CANTON, Ohio – The Rocky River boys’ team earned a tie for fifth place in DII, and the girls’ team finished tied for 25th in
the Ohio Championships held at C.T. Branin Natatorium on Friday and Saturday.
[results: DII
| DI]
Senior Aiden Morris highlighted the Pirates’ trip to Canton, Ohio, by carding runner-up finishes in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races. Morris was also a member of a 400-yard free relay team which placed fourth and a 200-yard relay which placed sixth. A third River relay – the 200 medley unit comprised of three sophomores (Drew Helms, Braden Devorace, Aidan Carter) and senior Garrett Morris – placed 13th.
The medley relay logged the program’s second-best time in school history (1:40.00). Aiden Morris recorded his personal bests in both the 50- and 100- freestyle events. His 46.23-second time in the 100 established a new Rocky River record. In the 400 free relay (A. Morris, Devorace, Carter, Helms), the Pirates registered the program’s second-fastest time (3:14.34).
Aiden Morris churned his way to a 21.28-second finish in the 50 free. His efforts helped the boys team earn 98 points and to register a program-best finish in the state meet. River’s previous top finish on the boys’ side was eighth place in 1974. The program’s average finish over the previous four Buckeye State meets (2016-19) was 25th.
On the girls’ side, River scored 26 points. Pirate finalists included Anna Skapoulas (10th -- 100-yard butterfly), Peyton Spearry
(16th -- 100 free, 11th – 100 backstroke), and two relays – the 400 free (14th) and 200 free (14th). Both
championship relays registered school-record times. The 200 free quartet (Morgan
Schuld, Skapoulas, Gianna Miller, Ella Russell) clocked a time of 1:38.69. The
400 free foursome (Peyton Spearry, Schuld, Skapoulas, Miller) posted a time of
3:34.56.
The girls’ finish was Rocky River’s best since 2016 (21st).
by Skip Snow
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