Pool of Champions: Indian Hill swimmers take 5 state titles, St. Xavier reclaims DI title
Greater Cincinnati is typically well-represented among the top-tier swimmers and divers in Ohio. Follow along as The Enquirer tracks which athletes capture state championships at the OHSAA state swimming and diving tournament at Canton's C.T. Branin Natatorium Feb. 21-Feb. 25.
The Enquirer will provide more detailed coverage in a separate story.
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More:Ohio DI district swimming: McMullan leads St. Xavier to title, St. Ursula girls take 1st
St. Xavier relays
Cincinnati's Division I swimming contingent earned its first title of the day as the St. Xavier Bombers took home the 200-yard medley relay championship in 1:31.23. The AquaBombers won their second relay title in the 200-yard freestyle relay, swimming in 1:21.86.
St. Xavier gives Cincinnati its first D-I swimming title of the meet. The Bombers (1:31.23) edge out St. Francis (1:31.28) in a tight one.
Long Blue Lane behind them with some early cheering. #cincyswimming pic.twitter.com/MgHbJZDXQb— Shelby Dermer (@EnquirerShelby) February 25, 2023
To cap off the Division I tournament and another team title, St. Xavier came from behind to win the 400-yard freestyle relay.
St. Xavier comes from behind and wins a thrilling 400 free relay to cap the meet.
AquaBombers will be team state champions once again. #cincyswimming pic.twitter.com/dMFjmexoTO— Shelby Dermer (@EnquirerShelby) February 26, 2023
Thackston McMullan, St. Xavier
After claiming St. Xavier's only championship a year ago, McMullan earned the second Bomber championship of the day. The junior swam the 200-yard freestyle in 1:35.86 to take the top spot. McMullan followed that up by repeating as the 500-yard freestyle champion, earning his second individual state title of the day.
.@stxsports Thackston McMullen closes the gap and wins a state championship in the 200 free (1:35.86). Runner-up was Johnny Marshall (1:35.93). #cincyswimming pic.twitter.com/4ytqYJf59f
— Shelby Dermer (@EnquirerShelby) February 25, 2023
Addie Robillard, St. Ursula
After finishing in second in the 200-yard individual medley last year as a freshman, Robillard took home the title in 2:00.05. Robillard finished again as a champion in the 100-yard breaststroke.
.@SUABULLDOGS sophomore Addie Robillard comes from behind to win the 200 individual medley. She was runner-up at state last year in the event. #cincyswimming @GGCLSports pic.twitter.com/U75AJNth19
— Shelby Dermer (@EnquirerShelby) February 25, 2023
Taylor Bacher, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
She won a state championship in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:49.80, finishing second in the 500-yard freestyle.
.@chcaeagles sophomore Taylor Bacher wins a D-II state title in the 200 free (1:49.80) and had a great cheering section poolside. #cincyswimming pic.twitter.com/jX9CZZFqSb
— Shelby Dermer (@EnquirerShelby) February 24, 2023
Julia Shafer, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
The sophomore took home the gold in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:04.67.
Another one for CHCA.
Sophomore Julia Shafer goes for a state title in the 200 individual medley (2:04.67). Runner-up was 2:04.71. @chcaeagles having a great evening thus far. pic.twitter.com/Y5zb3vpfrP— Shelby Dermer (@EnquirerShelby) February 24, 2023
Jason Zhao, Indian Hill
The sophomore won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:24.01, a new state record.
STATE RECORD: Indian Hill sophomore Jason Zhao wins the 500 free in a record time of 4:24.01. #cincyswimming pic.twitter.com/FuaGkFGvhH
— Shelby Dermer (@EnquirerShelby) February 25, 2023
Logan Ottke, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
The senior successfully defended his title in the 100-yard breaststroke event with a time of 54.89 seconds. He also took second in the 100-yard butterfly. In doing so, he shaved off some from last year's state-title finish of 54.96.
.@chcaeagles senior Logan Ottke defends his state title in the 100 breaststroke. #cincyswimming pic.twitter.com/zJ5jhluh39
— Shelby Dermer (@EnquirerShelby) February 25, 2023
Indian Hill’s Gibson Holmes makes it three straight years with two individual state titles. He wins the 100 fly (47.69), just shy of his state record from last year (46.77).
CHCA’s Logan Ottke was the runner-up (48.20). Badin’s Patrick Gibbons was 5th. #cincyswimming pic.twitter.com/6nRvYLQN7Z— Shelby Dermer (@EnquirerShelby) February 25, 2023
Gibson Holmes, Indian Hill
The senior repeated as the champion in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 47.69 seconds as well as the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 1:45.23, just short of last year's state record time he set of 1:44.59.
Cincinnati has its first state swimming title as Indian Hill cruises (1:32.62) in the boys 200 medley relay. #cincyswimming @ihbravesad pic.twitter.com/xHf2TMYeqh
— Shelby Dermer (@EnquirerShelby) February 24, 2023
Indian Hill High School boys relays
The boys won two state championships in the 200-yard medley and 400-yard freestyle to end the meet.
Elleka Boeres, Walnut Hills
Walnut Hills has a 1-meter diving champion for the second consecutive season. Last February, Elizabeth Noble capped her prep career with a state diving title. On Wednesday, senior Elleka Boeres followed suit, claiming the top spot on the podium with a 441.60-point showing.
Boeres was a sectional runner-up (428.75 points) before capturing a district diving title (459.95). The senior was the No. 3 seed going into Canton behind Solon's Bethany Mercer and Marysville's Sophia Stamm. Boeres completed a big turnaround from last season, when she finished 10th at state in the 1-meter dive.
Cincinnati had a strong showing at the podium in the girls Division I diving. Mason's Langely Peterson, who edged Boeres for a sectional crown and was runner-up at the district meet, finished fourth (424.80). Ursuline's Savanna Bos finished sixth with 406.80 points.
Northern Kentucky Pool of Champions
The 2023 Kentucky High School Athletic Association state swimming and diving championships were held last weekend. From the Northern Kentucky side, Notre Dame senior Lainey Kruger ended her prep career with five state championships after claiming first-place in the 200 free and 100 breaststroke.
More:Pool of champions: Here are Northern Kentucky's swimming and diving champions
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: OHSAA state champions: Cincinnati's Division I and II swim champions
