Granville, Northridge swim standouts get jump on season

On Dec 6, 2022

COLUMBUS — Licking County’s top swimmers dove right into the deep end to begin the season last weekend, competing in the prestigious Ned Reeb Memorial at Ohio State.

Monday’s quad meet with Granville and Northridge joining host Grandview Heights and Fairbanks at Columbus Aquatics Center did not have the same intensity, but it was another length in the journey. Licking County’s best hope to return to Ohio State in February for the district meet, a final step before state.

“You get three weeks of practice starting the high school season, and then you are just in a big invitational at Ohio State. Everyone is expected to swim fast, and most of us did,” Granville senior Dakotta Baillargeon said.

Granville senior Dakotta Baillargeon swims the freestyle in the 200 medley relay during a meet against Northridge, host Grandview Heights and Fairbanks at Columbus Aquatics Center on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022.

Baillargeon, classmates Jacob Teter and Josh Remlinger and freshman Nolan Schneider won the 200 medley (1:49.67) and 400 free relays (3:39.67) during Monday’s meet. Remlinger also was a double winner in the 200 individual medley (2:12.10) and 100 butterfly (58.13), and Teter in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.61) and Schneider in the 500 free (5:26.52) were single winners.

“It definitely gets the adrenaline up,” added Baillargeon, who took runner-up in the 200 free (2:16.56). “You see a good time the first meet of the year, and it builds confidence for the rest of the season.”

Northridge senior Alexandra Cannone was swimming tired following a mission trip to North Carolina with Granville Christian, her home school, but she reached the finals Saturday in the 100 free. She followed that up with runner-up finishes Monday in the 200 free (2:09.27) and 100 free (57.90) for the Vikings.

Northridge senior Alexandra Cannone swims in the 200 freestyle during a meet against Granville, host Grandview Heights and Fairbanks at Columbus Aquatics Center on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022.

Cannone, who finished runner-up to Granville senior Brooke Lemert in the both events (2:05.29 and 57.71), finally is not attempting to use the winter to catch up.

“I am finally healthy enough that I practiced all summer. Last summer, I had to take a lot of time off, so my training has been a little more consistent,” Cannone said. “I am excited for this high school season to get back into the swing of things.”

Cannone joined classmate Nicole BeVier, junior Caitlin Fuller and sophomore Sophia BeVier on the runner-up 400 free relay (4:43.57).

“I was a little tired just from traveling, but it was good to get back in the pool and see that I still have it,” Cannone said. “I would like to get into the 56s and 55s pretty soon. My goal at the end of the season is to break (Riley Bunstine’s) record in the 50 free. It’s like a high 24, so I am hoping to do that but just get some PRs.”

The Granville girls not surprisingly dominated Monday’s meet following a stellar performance at Ohio State. Senior Hannah Hardin joined Lemert as a double winner in the 50 free (25.64) and 100 backstroke (1:03.43), and sophomore Lydia Sturgeon in the 500 free (5:38.70) and freshmen Sydney Lauffer in the 200 IM (2:35.16) and Grace Largent in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.65) were single winners.

“It’s very exciting knowing I am going to be swimming with such good people. I am excited to see what we can do this season,” Largent said. “I definitely want to drop time in my breaststroke to get under a 1:10 and hopefully go to state in a few events.”

Largent joined Lemert, Hardin and Sturgeon on the winning 200 medley relay. That same foursome had two top-10 finishes Saturday in a field that included state power Upper Arlington.

“It was really fun,” Largent said. “It was a good way to get my nerves out and get ready for the season by starting out with such a big meet. I get nervous, but I feel like I can take my nervous energy and use it to swim better.”

Senior Caroline Otter joined Lemert, Hardin and Sturgeon on the winning 400 free relay (4:00.06), and Largent, Otter, Lauffer and senior Carmen Wells won the 200 free relay (1:54.37). Runner-up individual finishers were sophomore Malana Sturgeon in the 200 IM (2:52.18), Lydia Sturgeon in the 50 free (25.92), Largent in the 100 fly (1:14.00), Lauffer in the 100 breaststroke (1:17.01) and Wells in the 500 free (6:40.43).

Granville freshman Drew Bergstrom won the 100 back in the boys meet (1:07.32). Classmate Miles Baker had a pair of close finishes in the 200 IM (2:15.52) and 100 free (56.16), joining Bergstrom and Schneider in a freshman trio that could give the Blue Aces an opportunity to make a run at matching the Division II district championship in 2020.

“It’s always fun to step in,” Baillargeon said. “We have a good couple freshmen that are coming in, too, and hoping to fill in those shoes. … Just need endurance. 50s are good, but 100s and 200s, we start slowing down a lot.”

Senior Malcolm McCarthy had a runner-up finish in the 500 free (6:20.95) for the Granville boys as did Schneider in the 50 free (24.92), Bergstrom in the 100 fly (1:04.69) and sophomore Henry White in the 100 breaststroke (1:20.35).