Firestone, Hudson swimmers continue friendly rivalry in Division I postseason

Firestone and Hudson swimmers renew their friendly rivalry every year in February when the regular season gives way to the postseason.

The Hudson boys and girls teams won Division I sectional team championships Saturday at the University of Akron’s Ocasek Natatorium.

Hudson and Firestone swimmers combined to win 10 of the 11 boys events and five of the 11 girls events.

Firestone senior Jonny Marshall finished first four times and set two meet records in the sectional meet at UA.

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What can the Firestone and Hudson swimmers do this week?

We will find out Saturday in the Division I district meet at Cleveland State University’s Busbey Natatorium, where athletes can earn a bid to the state meet.

Firestone senior Jonny Marshall prepares for Division I district swim meet with sectional meet records

Marshall set sectional meet records at UA in the 200-yard freestyle (1:40.11) and the 100 backstroke (48.46 seconds). He won Division I state championship in the 100 backstroke as a sophomore and junior.

Firestone won the boys 200 freestyle relay in 1:29.51 with Marshall, Nick Michael, Mason Brady and Stanley Niekamp and the 400 freestyle relay in 3:17.06 with Brady, Sam Kmet, Niekamp and Marshall.

“The sectional meet is get up and go fast and just race,” said Marshall, a University of Florida recruit. “We are not really concerned about what is up on the board when you finish. Getting up and swimming against people that you are going to swim against at the district meet and maybe the week after that. Getting into that racing habit and trying to feel good even when you don’t feel that good.

"Those of us that were winning events were not tapered. We didn’t come down or rest.”

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Hudson senior Andrew Ketler took the top spot in the sectional meet at UA in the 50 freestyle (22.37), the 100 butterfly (51.60) and was on the winning 200 medley relay (1:41.07) with senior Vittorio Cappabianca, sophomore Aiden Luczywo and senior Ruben Szabo.

“I feel super strong and I feel like the coaches have been doing a great job preparing us, especially up to this point in the season where we have had the past couple of weeks training going into taper,” said Ketler, a St. Bonaventure University recruit.

“We have been putting our nose down and getting that grind in and doing a lot of hard work. Our coaches have definitely done a good job coming up with sets to keep challenging us in practice and pushing us past our limits.”

Hudson is without junior standout Alex Gallagher, a Kentucky recruit, who injured his back earlier this month.

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Hudson wins Division I sectional swim team championships with depth

The Hudson girls team scored 488.5 points and the boys team finished with 412 points to win sectional titles at UA.

Hudson, which has won 14 girls sectional titles in a row and four boys sectional crowns in a row, had 16 girls and 11 boys advance to the district meet.

“Our boys have been training really well all season,” Explorers coach Matt Davis said. “They have come together really well and they are out on the pool deck working hard everyday. I am excited to see that work pay off as we get to the district meet.

"Not having Alex is going to be tough, but you hear all the time ‘the next man up.’ Our boys are going to go out there and race hard, and Alex will be there cheering them on. It will be a great district meet with Firestone, Jackson and other talented teams.

“... On the girls side, we have got every swimmer moved on to the district meet and we have got four girl divers to get it started on Thursday. We have a bunch of talented swimmers.”

Firestone finished second in both sectional meets with the girls team scoring 299.5 points and the boys team scoring 260 points. Nordonia was third on the girls side (248) and Stow was third in the boys side (239).

“I am really excited for my swimmers,” Firestone coach Cindy Dial said. “When they are together, they bring a whole new energy. You can see they feed off each other. It is always fun to watch them compete."

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Hudson senior Marisa Schenkenberger won the girls 200 individual medley in 2:11.17. The Explorers also won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:42.67 with sophomore Ava Sawicki, junior Natalie Brindley, senior Mia Dezelic and senior Carrie Caniglia.

“The team energy this year is definitely at its best,” said Schenkenberger, a Delaware recruit. “We are all so proud of all our girls on the team.”

Hudson senior Vittorio Cappabianca placed first in the boys 200 individual medley (1:58.26) and the 500 freestyle (4:49.89), and Explorers senior Roman Sawicki won the 100 freestyle (49.09).

“The best thing about our boys team is we watch the JV kids do amazing and that gets us excited for our meets,” said Cappabianca, a Cleveland State recruit. “Our coaches have been really great with us all year.”

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Firestone junior Julia Quernemoen touched the wall first in the girls 200 freestyle in 1:56.55 and the 500 freestyle in 5:16.57. Falcons senior Tera Brilmyer won the 100 butterfly in 59.43.

“I am happy with how I swam,” Quernemoen said. “In this type of meet, you want to stay where you have been all season. I wasn’t suited up [in my tech suit] and I wasn’t rested. … It is fun to train with Jonny because there is always going to be somebody faster than me as long as he is around. Tera is a great swimmer, too, and I will miss training with her next year.”

Nordonia sophomores Hailey Kaminski and Emily Yorkievitz will also enter the district meet as sectional champions. Kaminski earned victories in the girls 50 freestyle (24.44) and the 100 backstroke (59.23) and Yorkievitz won the 100 freestyle (53.80).

“Everyone is ready and excited to see what we can do at the district meet,” said Hudson senior Carrie Caniglia, a University of Akron recruit.

Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Firestone, Hudson continue swimming rivalry in Division I postseason