Cougar swimmer also heading to state

SANDRA GROOMS/for The Van Wert independent

The Northwest Ohio District 100-yard backstroke champion is Van Wert’s sophomore Eric Easley. This first place finish qualifies him to move on to the Ohio High School Athletic Association state competition. His time of 54.46 seconds breaks his own VWHS record of 55.80 seconds set last Saturday in the sectional championship. Easley also competed in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing in 1:04.25, good enough for 14th place.

The boys’ 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay both scored and finished in 12th place.  Relay team members are AJ Foster, Easley, Cody Hanes, and Trey Stemen.  The 400-yard relay was completed in 3:32.44. The 200-yard medley relay time of 1:45.71 breaks the VWHS school record of 1:47.91 set in 2009 by David Mills, Will Burchfield, Brian Easley and Jon Foster.

Hanes, a senior, also scored with a 16th place finish in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 59.62.

Other boys competing in individual events: Stemen placed 19th in the 200-yard individual medley (2:15.85); Foster placed 24th in the 50-yard freestyle (23.68) and 25th in the 100-yard freestyle (52.89); and Matt Cucciarre finished 21st the 100-yard backstroke (1:00.92) and 29th in the 200-yard freestyle (2:04.26).

Representing the Cougar girls, senior Taylor Grooms placed 22nd in both the girls 200-yard freestyle (2:10.67) and 500-yard freestyle (5:59.07); senior Erin Dingle placed 28th in the 500-yard freestyle (6:04.92) and 32nd in the 50-yard freestyle (27.65); and freshman Hannah Stemen placed 32nd in the 100-yard backstroke (1:10.93).

The Ohio State swimming competition will be held at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton on Thursday, February 23. Divers Kase Schalois and Garrett McDowell will compete on Wednesday, February 22.