A Big Section and District Meet for the Swim Team
Friday January 31, the swim team headed up to Akron to compete in their annual sectionals meet.
Many swimmers broke times and ranked in the top 32 to make it to Districts.
In swim, everybody qualifies for sectionals, but if they perform well they make it to districts, from districts swimmers have the opportunity to compete to make it to state.
Starting off with the girls team both girls relays qualified for districts, which was the first time in a decade. Both relay teams saw substantial time improvements as well. The medley relay consisted of Scarlett Sumel in the Backstroke, Maddie Bell in the Breaststroke, Kennedy Henderson in the Butterfly, and Jocelyn Salaty in the Freestyle. The 200 freestyle relay had the same people in it too.
The boys relay broke the medley relay record and the freestyle relay record at both sectionals and districts. The medley relay consisted of Sean Zura in the Backstroke, Gabe Betross in the Breaststroke, Aaron Vandervort in the Butterfly, and Ian Vandervort in the Freestyle. The Freestyle relay was Sean Zura, Gabe Betross, Jake O’Bruba, and Ian Vandervort. This freestyle relay qualified for states at districts as well.
For individual performances in the Sectional Meet, Ian Vandervort won the section meet in the 100 Freestyle, and qualified for districts in the 50 freestyle.Sean Zura and Jake O’Bruba also qualified for districts in the 50 freestyle. Zura and O’Bruba also qualified for districts in the 100 backstroke. In the 50 freestyle Zura was ranked within the top 8 going in. And in the Backstroke O’Bruba was ranked in the top 8 going into districts.
Aaron Vandervort qualified for districts in the 100 Butterfly, and Gabe Betross qualified for districts in the 100 Breastroke and 100 Freestyle.
Maddie Bell qualified in the 100 breaststroke too. Bell was interviewed about how Poland’s team was different from others in the area.
“ I think we are different from other teams because we are humble and realize what the possibilities are and we have a lot of spirit and support. The support on the team is great because you know that you always have someone cheering you on no matter if you’re close with that person or not because the team always wants what is best for everyone else,” stated Bell
Going into the districts meet, aside from the 200 Freestyle Relay, Sean Zura qualified for state in the 50 freestyle, which was his first time qualifying.
Diver McKenna Daley represented Poland in both sectionals and districts where in both she performed outstandingly. Daley qualified for state the second year in a row, which is very impressive for a sophomore.
The swim season has now wrapped up, and the future is looking very bright for the swimmers on the team. The team will be taking a major hit though, losing crucial seniors Gabe Betross and Ian Vandervort due to graduation.
