ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Dec. 17, 2024) -- The 2024-25 Ohio high school swimming & diving season is underway. And there are Pirates in these waters. We check in with an off-to-a-fast-start Double-R Swimming & Diving program in the first edition of Lane Lines ...
The Aquatic Buccaneers opened their season Dec. 2 with a home meet against neighboring Westlake. Rocky River swept the Demons in what marked the start of conference action for both sides. River, Westlake, and six other programs comprise the newly-formed Cleveland West Conference. The Pirate boys opened the season by doubling up the Demons 122-61. The River girls triumphed 110-72. The boys earned first- and second-place points in four events. Sophomore Charlie Wanosik, a district qualifier last season, clocked first-place finishes in two events and was a force in successful relays as well. The girls swept first and second in three events; sophomore Julia Butte was in on two of those.
On Dec. 4, Rocky River competed in a CWC tri-meet against Buckeye and Lakewood. Both Buccaneer squads upped their early-season records to 3-0 with twin wins in what was a home event. The boys downed Buckeye 99-2 and Lakewood 73-40.The girls topped Buckeye 97-13 and defeated Lakewood 78-36.
On Dec. 10, the Pirates would look to run those won-loss records to 4-0 against Valley Forge. The Maroon & White did just that with the boys earning a 140-38 conquest and the girls filing a score of 129-4. On the boys' side, Wanosik and 2024 state qualifier Maceo Tabora both logged multiple individual wins. For the girls, Butte and Alice Wanosik registered multiple individual victories.
On Dec. 14, Rocky River competed in the Rocket Relays. The Pirates won the meet for a fourth straight year on the boys' side. RRHS scored 95 points and turned aside five competing teams. Ethan Baker, Kegan Hoy, and Charlie Wanosik were each part of multiple first-place quartets in the all-relay format. The River girls earned a runner-up finish in a field of six teams. Butte, Bode McDougal, and Alice Wanosik were in on multiple golds. The Rocky River girls scored 87 points, a tally bested only by Strongsville (92). River also took second at the 2023 Rocket Relays.
That's six dual-meet victories (both teams are 3-0 overall and 3-0 in CWC swims), an invitational win, and an invitational runner-up in a 13-day span. A fab fortnight for the Pirates.
CANNON FIRE ...
ON DECK: Rocky River will compete in a road CWC dual at Normandy Dec. 18 and then at the Viking Invitational at Cleveland State University Dec. 21.
SWIM STAFF: Coach Mark Harris returns for his 18th season at the helm of the program. The diving coach is Rich Karban. Assistant coaches are Joe Pampush, Emma Peck, and Caitlin Wilson.
by Skip Snow
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