Licking County senior swimmers shine once more before passing torch

On Feb 5, 2023

GAMBIER — Three short years ago, Hannah Hardin was the freshman phenom, swimming in the bubbles of senior All-Ohioan Gabrielle Brust at the Licking County League championships.

On Saturday, Hardin, the Granville All-Ohioan, wrapped up her LCL career in style, wearing the crown one more time before leaving it in the capable hands of Licking County’s next set of outstanding swimmers. Hardin won the 50 freestyle and 100 free both by the narrowest of margins ahead of Newark Catholic sophomore Isabella Pribonic in the former and Granville sophomore teammate Lydia Sturgeon in the latter to take LCL Swimmer of the Year honors at Kenyon’s James A. Steen Aquatic Center.

“This is the closest races I’ve had in four years, and Isabella and Lydia are two amazing people in general and two amazing swimmers,” said Hardin, who finished the 50 free in 24.31 to Pribonic’s 24.38 as both eclipsed Brust’s meet record set in that battle three years ago. Hardin then out-touched Sturgeon 53.86 to 53.87, just missing Brust’s mark in that event.

“It’s so bittersweet to leave them,” added Hardin, who will be looking to add to a pair of Division II state medals later this month. “I’m leaving, but I know they are in good hands. They are going to be amazing.”

Lakewood senior Austin Masters matched Hardin in the boys sprints, also winning the 50 free (22.04) and 100 free (48.79). He left no doubt, breaking the meet record in both events and is knocking on the door of breaking under 22 seconds for the first time in the former.

“I’m so thrilled. I wanted to get the records,” Masters said. “I wanted to leave my name here before I leave. Hopefully, I can hold them for a little bit. It’s going to be hard. There’s a lot of fast swimmers coming up every year. It’s a lot of time and effort spent, so it’s a little sad to see it come to an end, but everything has to end.”

Granville swept the team championships for the second consecutive season. It was the third consecutive title for the boys, totaling 314 points to Watkins Memorial’s 239 as seniors Jacob Teter and Josh Remlinger shared LCL Swimmer of the Year honors, each winning a pair of individual events and joining forces on a pair of championship relays.

Teter won the 200 individual medley (2:06.06) early and won his signature 100 breaststroke (1:00.97) later, breaking the meet record set by Granville’s Rowan Moore in 2017. Remlinger broke a pair of meet records in the 200 free (1:49.65) and 100 butterfly (1:54.26).

Classmate Dakotta Baillargeon and freshman Nolan Schneider joined Teter and Remlinger on the winning 200 free relay (1:33.62), and freshman Miles Baker joined Schneider, Teter and Remlinger on the record-setting 400 free relay (3:26.82), breaking a mark established just a year ago before the graduation losses of stars Graham Mayberry and Julian Rodgers. The Blue Aces also won the meet-opening 200 medley relay (1:49.34) with Baillargeon and Baker joining senior Gryffin Hauenstein and freshman Drew Bergstrom.

“It’s awesome especially when it’s your teammates. You never want to be No. 2, so having a good competitive environment helps a lot to get those records,” Teter said. “Those were two of my friends, but the underclassmen have really proved themselves this season. Today, Nolan and Miles swam great on that relay to get that record we got last year.”

Bergstrom won the 100 backstroke (1:01.27) with sophomore Eli Winterhalter right behind (1:09.46), and Schneider won the 500 free (5:01.86) after also breaking the 200 free record in taking runner-up behind Remlinger (1:50.17). Baker added a runner-up in the 100 free (52.23).

The Granville girls made it back-to-back titles, totaling 294 points to Watkins’ 228. Sturgeon in record-breaking fashion in the 200 free (1:57.72) and freshman Grace Largent in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.58) also won individual titles.

“The 200 free is such a tough race, and I would have never pictured myself doing it this year,” Sturgeon said. “To do that well with it is really exciting.”

Hardin, Sturgeon, Largent and senior Brooke Lemert won the 200 medley relay (1:53.38), and Hardin, Sturgeon, Lemert and senior Caroline Otter won the 400 free relay (3:46.83), both in record-breaking fashion.

“They definitely push me. They’ve pushed me all year, and it’s amazing to see we have broken so many LCL records,” Hardin said. “Just the times we are producing thus far are so incredible. It’s really exciting.”

NC prevented a Granville sweep of the relays as junior Ella Schirtzinger edged out Otter in the final leg of 200 free relay (1:47.94) with Pribonic and fellow sophomores Gracie Collins and Hannah Cormican swimming the first three legs.

Pribonic, a returning All-Ohioan, won the 100 backstroke (1:00.18), and Schirtzinger took runner-up in the 100 fly (1:05.75).

“It’s kind of interesting because I didn’t think I would be able to get here, but we have a good team,” Collins said. “It’s pretty much just cheer and hope (after swimming our leg) and try our best. Our goal for…