Wooster sweeps OCC swim titles behind confidence and depth

The Wooster High boys and girls swimming and diving teams recently found success at the Northeast Aquatic Conference Championships, where the boys placed second and the girls third. The confidence they picked up from that has proven to be a springboard as they stare down the stretch run.

“That really boosted our confidence,” said Generals boys and girls coach Chris Matthew, who is in her 32nd year coaching. “They know that the work we do gets results. They show up every day to do that work, which I really respect them for. They were ready to go for the OCC Championship.”

It paid off in a big way Jan. 17 as they picked up a sweep at the Ohio Cardinal Conference Championships held at Wooster. The girls won their eighth straight title with a team score of 486, beating second-place Ashland, which finished with a 410.

On the boys side, the Generals earned yet another OCC title as they brought it back to Wooster after a one-year hiatus with a score of 447. Lexington came in second at 431.

Leading the way for the girls was senior Piper Udell and junior Alessandra Gerber. Udell won the 200 freestyle with a sizzling time of 2:01.15, and Gerber was the best in the 200 IM with a 2:13.08. The junior then added her second individual win by taking the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:05.69, and senior Melia Brown won diving with a score of 262.20.

In the relays, Gerber and Udell teamed up with Ellie Hansen and Olivia Kelly to win the 200 medley relay (1:52.26), while the 200 free and 400 free relays both came in second.

Highlighting the boys team were sophomore Jack Shindollar and juniors Aidan McMillan and Anthony Sibilia. Shindollar captured the 200 free (1:51.68) and 100 free (:50.35), McMillan won the 100 butterfly (:55.22) and Sibilia was the best in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.33).

Sibilia, Shindollar and McMillan were joined by Calin Baxstrom to take home the 200 medley relay with a 1:43.93. Wooster came in second in the 200 free relay.

“The boys won it as a team,” said Matthew. “Shindollar had an incredible swim in the 200. He had barely broken two minutes all year. All the names above were equally good. Aidan and Piper work so hard every day. They’ve made their mark as team leaders this year in the pool by leading their lanes.”

On the girls side, Olivia Kelly (100 free), Abigail Strand-Fox (50 free) and Hansen (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke) all earned second place, along with Udell, who added a silver in the 500 free. Sydney McAfoos earned a fifth in the 200 free, Kelly added a third in the 200 IM, Hailey McFadden was third in the 50 free, Kate Fearon finished fourth in the 100 free and McKenzie Grimwood was third in the 500 free and fifth in the 100 backstroke. Laeticia Halene grabbed fifth in the 500 free, and Strand-Fox tacked on a third in the 100 breaststroke.

“The girls all had a great day and swam great,” said Matthew. “Hansen, Strand-Fox, really the entire team did.”

On the boys side, McMillan added a second-place finish in the 50 free, while Sibilia and Baxstrom finished third and fourth in the 200 IM. Caleb Tietz finished fourth in the 100 butterfly and was third in the 500 free. Sean Cadmus took fourth in diving, Archer Mealey captured fifth in the 100 free and Baxstrom added a fourth in the 100 backstroke.

“Each boy did their part and had a job to do to win the meet,” said Matthew. “There were so many huge time improvements.”