CANTON — Perrysburg sophomore Natalie Sanders placed 13th in the 200-yard freestyle finals, finishing in 1:53.74, scoring four points for the Yellow Jackets. It also gave Sanders all-state accolades.
The state swimming meet was held Wednesday through Saturday last week at C.T. Branin Natatorium.
In the 100 freestyle, Sanders finished in 53.27, which did not qualify her to advance to the finals.
Perrysburg senior Haley Gano qualified in the 200 intermediate medley, finishing in 2:09.71, which did not qualify her to the finals.
The Perrysburg 200 medley relay team of senior Steven Green, junior Seth Merriman, senior John Majerus, and junior Ewan Fisher did not advance out of preliminaries, finishing in 1:39.66.
During the season, that same foursome had set a new school record in the 200 medley relay of 1:38.35.
Green qualified in the 100 backstroke, finishing in 53.71 during the preliminaries and did not advance. This season, Green set school records in the 100 backstroke (52.68) and 50 freestyle (21.94).
Perrysburg head coach Alana Sigg credited not only her swimmers, but her assistant coaches, Kendall Karchner and Amanda Monschein, for a successful season.
“Most outstanding are our state qualifying athletes both in swimming and diving — Natalie Sanders taking 13th place in the 200 freestyle and the numerous records broken throughout the season,” Sigg said.
Sanders broke the school record in the 200 freestyle (1:53.35) this year. She was a district qualifier on the 200 medley relay team, the 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay team.
Sanders was first team All-Northern Lakes League in the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle, second team in the 400 freestyle relay and third team in the 100 butterfly. Sanders led a hard-working crew of athletes this season, Sigg said.
“These athletes train tirelessly six days a week, sometimes twice a day. (We) utilize a swimmer specific strength and weight training program and as a team we implemented and enforced a Focus 3 positive mindset to promote positive culture on and off the deck.”
In addition, last Tuesday Perrysburg senior diver Owen Recker placed third at state with a 541.55 diving score and Trevor Madigan placed seventh at 449.2. They both also earned All-Ohio honors.
Recker set school records this year in the boys diving 11 Dive (552.65) and the boys diving 6 Dive (333.6). Recker was also a district qualifier and first team All-NLL diver, and third team All-NLL on the 200 freestyle relay team.
“We’ll graduate 10 seniors including state qualifying diver, Owen Recker, who will be attending West Virginia and diving there,” Sigg said.
“As well as welcome never before swimmers to the lanes evidencing the appreciation of dynamics in our program.”
Other boys seniors include Braden Poland, who was third team All-NLL and a district qualifier in the 200 freestyle relay, Fynn Sattig, and Andrew Seiverth. They led the boys team to an undefeated regular season and an NLL title.
On the girls team, senior Emma Erlenbusch, Madeline Searfoss and Samantha Kyser were district qualifiers in diving.
Sylvia Freeman was a district qualifier in the 200 medley relay, 200 IM, 100 backstroke, and 400 freestyle relay, first team All-NLL in the 200 medley relay, second team in the 400 freestyle relay and third team in the 500 freestyle.
Gano was also a district qualifier in the 200 medley relay, 200 IM, 100 backstroke and 400 freestyle relay, she was first team All-NLL in the 200 medley relay and 200 IM, second team in the 400 freestyle relay and third team in the 100 backstroke.
Claire Gerken was a district qualifier in the 200 medley relay, 100 freestyle, 500 freestyle, and 400 freestyle relay. She was first team All-NLL on the 200 medley relay team, second team with the 400 medley relay and third team in the 100 freestyle.
Maggie Merriman was a district qualifier in the 200 medley relay, 200 IM, and 400 freestyle relay
Other girls seniors are Katie Avery, Abigail Bowden, Ali Cherry, Elena Gerken, Nareesa Hussain, Isabella Mati, Isabella Staschiak.
