CLEVELAND: Hudson kept its streak intact, and Walsh Jesuit senior Hanna Gresser set multiple meet records Saturday in the Division I girls district swimming championship at Cleveland State University’s Busbey Natatorium.
The Explorers won their fifth district title in a row and sixth in the past seven years.
“Today is the epitome of a team win for us,” Hudson coach Matt Davis said. “We had a lot of kids that really stepped up. We have some superstars that did what they needed to do, and we had other kids really step up. … Across the board, we swam awesome.”
Gresser placed first in three races, all meet records, and second in one. She took part on Walsh’s first-place 200-yard medley relay (1:43.71), placed first in the 200 individual medley (2:01.44), was first in the 100 breast stroke (1:01.76) and was on the Warriors’ second-place 400 freestyle relay (3:29.43).
“We did great as a team,” Gresser said. “The underclassmen definitely stepped it up and had great times. Individually, today was a stepping stone for next week. I just tried to feel smooth and feel good, and some fast times came out of that. I am happy.”
The top two in each event automatically advanced to next weekend’s state meet at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium.
Hudson scored 344.5 points to top the 30-team field. North Canton Hoover (305 points), Walsh Jesuit (279), Brecksville (160), Firestone (157), Mayfield (154), North Royalton (128) and Jackson (86) rounded out the top eight.
Walsh seniors Carly Hart and Emma Kaczmar and junior Bryanna Renuart joined Gresser on the 200 medley relay; and Hart, Renuart and freshman Madelyn Draiss were also on the 400 freestyle relay with Gresser. Hart was also second in the 200 IM in 2:05.28.
“As seniors, Hanna and Carly were trying to break any record they could,” Walsh coach Wally Lutkus said.
Hudson finished 1-2-3 in the 200 freestyle, with senior Natalie Gundling (1:51.06), sophomore Maddie Hannan (1:51.38) and senior Gaby Palazzo (1:54.44).
“That was something we talked about all season, going 1-2-3 in the 200 free with Natalie, Maddie and Gaby,” Davis said.
The Explorers also went 1-2-3 in the 500 freestyle with freshman Paige McCormick touching the wall first in 4:53.69. Gundling took second in 5:01.07 and senior Maggie Haas was third in 5:10.07.
“Going 1-2-3 in the 500 with Paige, Natalie and Maggie was awesome too,” Davis said.
Hudson won the 400 freestyle relay in a meet-record time of 3:28.83 with Hannan, McCormick, Gundling and senior Macy Trattner.
“I am really excited about going to the state meet again, and I am definitely really excited for the girls that are making it for the first time,” Gundling said. “We have definitely worked really hard all season, and we love coming out to this meet. Our main goal is to obviously make it to the state meet and earn a district title.”
Hudson took second in the 200 medley relay with senior Brittan Ham, McCormick, Palazzo and Hannan combining to finish in 1:45.57. The Explorers were also second in the 200 freestyle relay with seniors Trattner, Ham, Gundling and Palazzo in 1:35.65.
Hoover sophomore Parker Timken won the 50 freestyle in 23.75 and Hoover junior Amanda Palutsis was second in 23.84. Timken also was second in the 100 freestyle in 51.56 to Aurora junior Lara Ketonen, who touched the wall first in 51.46.
Vikings sophomore Kate Lochridge placed first in the 100 butterfly in 56.79 and Nordonia junior Christina McFarland was second in 57.02.
Hoover set a meet record in the 200 freestyle relay with Palutsis and sophomores Caroline Ehlers, Lochridge and Timken posting 1:34.92.
McFarland won the 100 backstroke in 56.99, and North Royalton sophomore Sarah Turchanik was second in 57.03.
“Christina made the state meet last year in the 100 back, and she was 14th,” Nordonia coach Claudio Costanzo said. “Since that state meet last year, she has been working every day. She swam in the offseason, and the amount of work that she has put in over the last year to get where she is at right now has been incredible. The girl wakes up at 4 or 4:30 in the morning to go train with her club team, the Solon Stars, and then with us. ”
Brecksville sophomore Hannah Bach was second in the 100 breast stroke (1:01.95).
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeacon journal.com. Read the #ABJVarsity high school blog at www.ohio.com/preps.