ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Dec. 31, 2024) -- Pirate Swimming & Diving continues to make a splash in this 2024025 season, a campaign that now makes a flip turn at the end of the 2024 portion. We check in with the Aquatic Buccaneers in an end-of-the-year edition of Lane Lines ...

On Dec. 18, Rocky River competed in a conference road meet at Normandy High School. The Double-R doubled up on victories, sweeping the Invaders 122-63 (boys) and 130-45 (girls).

On Dec. 21, the Pirates were in collegiate waters, as Rocky River was one of over-30 programs competing in St. Ignatius High School's Viking Invitational. The Pirate girls highlighted River's performance in the pre-holiday meet held at Cleveland State University's Robert F. Busbey Natatorium. They scored 46 points and took 14th place in a talented field of teams from all over the Buckeye State. 

Freshman Alice Wanosik led the River effort for the girls. Wanosik placed sixth in the 100-yard freestyle and was the anchor swimmer in a fifth-place Pirate relay (400 free). That relay quartet was comprised of Julia Butte, Gianna Tolentino, Bode McDougal and Wanosik. 

The Rocky River boys garnered 2 points (on a 15th-place finish by junior Maceo Tabora in the 100 free) and placed 26th.

The event at CSU -- which marked the 50th renewal of the Viking Invitational -- included 14 career-best performances for Buccaneer athletes.

After the Christmas holiday, the Maroon & White returned to the water with events on back-to-back days. On Dec. 27, the Pirates split in a hard-fought battle against Strongsville (boys won 106-70, girls lost 94-91). On Dec. 28, Rocky River was back at Busbey Natatorium as part of the Magnificat Holiday Classic. In that event, the Pirate boys clocked a first-place finish; the River girls took second.

The Maroon & White will fire up their 2025 calendar with events on Jan. 4 (pentathlon meet at Oberlin College) and Jan. 6 (non-conference dual meet with RRHS hosting Beachwood, Beaumont, Laurel).

by Skip Snow

# # # RR # # #