Thomas girls pile up points for second place at district
Displaying team depth that even caught coach Jim Callahan by surprise, the Thomas Worthington girls swimming team had their highest finish in a district meet since 2001.
The Cardinal girls compiled 213 points to tie Bishop Watterson for second place in the Division I district event Saturday, Feb. 18, behind champion Upper Arlington (522) Saturday, Feb. 18, at Ohio State University’s McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.
Callahan said the cumulative scores for the meet are not displayed on the scoreboard at the pavilion, and after the final race of the day, Quinton Ward, Watterson’s coach, came up and informed him they tied for second.
“The girls team surprised everyone,” said Callahan. “It was a real unexpected surprise. We knew we were swimming well, but they don’t post the scores. At the end of the meet, (Ward) came up and congratulated us.
“We were really thrilled as a team to do that. That shows you that every swim was important. Even if they didn’t qualify for state, they still scored points for us.”
Callahan said having a trophy to display for their efforts is important and meaningful.
“It was a nice finish to a great night,” he said. “It was neat to get up on the podium and get the award. It’s been a while.”
The top two finishers from each district meet advanced, with a total of 24 of the fastest times in Ohio filling out the field for the state meet this weekend, Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 23-25, at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium.
Thomas Worthington junior Maren Reeder won the district championship in the 100-yard breaststroke in a school-record time of 1:05.54.
The 200 medley relay team finished second, and freshman Kaylee Witkiewicz took third in the 50 freestyle.
The 200 medley relay team had the fourth best time in the state at 1:46.11, which set a TWHS school record.
“(The 200 medley relay team’s) been consistently ranked in the top 10, but to jump up like that, we were hoping for that. but to see them do it was just great,” Callahan said. “It’s our highest seed of all events going to the state meet. We’re real excited about that.”
Witkiewicz also finished sixth in the 100 backstroke in a time of 57.48. Her time was ranked 12th in the state.
“Our district was really fast in the backstroke with six of the top 12 (in the state meet) from our district,” Callahan said. “Our district was a really strong meet. Across the board, the swims have gotten faster.
“All three relays did a great job. We were pretty confident in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle. The 200 free was on the bubble, but they came through.
“We’re very happy. The girls did awesome.”
Top Thomas Worthington girls district swimming results and state meet
qualifiers
200 medley relay: second, 1:46.11 (freshman Kaylee Witkiewicz 26.2, junior Maren Reeder 29.54, sophomore Julia Valentine 25.98, senior Katie Allison 24.39). State seeded No. 4.
50 freestyle: Witkiewicz, third, 24.29. State seeded No. 17.
200 freestyle relay: sixth, 1:40.16 (junior Abby Jank 24.99, Valentine 25.17, frehman Abby Wiet 25.47, Allison 24.53). State seeded No.17.
100 backstroke: Witkiewicz, sixth, 57.48 . State seeded No. 12.
100 breaststroke, Reeder, first, 1:05.54; Valentine, sixth, 1:06.46. Reeder is state seeded No. 11 and Valentine No. 19.
400 freestyle relay: fourth, 3:35.67 (sophomore Cassandra Laios 26.22-28.73, Jank 25.42-28.20, Reeder 25.52-28.57, Witkiewicz 25.07-27.94). State seeded No. 12.
Boys
Thomas’ boys team advanced two swimmers to the state meet.
Coincidentally, the Cardinals finished first and sixth in the 100 breaststroke, duplicating the girls team’s results.
Junior Trenton Harper won a district title in the event in a time of 58.36, while sophomore Matt Reed was sixth in 59.32. Both first-place finishes — boys and girls – were school records.
“That was really neat,” Callahan said.
“Trenton swam a great race. He had a strong second half. Both (Harper and Reed) were not seeded (entering the meet). Reed was not even on the radar. He had an awesome swim.
“Breaking a minute in the 100 breaststroke is a big barrier, so that was exciting. His best to that point was 1:03.
“They had a good district meet. Very, very exciting.”
Harper is seeded 11th in the breast for the state meet, and Reed is No. 20.
The Cards’ boys were 10th as a team at districts with 110 points.
Top Thomas Worthington boys district results and state meet qualifiers
100-yard breaststroke: first, junior Trenton Harper, 58.36; sophomore Matt Reed, sixth, 59.32. Harper is state seeded No. 11 and Reed No. 20.
