ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Feb. 8, 2025) -- On Friday and Saturday, Rocky River competed in the opening round of qualifying in the Ohio High School Athletic Association's postseason. The River boys competed in the DII Akron Sectional Tournament Friday and earned 18 qualifying slots in next week's district meet. The Pirate girls competed in the DI Cleveland State Sectional Tournament on Saturday; they clocked 15 qualifying times.
In Akron, Rocky River's performance was highlighted by a sectional-champion swim in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Brayden Herring, Trey Roe, Keegan Hoy, and Maceo Tabora bested runner-up Bay by more-than two seconds with a qualifying time of 3:22.62. Herring (200 free, 500 free) and Hoy (200 free, 500 free) were also qualifiers in multiple individual events as were Josh Crook (200 free, 500 free), Ezra Linville (500 free, 200 individual medley), and Charlie Wanosik (100 breaststroke, 200 IM).
Hoy and Herring took third and fourth, respectively, in the 200 free. The Double-R's H&H duo logged the same spots in the 500 free. Tabora earned a runner-up finish in the 50 free. Overall, the Pirate boys registered multiple qualifiers in four events. They will attempt to earn berths in state waters in a Feb. 14 district qualifier at Cleveland State University.
At CSU on Saturday, the River girls earned multiple district slots in three events. Julia Butte (100 free, 200 free), Bode McDougal (100 breast, 200 IM), Izzy Pangrace (50 free, 100 backstroke), Gianna Tolentino (100 butterfly, 200 IM), Alice Wanosik (200 free, 500 free), and Annie Wissman (100 free, 200 free) qualified in multiple individual events. Wanosik's two qualifying times were both top-6 sectional performances.
The River girls will swim in the DI Northwest District Qualifying Tournament Saturday at Bowling Green State University.
CANNON FIRE ...
FAST TIMES AT RR HIGH: On the boys' side, Rocky River's 18 qualifying slots represents three more than the 15 the squad recorded last season. The River girls upped their district-qualifier number by one. ... In 2024, the Pirate boys qualified into eight state events (DII) while the Double-R girls qualified into five (DI). The Aquatic Buccaneers took 30th and 39th, respectively, in those Buckeye State championship meets.
STATE WATERS: The 2025 OHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships will be held Feb. 18-22 at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton.
by Skip Snow
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