By Debbie Juniewicz For the Dayton Daily News
WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County |
Erin Fawley did more than a double take. The Xenia sophomore couldn't believe her eyes as she glanced at the scoreboard. Her time of 1:56.18 earned her a tie for first-place in the 200-yard freestyle at the girls Division I sectional swim meet at the Washington Township Recreation Center Saturday.
"I was thinking 'is that right ? are you sure,' " Fawley said. "There are so many great swimmers here. Winning is just amazing."
Fawley edged out returning state placers Pam Zelnick, Troy, and Emily Simpson, Beavercreek, finishing tied for first among the district qualifiers. St. Ursula Academy junior Kelsey Vehr clocked an identical time of 1:56.18.
The winning time, however, wasn't the biggest perk for Fawley. Last year, the waiting game was stressful as the Xenia swimmer qualified to both the district and state swim meets at large. As one of the top two placers in her event, Fawley was an automatic qualifier this time around.
"This is a lot less stressful," she said between giggles. "But it really surprised me."
Fawley's first-place finishes didn't end with the 200. She also won the 500-yard freestyle event with a time of 5:03.96. The Buccaneers swimmer had plenty of breathing room as second-place finisher Sarah Andrews, Centerville, clocked a 5:08.73.
"I'm better at long distances," Fawley said.
Fawley wasn't the only swimmer to earn a pair of individual sectional titles Saturday as Centerville senior Jenny Forster had first-place finishes in both the 200-yard individual medley (2:05.18) and the 100-yard freestyle (:53.68). Forster's time in the IM was the fastest in the district by almost four seconds as Ursuline Academy sophomore Sarah Tanner touched in 2:09.16. The Elks senior was second in the district in the 100 freestyle to Ursuline sophomore Sara Radke (:53.21).
While seeing Elks swimmers at the top of the sectional standings is not unusual, Stebbins freshman Taylor Garber pushed her underdog Indians to the top of the standings Saturday. Garber won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of :58.62, just six hundredths of a second behind Tanner, who clocked the best time in the district with a :58.56.
Garber hopes to help build the reputation of the tiny nine-member Indians' squad, starting at Stebbins itself.
"At our school, swimming isn't really known," Garber said. "We don't even get into the morning announcements."
• Division II: Springfield Shawnee senior Megan Richardson closed out her high school swimming career with a Division II sectional championship in the 50-yard freestyle event at Wittenberg University Saturday. Her time of :24.93 ranked her second in the district to Mariemont's Christina Flessa (:24.86).
Arcanum senior Chatham Penrod also made her last sectional meet memorable with a championship swim in the 100-yard butterfly (1:02.95).
The first time was the charm for Alter freshman Ally Stover as the Knights rookie made an impact in her first sectional appearance with a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:59.72).