as Williams, Barone, Nick Carmony and Dan DiSalle won the 200 medley relay (1:34.60). Williams, Dan Miller and the DiSalle brothers took first in the 400 free relay (3:06.09).

Among the D-I girls, Notre Dame sophomore Rachael Dzierzak finished second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:04.83.

In D-II girls, Port Clinton sophomore MacKenzie Stewart captured the 200 individual medlay (2:05.94), while placing third in the 100 breast (1:04.05). Napoleon freshman Makenzie Garringer took second in the 100 butterfly (57.74).

Garringer and Zuch teammed with Erika Vocke and Jesse Sworden, both sophomores, to win the 200 free relay (1:36.95), helping Napoleon tie for third in the team race.

— John Wagner