To make the podium at an OHSAA State Championship is often a dream for many high school swimmers in the State of Ohio. Of course, this is not easy as it takes hard work, physical and mental discipline and often a commitment to year round training.
To make the podium at an OHSAA State Championship is often a dream for many high school swimmers in the State of Ohio.
Of course, this is not easy as it takes hard work, physical and mental discipline and often a commitment to year round training.
For Geauga County swimmers Brooke Dynes and Cam Mateyo, this amazing accomplishment became reality on Feb. 21 at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton.
NDCL Lions Girls Team swimmer Brooke Dynes stood on the podium with an 8th place finish in the 100-yard Breaststroke at the OHSAA Swimming State Championships.
Also, Chagrin Falls Tigers swimmer Cam Mateyo made the podium at the State Championships twice with a 6th place finish in the 100-yard Butterfly and an 8th place finish in the 100-yard Breaststroke.
For the Lions’ Dynes, she said the preliminaries on Feb. 20 were extremely exciting and filled with positive emotion.
“(February 20th) was a huge deal for me, I was so ecstatic,” said Dynes. “Just really getting to have this experience and everything is just amazing and I’m so blessed.”
In order to make the podium, Dynes had to first qualify in the preliminaries for a spot in the finals.
Dynes said that going into the preliminaries she was focused on doing what she needed to do to be successful.
“I just kind of went out and did what I needed to do, what I know to do and just kept trying to do my best,” said Dynes.
Dynes spoke of the joy and excitement she experienced when she looked up at the scoreboard after the preliminary race and realized she made the finals.
“I was jumping up and down, so excited, I had all my friends around me which I’m so grateful for,” said Dynes. “We were just so excited, I don’t even know if I can describe it. It was amazing, it was truly one of the moments I’ll remember forever in my life.”
In the finals, Dynes was happy with her pre-race preparation and overall she felt that she swam a great race.
NDCL Head Coach Bryan Scheider said that Dynes accomplished her goal.
“The whole season leads up to this,” said Scheider. “This was part of the plan all year long. Last year she made it, but the plan was to get her on to the podium today. She accomplished that goal.”
Along with Dynes, also competing at the State Championships for the Lions was Lexy Laven.
Laven finished 28th in the 200-yard Freestyle and 28th in the 500-yard Freestyle.
“It was just an honor to be here two years in a row with my best friend Brooke and getting to do what I love most and swim with my heart,” said Laven.
Leading the way for the Chagrin Falls Tigers swimmers was Cam Mateyo who finished on the podium twice.
Mateyo, a senior, said that he had a great time swimming at Chagrin Falls.
“It’s been a great four years,” said Mateyo. “A lot of great teammates and I have been fortunate to come here (OHSAA State Championships) three times now and we get better every year. Although it’s sad that this is coming to an end, this couldn’t be a better way to go out.”
Also swimming at the OHSAA State Championships for the Tigers Boys Team were Noah Publicover (50-yard Freestyle – 24th place), Nicholas Tropf (100-yard Backstroke – 27th) and the 400-yard Freestyle Relay Team (Wade Daugherty, Mateyo, Publicover, Tropf – 13th).
Swimming for the Tigers Girls Swim Team at the State Championships were the Girls 200-yard IM Medley Team (Gracie Ryan, Hayden Schron, Claire Simon, and Aletha Svette – 22nd) and Gracie Ryan (50-yard Freestyle – 32nd).
Swimmers from Chardon, Hawken and Kenston also swam at the OHSAA State Championships.
Chardon Hilltoppers Boys Team swimmers included Toby Rogers (100-yard Freestyle – 18th; 100-yard Backstroke – 100-yard Backstroke – 15th), and the 400-yard Relay Team (Jack Bennett, Danny Greene, Brayden Marker, and Toby Rogers – 16th)
Briella Hewitt represented the Hilltoppers Girls swim team in the Div. I OHSAA State Championships on Feb. 22 in the 200-yard IM (23rd place) and the 100-yard Breaststroke (21st).
Representing the Hawken Hawks Girls Swim Team was Addy Pruce (100-yard Freestyle – 17th place; 200-yard Freestyle – 10th place)
Hawken Boys Swimmers swimming at the OHSAA state championships were Everett Losch (100-yard Freestyle – 11th place; 100-yard Breaststroke – 10th place) and
William Butler (500-yard Freestyle – 31st place).
Also competing at the OHSAA State Swimming Championships was Kenston Bombers Boys Team swimmer Luke Schmidt (100-yard Breaststroke – 18th place; 100-yard Butterfly – 23rd).
