Underclassman talent headlines Greater Columbus high school swimming storylines
The stretch run of the high school swimming and diving season is imminent.
Most leagues hold their championship meets next weekend, sectionals follow two weeks later and two weeks after that, the season culminates in the five-day state meet at Branin Natatorium in Canton.
It already looks like central Ohio will be well represented with a chance to build on the 15 individual or relay championships area competitors won a season ago.
Here are five storylines so far this season:
1. Hilliard Bradley freshman starts strong
Part of Jaguars coach Jacob Shiplet’s job description, officially or otherwise, is keeping an eye on up-and-coming talent.
That is why he is not surprised that freshman Addison Daugherty already ranks highly statewide in Division I in two events, the 100-yard backstroke and 100 butterfly. She is first in the Central District and fourth statewide in the 100 back (56.48), according to SwimMeet.com, and 25th in the state in the 100 fly (58.72).
“I watched her come up the last two years and I knew she would be special, just not exactly how special,” Shiplet said. “I don’t know if ‘surprised’ is the right word, but she has exceeded my expectations.
“You have to watch what is coming up. You have those hopeful moments. You never know what will happen, but she is all in.”
A substantial test should come in Friday’s OCC-Central meet at Upper Arlington, where league rivals UA, Dublin Coffman and Olentangy Orange also have backstrokers with top-20 times.
Another Hilliard underclassman, Darby sophomore Alexis Peltcs, ranks first statewide in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.66).
2. Versatile sophomore leading St. Charles
Lineups for regular-season meets do not necessarily reflect where swimmers will compete in the postseason, but Cardinals coach Kyle Goodrich knows the talents of sophomore Austin Carpenter lend options.
Carpenter owns the state’s top Division I times in the 100 breast (54.16), 200 freestyle (1:38.11) and 200 individual medley (1:48.52). He is third in the 50 free (20.66) and 100 free (45.85).
He was third in the 100 breast and seventh in the 50 free in the state meet last year, and at last Saturday’s Northeast Classic in Canton, he won the 100 breast (meet-record 54.29) and 200 IM (1:48.52). St. Charles won eight of 11 swimming events and amassed 373 points to capture the team title.
“(Carpenter) is a solid butterfly swimmer, but to be among the top five or so in the state, he hasn’t swam that a lot,” Goodrich said. “But when you’re as elite an IM guy as he is, you have to be good in all four strokes. So in that sense, it’s not a surprise, but the times he is putting up in all of those events are really, really impressive.”
3. DeSales’ DeFrancisco stays consistent
Luke DeFrancisco made the Division II state meet as a freshman in the 200 IM and 500 free but fell short of both championship finals. A year later, Stallions coach Ryan Buechner said attention to detail has made DeFrancisco stronger across the board.
“He is ahead of schedule compared to where I thought he might be able to develop in just one season … (but) you could tell early on in his club season that he was ready for a breakout year,” Buechner said. “Last year’s state meet experience was extremely valuable, as I think he was able to see the things that he needed to be able to do in order to compete at the top level in high school swimming. This mainly includes the starts and underwater kicking off of each turn.”
DeFrancisco is fourth statewide in Division II in the 100 back (52.47) and 200 free (1:43.7) and ninth in the 100 free (47.9). He also has top-25 times in the 50 free, 100 fly, 200 IM and 500 free.
4. CBL meet loaded with top talent
The inaugural Central Buckeye League meet Jan. 27 at Columbus School for Girls could act as a mini-Division II district competition, given the caliber of talent.
Grandview Heights junior Carrie Furbee, an Ohio State commit and defending state champion in the 50 free and 100 free, owns the best times in the state in the 50 free (23.24) and 100 fly (54.0). The latter time is 0.15 of a second better than Bexley junior Millie Evans.
Columbus Academy junior Lillian Bailey has the state’s second-best time in the 200 IM (2:05.83) and is sixth in the 100 fly (57.22).
On the boys side, Academy senior William Harpster is No. 1 in the state in the 100 breast (57.75), second in the 100 free (46.72) and sixth in the 200 IM (1:58.5).
Worthington Christian’s Austin Hickok, a sophomore, leads in the 100 fly (49.89).
5. League meets begin this weekend
The OCC-Central kicks off the league championship portion of the schedule Friday, with most titles being decided next weekend.
In addition to the CBL, Jan. 27 features the CCL meet at St. Charles, as well as those of the MSL (Pickaway County YMCA) and OCC-Ohio (New Albany).
The OCC-Buckeye, Capital and Cardinal divisions are the next day at Kenyon College.
Denison hosts the Licking County League meet Feb. 3.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: High school swimming: 5 storylines for the season in central Ohio
