Dayton Raiders capture titles
Area swimmers wrestle winter state meet away from
Cincinnati stronghold
By Dave Long
Dayton Daily News
3-23-06
The Dayton Raiders made a huge splash on the state age-group swimming scene by winning their first winter state team championship. The current format for the titles has been in place since 1960 and the big trophies had never left Cincinnati until this year. The age-group meet for 10- through 14-year-olds was held March 10-12 at the Keating Natatorium in Cincinnati.
 |
The Raiders had a combined boys and girls point total of 2,237. Second place went to the Cincinnati Aquatics with 1,805.50, while third went to the Cincinnati Marlins with 1,597. "It's big because everyone has been trying to beat the Cincinnati teams for so long, and we finally did it," Raiders coach Brent Peaden said. "We had 52 swimmers in the meet at different age groups and they all contributed. "Winning the winter championship is especially satisfying because it's the meet where the competition is usually the strongest. In the summer, you have a lot of kids competing for different organizations or in other sports," Peaden said. "There's a national database which shows all the team scores and times from state meets across the country. This group could probably go to any state in the country but California and have a good chance of winning the championship." |
The Raiders also competed in the state senior championships for ages 15-18 on March 3-5 at the Miami University pool in Oxford. The Cincinnati Marlins won that team title with 1,331 points to 1,074 for second-place Dayton.
The Ohio Swimming Chapter of USA Swimming, the national governing body for the sport, created a title this season called the Ohio Combined State Champions, which merges the team scores from the age-group and the senior state meets. The Raiders were the Ohio Combined state champs with 3,311 points to 2,928 for the Cincinnati Marlins and 2,281 for Cincinnati Aquatics.
"Winning the overall title is a great tribute not only to the kids, but our coaching staff and the parents who get the kids to practices and volunteer so much time to the organization," Peaden said.
Two individuals who had outstanding meets in the 13-14 boys age-group competition were Aaron Buchanan of Beavercreek and Andrew Abeysinghe of Troy. Buchanan won six individual state titles and was on four winning relay teams. His time of 4:05.47 in the 400-yard individual medley was a state record and is the third fastest time in the nation. Abeysinghe won two individual titles and was on five winning relay teams. His time of 1:51.71 in the 200 backstroke is also a state record and the event's best in the nation.
At the state senior meet, Troy High School senior Pam Zelnick dominated the competition by winning five individual first-places and by participating on four winning relay teams. She was the high-point award-winner for both the boys and girls, with 117.
• 10-and-under: Anna Drake (Bellbrook), Kelsy McEvoy (Oakwood), Ashley Murphy (Wilmington), Maddie Schaffer (Wilmington)
• 11-12: Ericka Chick (Yellow Springs), Hannah Chobanian (Beavercreek), Katie Czachor (Centerville), Megan Davis (Miamisburg), Alyssa Frederick (Beavercreek), Laura Holty (Beavercreek), Jenna Jaggers (Beavercreek), Jordan Jaggers (Beavercreek), Marissa Lehman (Beavercreek), Elizabeth Malone (Yellow Springs), Brittany Owens (Dayton), Morgan Schaffer (Wilmington), Shelby Stephens (Miamisburg)
• 13-14: Sarah Andrews (Centerville), Lynsie Farrel (Arcanum), Taylor Graber (Riverside), Danielle Hixenbaugh (Lima), Nicole Knoblach (Dayton), Jacquelyn LaFave (Beavercreek), Madison Ruesebusch (Wapakoneta)
Boys Ohio Age Group State Team
• 10-and-under: Dillon Abeysinghe (Troy), Matthew Abeysinghe (Troy), Jacob Inesta (Beavercreek), Henrik Pohlmann (Beavercreek), Chris Stark (Beavercreek)
• 11-12: Robbie Caudy (Miamisburg), Andrew Cole (Xenia), Jake Boyd (Vandalia), Dylan DiCicco (Beavercreek), Austin Gregory (Centerville), John Howe (Beavercreek), Colin Kanzari (Beavercreek), Steffen Listerman (Beavercreek), Brett Mackenzie (Troy), Ian McEvoy (Oakwood), Evan McCormick (Beavercreek), Josh Quallen (Wilmington), Jack Polhmann (Beavercreek), Austin Senseman (Centerville)
• 13-14: Andrew Abeysinghe (Troy), Brandon Alt (Miamisburg), Aaron Buchanan (Beavercreek), Shane Bond (Huber Heights), Matt Brittingham (Huber Heights), Ed Hewitt (Beavercreek), Nick Kroll (Beavercreek), Jon Martinez (Springboro), Erich Snyder (Dayton)
——————————
• Andrew Abeysinghe, Troy (13-14): 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, 400 medley relay, 800 free relay
• Matt Abeysinghe, Troy (10-and-under): 200 free, 50 butterfly, 100 butterfly, 200 individual medley
• Sarah Andrews, Centerville (13-14): 500 free, 1,650 free, 200 back
• Jake Boyd, Vandalia (11-12): 200 free relay, 200 medley relay
• Aaron Buchanan, Beavercreek (13-14): 500 free, 1,650 free, 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, 400 IM, 200 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay
• Laurie Caudy, Miamisburg (15-18): Senior 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay, 400 medley relay
• Erin Fawley, Xenia (15-18): Senior 500 free, 1,000 free, 1,650 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay
• Taylor Graber, Riverside (13-14): 200 free
• Austin Gregory, Centerville (11-12): 100 free, 500 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 200 medley relay
• Colin Kanzari, Beavercreek (11-12): 400 free relay
• Nick Kroll, Beavercreek (13-14): 400 medley relay, 800 free relay
• Steffen Listerman, Beavercreek (11-12): 200 free relay, 400 free relay
• Brett Mackenzie, Troy (11-12): 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 free relay
• Jon Martinez, Springboro (13-14): 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
• Jake Polhmann, Beavercreek (11-12): 200 medley relay
• Krissy Roach, Centerville (15-18): Senior 400 medley relay
• Sean Shannon, Beavercreek (15-18): Senior 500 free
• Emily Simpson, Beavercreek (15-18): Senior 200 relay, 400 relay, 800 relay, 400 medley relay
• Erich Snyder, Dayton (13-14): 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay, 200 medley relay
• Pam Zelnick, Troy (15-18): Senior 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay, 400 medley relay
Senior Championships High-Point winners:
Dayton Raiders Girls Rankings at the Ohio Senior Championship Swim Meet
1. Pam Zelnick, Troy (117 points)
4. Erin Fawley, Xenia (79)
5. Emily Simpson, Beavercreek (75)
7. Laurie Caudy, Miamisburg (65)
Dayton Raiders Boys Rankings at the Ohio Senior Championship Swim Meet
2. Chris Douville, Alter, Kettering (82)
4. Matt Grubb, Washington Twp. rec center (79)
Overall
Pam Zelnick, Troy
——————————
Dayton Raiders
Contact Dave Long at 225-2251.