CANTON, Ohio (Feb. 22, 2025) -- Rocky River Swimming & Diving didn't get out of the water until the best in the state did -- the week of Feb. 17. On Saturday, the Aquatic Buccaneers closed out a successful winter campaign with pool play of the highest magnitude, in races comprising the DII Boys' and DI Girls' State Championships at Branin Natatorium in Canton.
The Rocky River boys leveraged seven qualifying slots in 31 points, which placed the Pirates 21st in the DII tournament. The River girls did not score, but they had a near-miss posted by a talented freshman in their one event.
Rocky River's participation in the state meet began Tuesday morning with the opening of the DII Boys Diving Championships. Sophomore Connor Thomas, now a two-time state qualifier, sent the Pirates into the week head-first and with minimal splash. Thomas narrowly missed out on championship points in the 1-meter event, but the Maroon & White would register scoring swims later in the week.
The Pirates' 200-yard freestyle relay rattled off the team's most impressive performance of the week. The speed-and-strength quartet of Maceo Tabora, Trey Roe, Ezra Linville, and Luke Nolan earned a podium finish; they clocked an eighth-place time of 1:29.9. In the 200 medley relay, three-fourths of that foursome -- exchanging Linville for Charlie Wanosik -- took 13th place. A busy Tabora took 16th in the 50 free.
River's 21st-place finish marked a nine-place jump from last year's 30th-place performance. The Buccaneer boys have now earned a top-30 state finish in seven straight championships.
On the girls' side, freshman Alice Wanosik was Rocky River's lone qualifier. She clocked an impressive 5:15.48 in the 500-yard freestyle preliminaries. That time fell just a few second short of qualifying for Saturday's championship race. Wanosik's swim in the 500 closed out an impressive rookie season that included Cleveland West Conference championships in two events (also part of two championship relays) and being tabbed the CWC MVP.
Upper Arlington (263.5 points) topped Mason (195) in the DI girls standings. University School (231) and Hamilton Ross (172) were the top two teams in DII boys action.
by Skip Snow
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