New School Record in the Boys 200 Free Relay
High school swim teams from across the state, including 2017 division one team champions St. Xavier (boys) and Mason (girls), converged on Canton for Saturday’s all day swimming and diving competition at C. T. Branin Natatorium. Even though there was no team scoring the Boardman Spartan swim teams had an outstanding day. The Spartan boys shattered the school record in the 200 freestyle relay. Senior Kyle Kimerer led off the record setting relay in the time in 22.00 followed by Sophomore Noah Basista who split a 21.43. The third leg was swum by Sophomore Matthew DunLany who split a 22.09. Senior Callen Aulizia anchored and split a sizzling 20.30. Their time of 1:25.82 broke the mark of 1:27.23 set in 2016 by Aaron DunLany, Ethan Schwendeman, Kimerer, and Aulizia. The boys in the relay also won two individual event titles, placed second in four events, had two third places, and a fourth place finish. In addition senior freestyle sprinter Callen Aulizia was voted as the “Male Swimmer of the Meet” by the coaches.
Coach Terry O’Halloran had this to say about the meet performances.
“This was a big meet for us. Many of the top state swimmers and divers from last year were there. Our teams rose to the occasion. We had solid preliminary swims and came back strong in the finals. Most of our swimmers posted personal best times or scores. An early season performance like this will be a positive motivator for the second half of the year.”
Kimerer dominated the 100 butterfly field taking first in the personal best time of 50.47. In the same event Matt DunLany placed 4th in a personal best time of 53.48. Aulizia won the 50 free in the time of 21.40. He placed 2nd in the 100 free in the time of 47.24 while Kimerer came in third posting a time of 48.02. Basista had a strong swim in the 200 Individual Medley placing third in the event with the time of 1:56.97 narrowly missing his school record set last year of 1:56.85. He placed 3rd in the 100 breaststroke in the time of 1:00.04.
“Noah is an outstanding swimming talent. He has a natural feel for water pressure which is very difficult to coach in any swimmer. He also has amazing power off the block combined a fierce competitive spirit. Assistant coach Carlo Cordon coaches him in the summer at Applewood Swim Club. He did an excellent job teaching him how to swim competitively and most of all how to enjoy the sport. He has a very bright future.”
The four swimmers had missed first place by 1/100th of a second in the 200 medley relay against North Canton Hoover. Hoover won the event in the time of 1:36.23 setting a new meet record. Boardman’s time of 1:36.24 made the race very exciting to watch for the fans and swimmers. Hoover repeated the close finish win in the 200 free relay with the meet record time of 1:25.79 besting the Spartan’s school record time of 1:25.82.
In dual meets earlier in the week Boardman won against Fitch and Canfield. Boy’s Scores Boardman 142, Canfield 116, and Fitch 41. Girl’s Scores Boardman 162, Canfield 81, and Fitch 56. Both Spartan teams now have 4 wins and 2 losses in dual meet action.