BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (Feb. 18, 2023) -- Rocky River Boys Swimming & Diving has qualified into nine slots at the Feb. 23-26 DII Ohio Championships; the River girls team has qualified into seven slots in DI Buckeye State waters.
The River boys competed Wednesday and Friday at the DII Northeast District Qualifier held at Cleveland State University. Highlighting that event for the Double-R was senior Michael Esdon, who notched school records in qualifying in both the 200- and 500-yard freestyle races. Esdon touched in with a time of 1:42.24 in the 200 and a time of 4:37.73 in the 500. Both times earned him top-5 seed placements in next week's state meet. Fellow senior Matthew Stankivicz also qualified into two state events with his performances in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races.
The Pirate girls swam in the DI Northwest District Qualifier at Bowling Green State University. Rocky River had three qualifying efforts that also marked district titles: junior Taylor Devorace won the 200 individual medley, senior Gianna Miller took gold in the 100 free, and River's quartet took first place in the 200 free relay. Miller's time in the 100 free -- 51.20 seconds -- sends her to the state meet with the third-best seed time.
Also qualifying for the Rocky River boys: junior Toby Rastetter (1-meter dive), senior Phillip Carter (50 free), and three relays (200 medley, 200 free, 500 free). River's free relay squads both logged times that will have them seeded as top-5s next week.
Also qualifying for the Pirate girls: senior Cora Mathewson (50 free), junior Carolyn Wanosik (100 breaststroke), and two relays (200 free, 400 free).
At CSU, the Buccaneers too second place with 287 points (University School 390.5). At BGSU, River claimed third with 239 points. A heated battle at the top featured the Pirates, Avon (289), and Toledo St. Ursula (265). The Pirate girls have top earned five straight top-3 finishes at the district level.
Rocky River's state-bound athletes will be competing in Canton, Ohio, at the C.T. Branin Natatorium. [
state qualifiers]
by Skip Snow