Wooster looks to add more state-bound swimmers to impressive list

There have been a lot of great programs spanning The Daily Record's coverage area over the years, but don't overlook Wooster swimming. The Generals have qualified 234 individuals to state over the years, a number that speaks for itself.

Many figured with the loss of Brooke Balas a year ago, that the Generals would take a step back in diving. But Balas pointed toward the end of her prep career, it was clear a successor was nearly ready for the big stage. Then a freshman, Colleen Frantz advanced into districts before bowing out. Now a sophomore, she started Wooster's district week off in style, making it to state with a seventh-place finish at Thursday's district diving competition.

"To lose Brooke was difficult, but Colleen is very dedicated and works so hard," said Generals coach Chris Matthew. "Her goal is to qualify for state, so that keeps her motivated. She's a beautiful diver, has improved her degree of difficulty and is showing the growth through her maturity and is handling pressure better."

Another aspect of Wooster swimming is having that frontline swimmer that can dominate and fortunately, they've had the Chelf sisters to fill that role recently. This year, they have the last in the line of Chelfs in Gretchen, who will follow her sister Gracie to Cleveland State University next year.

"She misses her sisters but has done really well working together with the rest of the girls to have good camaraderie on the team," said Matthew. "She has matured and is working on not getting so nervous when she's competing against tough competitors."

There is no question, Chelf can compete with the best and she continues to set herself up for those opportunities. The senior swimmer, who races in the 200 and 500 free, and the 200 and 400 free relay, pushes herself with the best that Wooster has to offer.

"She trains side by side with the boys and is a contender to qualify for two individual events this year at state, that's the goal," said Matthew. "She is a beast in workouts, daily."

Another standout that has shined bright this season has been Lilly Green, who has consistently been in the low 26s and 25s in nearly every meet that she swims in the 50 freestyle. Her consistency has been a huge key to the team and another staple of the girls team.

"Lilly has matured into an incredible leader and presence on our team," added Matthew. "She has also mentored a lot of the younger girls."

On the boys side, the Generals' top-end depth has carried them to one of their best recent seasons.

Gabe Bosler-Kilmer, Michael Buchholz and Andrei Dordea split the Ohio Cardinal Conference Swimmer of the Year award, and they help the Generals in a variety of events.

That trio has been dynamite for Wooster this year and headlined a huge win at the OCC Championships and a third-place finish at last week's sectional meet. At the OCCs, Buchholz, a sophomore, won the 200 IM and 100 backstroke individually and helped win the 200 medley relay and 400 free, and Bosler-Kilmer, just a freshman, won the 200 free and 100 butterfly individually and helped win the 200 free relay and 400 free relay. Dordea, a junior, chalked up wins in the 500 free and 100 free and helped win the 200 free relay.

"Gabe, Michael, and Andrei are having a stellar season due to their tremendous work ethic," said Matthew. "Along with Luke Boucher and Courson Kauffman, we have some freestyle relays that are ranked highly in the state and their focus has been incredible."

Kauffman and Boucher form up with Dordea and Bosler-Kilmer in the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay. The quartet has been outstanding and will be eyeing another deep run as is customary for the tournament and a Wooster swimming relay team. The Blue and Gold have had 14 relays qualify for state in the past 10 years and seven earned All-Ohio honors. Cole Walenciak is another swimmer who has caught his coach's eye with this improvement this year in the 200 and 500 free. He won the 500 at the OCC Championship and finished second in the 200 to teammate Bosler-Kilmer.

"Our relays are ready to make a statement at districts," said Matthew. "And Walenciak has improved so much this year.

Another consistent factor for the Wooster boys swim team is their diving as Owen McConnell earned wins at the NEAC and Ohio Cardinal Conference Championship. He isn't alone Steven Fox, Ethan Lee and Thomas Foster have excelled throughout the year.

"Steven has so much height and Owen has so many tricks and twisters," smiled Matthew. "All four of the boys are fun to watch, they all like each other, help coach each other and are just a great group of young men. They work on things with each other about their dives and they have a lot of fun together.

"I have to say, this team is one of the hardest working teams that I've been involved with, and the results are speaking volumes."

District preview:

On the heels of another successful weekend in the pool, Wooster is out for more this weekend.

Gretchen Chelf continued her impressive senior season as the Cleveland State recruit enters the district weekend with a shot to advance to state in four events. Her impressive swim in the 500 free at last week's Canton Sectional, where she clocked a 5:21.20, has her ranked sixth in the loaded field.

Chelf also swims the lead leg on a pair of qualifying relays as the 200 free (9th) and 400 free (11th) groups, where she is joined by Miley Green, Lillian Green and Piper Udell.

The boys team, which was third at the sectional, will be represented this weekend at CSU, something they hope continues into the final week of the season.

Like Chelf, the trio of sophomores Luke Boucher, Michael Buchholz and freshman Gabe Bosler-Kilmer will also be busy. Each swimmer comes in ranked in the top 10 in an individual event and will each compete with a pair of Generals relay teams.

Bosler-Kilmer's time in the 200 individual medley in sixth overall in a field that includes four swimmers that broke the two-minute mark in sectional competition a week ago, and also is ranked 10th in the 100 butterfly.

Boucher comes in with the ninth-best 50 free, while Buchholz has the 10th-best mark in the 100 backstroke.

The 200 medley unit of Buchholz, Boucher, Cooper Udell and Courson Kauffman is Wooster's highest-ranked relay as it enters district competition fifth overall.

Both the 200 and 400 free groups also are among the fastest with the sixth-fastest times. The 200 team includes Boucher, Kauffman, Andrei Dordea, Bosler-Kilmer, while Dordea, Buchholz, Boucher and Bosler-Kilmer make up the 400 unit.

District info:

WHEN: Saturday, noon

WHERE: Cleveland State's Robert F. Busbey Natatorium

DIVISION I

Wooster: Luke Boucher (so., 50 free), Courson Kauffman (sr., 50 free), Andrei Dordea (jr., 100 free, 200 free), Cole Walenciak (jr., 200 free, 500 free), Caleb Kostohryz (jr., 200 free, 500 free), Cole Kuzma (so., 500 free), Eric Snider (sr., 500 free), Michael Buchholz (so., 100 back, 200 IM), Santiago Salazar (so., 100 back), Gabe Bosler-Kilmer (fr., 100 fly, 200 IM), Cooper Udell (jr., 100 fly), Vincent Neyhart (sr., 200 IM), Owen McConnell (sr., 1-meter dive), Thomas Foster (so., 1-meter dive), Ethan Lee (sr., 1-meter dive), Steven Fox (jr., 1-meter dive), boys 200 free relay, boys 400 free relay, boys 200 medley relay, Lillian Green (sr., 50 free), Piper Udell (fr., 100 free, 200 free), Gretchen Chelf (sr., 200 free, 500 free), Margaret McBride (so., 500 free), Lauren Hershberger (so., 500 free), Colleen Frantz (so., 1-meter dive), girls 200 free relay, girls 400 free relay, girls 200 medley relay.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Wooster swimmers aim for state at Div. I district meet