| Beavercreek junior Clarissa Wentworth lets
her swimming speak for her.
"I'm a quiet person," Wentworth said. "But I'm
getting more talkative."
The Beavercreek swimmer's quiet disposition has even sparked
a few questions.
"I've heard people ask my coaches if I talk," she
said. "Of course I talk."
The Creek junior is, admittedly, a calm person. Even
before a race when other swimmers are excitedly jumping around,
Wentworth quietly and calmly approaches the starting blocks. But
once the race begins, Wentworth goes all out from start to
finish. It has been an effective strategy for her as Wentworth
qualified to the state meet in the 200-yard freestyle and
100-yard butterfly events at the Girls Division I District Meet
Saturday.
"I save my energy for the pool," she said.
TOP TIMES
It's no guarantee but it definitely is a confidence booster.
Several area swimmers tallied district times that place them
first in their respective events going into the State Swim Meet.
Katie Forster's record-breaking district swim in the 500-yard
freestyle also was a top time among all state qualifiers,
4:52.08, as was her sister, Erin's time in the 100-yard
backstroke, :55.25.
Springfield Catholic sophomore John Kevin Koehler's time of
4:34.66 in the boys 500-yard freestyle also was the fastest
district time statewide as was the Centerville boys 200-yard
freestyle relay time of 1:25.14.
FIRST TIMERS
Rookie high school swimmers made a big impact at the Southwest
District Swimming and Diving Championships.
Several freshmen swimmers were among the top district
finishers Friday and Saturday and may be among the favorites at
the State Swim Meet in Canton this week.
Fairmont frosh Carly Mathes qualified to the state meet in
both the Girls Division I 50- and 100-yard freestyle events
while Kelsey Cooper, Springfield North, will compete in the
50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke.
Centerville is sending a pair of first-year high school
swimmers to the state meet in Stephanie Cox, 500-yard freestyle,
and Allyson Kiracofe, 100-yard breaststroke.
In Division II, Kelly Gueltig, Ridgeville Christian, Karen
Liddy, Lehman Catholic, and Nicole Martinez, Alter, all will
make their state debuts.
The Elks also are sending a pair of freshmen divers in Sean
Huff and Chris Heaton. Beavercreek freshman Jonathan Buchanan
reached one of his season goals as the Beavers distance swimmer
qualified to the state meet in the 500-yard freestyle event.
ALL FOR ONE; ONE FOR ALL
While individual district performances led to state meet trips
for many local swimmers, solid swims also led to top honors for
area teams.
Both the Centerville boys and girls teams placed second at
the Southwest District Meet with point totals of 291 and 310.5,
respectively. Perennial favorite St. Xavier won the boys
division with 414 points while Ursuline captured the district
championship title among Division I girls teams with 445.5
points.
Beavercreek placed in the top 10 in both divisions as the
boys placed 8th and the girls finished 10th overall.
Indian Hill topped the competition in the Girls Division II
District Meet with 316 points. Alter was the top local placer
with 108 team points, good enough for 7th place. Wilmington,
101, and Springfield Catholic, 82, both cracked the top 10 with
8th and 10th-place finishes.
A PERFECT 10
The girls gymnastics season all comes down to one meet as the
Southwest District Tournament will be held Saturday at Lakota
East High School.
Teams from Alter, Beavercreek, Centerville, Miamisburg,
Northmont, Troy and Xenia will be among the 23 schools vying for
only two team bids to the state tournament. The top six
individuals in each event will also advance to the state meet.
For the Centerville Elks, who qualified to the state meet
last year, the pressure is on. "Districts is the only meet
that matters now," Allison Goldstein said.
Contact Debbie Juniewicz by e-mail at djunie@aol.com
[From the
Dayton Daily News: 02.18.2002]
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