2022-23 girls swimming and diving area watch list
Nov. 29—SWIMMERS TO WATCH
(in alphabetical order)
Chloe Bautista, Hawken: One of the keys for the Hawks this winter will be more steady improvement from this senior, who logged 'B' final swims in 200-yard individual medley and 100 butterfly and was solid on the Hawks' 200 medley and 200 free relays at the Division II state meet.
Annie Berrow, Mentor: Between graduation and noted drops more into the 24s as a sophomore, there is a potential path for this Cardinals' standout sprint freestyler to vie for an automatic D-I state berth in 50 free — although sub-24.10 at minimum is likely a must.
Ashley Chase, West Geauga: After garnering thirds in 100 and 200 free at the D-II CSU District, followed by a pair of 'B' final swims at state, including winning her 100 free 'B' final, it would be great to see this senior get more into the 52s in that event with a low-25 split to the turn and vie for a podium spot in 2023.
Carys Edgar, Hawken: With the graduation of four-time D-II state champion Tori Culotta, the Hawks' grand lineage in 500 free is inherited by a new, promising group to carry it forward, including this talented junior who was fourth in D-II at state and is showing the sub-5 potential required to be a contender in the event in Canton.
Laina Collis, Gilmour: Seemingly the best is yet to come from this Lancers' versatile standout junior, a returning first-team News-Herald all-star who was seventh in 100 free and eighth in 200 IM at state a year ago. It wouldn't be a surprise to see her hitting in the 2:05-2:06 range in IM for a state top-four this season.
Danielle Grande, Mayfield: This Wildcats' junior was shedding time in distance free last winter, all the way up to a laudable third in 500 free and fourth in 200 free at the D-I CSU District. With more low-to-mid 31s consistency on middle splits in 500, she could be in the mix for an automatic state berth come February.
Julia Hixson, Riverside: The longtime News-Herald coverage area standard bearer in para events, this senior will seek to defend her state crowns in 50 free and 100 back with improved times in 2023.
Samantha Holtz, Chagrin Falls: The best diver in The News-Herald coverage area, boys or girls, this junior was fourth at state in D-II and the CSU District champion — and she will assuredly be aiming for more this season.
Madi Machado, Chagrin Falls: Our area's top returning girls performer in 100 breast, who was 11th as a junior at the D-II state meet in the event, has a path toward an 'A' final berth in Canton but will need at least sub-31s on her front half when it matters most.
Sarah Pophal, Hawken: This junior is already a skilled four-event staple for the Hawks, coming off a fifth in 500 free and 12th in 200 IM at state as a sophomore, along with mature swims on the runner-up 400 free relay and sixth-place 200 medley relay.
Addy Pruce, Hawken: As a ninth-grader, she earned first-team News-Herald recognition with her "one-and-three" value, competing on all three Hawken relays, including confident free relay work, and should be a cornerstone for the program going forward.
Samantha Smith, Riverside: This longtime Beavers' program staple will seek to embark on one last attempt for a D-I at-large state berth in 200 free. It will take sub-27/sub-29 to open by CSU, but she will do her utmost to get there.
MEETS TO WATCH
Swim for a Solution (Dec. 3 at University), Hilltopper Invitational (Dec. 3 at SPIRE), Jim Stacy Invitational (Dec. 17 at SPIRE), Viking Invitational (Dec. 17 at Cleveland State), Hawken at Gilmour (Dec. 23), WRC meet (Jan. 7 at SPIRE), Chardon, Mentor, Riverside at Perry (Jan. 9), Hawken, Hathaway Brown at University (Jan. 10), Perry Invitational (Jan. 14), Northeast Classic (Jan. 14), CVC meet (Jan. 21 at Beachwood), Crown meet (Jan. 21 at Lakewood), Beachwood Sprint Invitational (Feb. 4)
CANNONBALLS
—Let's get this out of the way, because it will be the biggest talking point of the season area-wise on the girls side: Yes, we're going to have to be on vigil for "The Streak" with Hawken. After graduating three-time News-Herald girls swimmer of the year Jessica Eden (Ohio State), along with fellow program greats Maggie Mallett (Miami, Fla.) and Tori Culotta (Notre Dame) among one of the best senior classes in program history, at best it appears this will be an uphill battle of defense for the Hawks. Hathaway Brown leaned young last year and, on paper, is the deeper squad with room to spare heading into this campaign. "The Streak" of 24 straight girls state team titles coming back to The News-Herald coverage area and to Chester Township is in serious peril. But again, it's not all doom and gloom. Hawken does have a nice young squad in place — and anything other than first as a team is by no means a "failure." Having transfer Bree Shirkey, who showed potential at Chardon early in her career, is helpful. There is depth in place. And the freshman class, as it typically does, will have talent. The question will be how much of a fortified front do the Hawks have in trying to stave off HB? We're about to find out.
'The Streak' for Hawken girls swimming is a complicated topic — especially whenever it may end — Opinion
—This may be the most wide-open argument for who the best female swimmer is in The News-Herald coverage area in about 20 years. Beyond Holtz in diving, is there a state title contender in an individual event? Hopefully there will be, of course. But it hasn't been this unsure in a long while.
—Gilmour is going to be a lot of fun to watch this winter, with Collis along with 2022 News-Herald second-team all-stars Maddie Sammut and Gianna Minotas and more back in the fold. The Lancers should be a handful in relays with their depth and should have high hopes in particular in 200 medley relay.
—Lake Catholic also has a youthful squad on which it will be worth keeping tabs. With junior Zoe Pesek's commendable district performance last year at CSU, sophomore Izzy Trem back as well and much more, Coach Matt Trem's charges should be among our area's premier girls teams.
—What could be a significant development in the diving ranks is Kenston's Mary Cowan, the 2020 and 2022 News-Herald gymnast of the year, listed as giving diving a shot in addition as a senior. The stories of area gymnasts making the successful transition to diving — or even performing in both sports at once — abound. Cowan certainly has the skill set to make her transition seamless, maybe into a D-II state-qualifying contender or more.
