CANTON: Walsh Jesuit swimmers Joey Reilman and Ben Boshkos gained valuable experience Friday night that they believe they can draw from next year.
Reilman and Boshkos each placed in the top eight in two events in the Division II state swimming finals at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton.
Reilman, a sophomore, placed fourth in the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 42.27 seconds and fourth in the 100 backstroke in 50.83 seconds.
Boshkos, a junior, finished fourth in the 100 breast stroke in 57.80 seconds and seventh in the 50 freestyle in 21.78 seconds.
“They are very talented individuals,” Walsh coach Wally Lutkus said. “Joey is a little bit younger by a year as a sophomore, and Ben, is of course, a junior. We just missed automatic All-American [status] in a couple of places. That was our goal. I have said this before in an article about [Walsh senior] Danielle Margheret, that some of these guys have what we call the heart of a champion. I think Joey is showing me his heart and I think Ben is too. That is great moving forward.”
Reilman and Boshkos also took part in Walsh’s eighth place in the 200 medley relay with seniors Tanner Schodowski and Michael Petras. The unit clocked 1:38.87.
Canton Central Catholic senior David Cornet placed fifth in the 100 freestyle (47.44) and seventh in the 200 individual medley (1:56.94).
Dayton Oakwood won the boys team title, and Gates Mills Hawken won the girls team crown. Walsh’s boys were sixth in the team standings with 104 points.
There were no area Division II girls in the top eight in an event.
Miller, Kinney set records
Firestone senior Katie Miller and Jackson senior Chase Kinney both had record-setting mornings in the Division I girls state preliminaries Friday, putting them in prime spots for winning a state title today at C.T. Branin Natatorium.
Miller set a state and pool record in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:58.12.
“Katie and I just talked about setting a tone for this meet,” Firestone coach Cindy Virdo said. “She went out fast. . . . I am so proud of her.”
Kinney set a state record in the 50 freestyle (22.54 seconds) and established a new standard in the state meet in the 100 freestyle (49.70 seconds).
“Chase definitely had great morning swims,” Jackson coach Matt Ziders said. “She is typically more of a night swimmer, but she was able to put up some fantastic times. She had never gone under 23 in the 50 free, so to go 22 anything is awesome. In the 100 free, she had never broken 50 and got under that and into the 49s. She had phenomenal swims, and I think she can go even lower [today].”
On the boys side, Firestone senior Mark Belanger and Hudson sophomore Ross Palazzo both touched the wall first in two Division I individual preliminary events.
Belanger posted top times in the 200 freestyle (1:40.78) and the 100 freestyle (46.00).
Palazzo took first in the 200 individual medley (1:49.26) and 100 breast stroke (54.99).
Cuyahoga Falls senior Andrew Appleby was first in the 100 backstroke in 49.81.
North Canton Hoover compiled the best time in the 200 freestyle relay when junior Stephen Watson along with seniors Drew Bercaw, Robert Tolson and Brian Giannetti clocked a 1:24.37.
The Division I swim finals meet starts at 4 today in Canton.
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the high school blog at http://www.ohio.com/preps.
