ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- Delayed, but back in the water. And making a splash in meet No. 1. On Wednesday, the Boys' and Girls' Swimming & Diving teams opened their respective seasons with a Great Lakes Conference meet against the Patriots of Valley Forge High School. The Pirates swept the proceedings, with the Double-R Boys winning, 141-140, and the River girls prevailing by a final of 145-38.

On the boys' side, the Pirates (1-0) swept 12 events. Six River athletes combined to take gold in the eight individual swimming events. Junior Griffin Sawyer took first place in the 1-meter diving event.

Junior Braden Devorace won two individual events, touching in first in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke. Devorace was also a part of a Rocky River's first-place 200-yard medley relay. Sophomore Michael Esdon also claimed two individual wins on the night (500 free, 100 backstroke) and was in on that same medley relay. Fellow sophomore Phillip Carter was a part of two winning relays while also taking first in the 100 free. Another sophomore -- Matthew Stankivicz -- was also in on two relay wins while posting a first in an individual race. Stankivicz edged Valley Forge's Jacob Kavalec in the 50 free.

In the girls' competition, Rocky River (1-0) won 11-of-12 events (the Patriots took the meet's lone diving event, with Heather Smith earning a victory). Sophomore Gianna Miller and junior Kate Tlapa registered big performances for the Pirates. Miller was in on all three winning relay efforts while also winning the 50 free. Tlapa earned gold in the 200 free -- edging teammate Blair Pichola in a taut battle -- and 500 free; she was also a part of two winning relays.

Junior Ella Russell claimed first place in the 200 individual medley and 100 back. River swept that backstroke race and six others in the dominant team win.

Pirate Swimming & Diving celebrated its Senior Night as part of the opening night of action. Nine RRHS senior athletes -- Livia Dubbs, Mary Harte, Kristine Hillstrom, Isabel Huarde, Alison Ritvo, Alexandra Stevovich, Luke Hallowell, Igli Sulce -- were honored as part of those ceremonies.


by Skip Snow