Here are 12 Columbus-area high school boys swimmers and divers to watch in 2023-24 season
A state champion and several underclassmen are among the 12 central Ohio boys swimmers and divers to watch this winter.
Austin Carpenter, St. Charles
The sophomore capped his first high school season by finishing third in the 100-yard breaststroke and seventh in the 50 freestyle in the Division I state meet. He was third and fourth in those events, respectively, at district, and helped the 200 medley relay to fifth at state.
Reid Caswell, Upper Arlington
The senior and Ohio State signee was a driving force behind the Golden Bears’ Division I district championship and third state runner-up finish in four years. Caswell was district champion in the 500 free and runner-up in the 200 free, then tied for fifth and placed seventh in those events at state.
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Luke DeFrancisco, DeSales
The sophomore will try to improve on a strong freshman season that saw him finish third at the Division II district meet in the 500 free and fourth in the 200 individual medley, then place 18th and 12th in those events, respectively, at state. DeFrancisco was the top freshman at state in the 200 IM.
William Harpster, Columbus Academy
A senior, Harpster was one of the cornerstones of the Vikings’ third-place finish at the Division II state meet. He finished sixth in the 100 free, tied for 15th in the 100 breast, anchored the runner-up 400 free relay and was on the fourth-place 200 free relay. At district, he was on two first-place relays and placed third in both individual events.
Jack Hensley, Lancaster
The junior is coming off a strong sophomore season that saw him finish 14th in the Division I state meet in the 200 IM and 22nd in the 100 breast. Hensley was the only underclassman in the 200 IM finals. At district, he was ninth in the 200 IM and 11th in the 100 breast.
Jack McCarthy, Wellington
A junior and the defending Division II district diving champion, McCarthy will try to improve on his 13th-place finish at state from a season ago. He is one of 12 state qualifiers eligible to return this winter.
Hamish Patel, New Albany
A senior diver who has signed with Ohio State, Patel will try to unseat three-time defending Division I champion Dominic Roberto of Solon. Patel was fifth at state as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore and second as a junior and is two-time defending district champion.
Cameron Petitt, Wellington
The junior was second in the Division II state meet in the 500 free and fifth in the 200 IM. He owns the district 500 free record (4:35), a time he exceeded by 5.27 seconds at state, and was runner-up in the 200 IM. A two-time state qualifier, Petitt has committed to Penn State.
Jacob Rider, Watterson
The junior will seek his third consecutive Division II state meet appearance. Last season, he finished fourth at both district and state in the 100 backstroke and was second at district and sixth at state in the 200 free.
Andrew Rucker, Upper Arlington
A senior and Boston College signee, Rucker will seek top-eight Division I state finishes this winter after placing 12th in the 50 free and 13th in the 100 fly a season ago. He also was on the district championship 200 medley relay that placed fourth at state and the sixth-place 400 free relay.
Chase Swearingen, Westerville Central
The senior parlayed his Division I 200 IM state championship and runner-up finish in the 100 butterfly into a scholarship from Texas A&M. Swearingen won both events at district, repeating as champion in the 200 IM. At state, he finished behind only national record-setter Scotty Buff of Toledo St. Francis in the 100 fly.
John Wion, Big Walnut
The senior will seek his second consecutive Division I state appearance after finishing 10th in the 100 back last winter. Wion qualified for district in two individual events, placing fourth in the 100 back and 14th in the 200 IM, and was on the 200 medley and 400 free relays.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here are 12 central Ohio boys swimmers to watch this season
