CLEVELAND — Evann Heidersbach wasn’t feeling very well, but it didn’t prevent her from making a strong impression at the Division II district meet at Cleveland State University.
Despite missing two days of school earlier in the week, the Elyria Catholic junior — a five-time All-Ohio swimmer — won the district crown in the 50-yard free (24.41) Friday night, a first in the
10-year history of the Panthers’ program.
That’s not all. Heidersbach came back to anchor the Panthers’ 200 free relay Saturday, helping it to a second-place finish (1:41.44), while also contributing a third-place finish in the 100 free (53.91).
“It was tough breathing, especially in the 100 free,” Heidersbach said. “My coach said that I was one of the first ones to the wall (25.55, 50-yard split). That makes me happy. I know my speed’s there. I just have to get my endurance back up and get my breathing back. Hopefully, it’ll be there next week.”
“Evann’s such a player,” Elyria Catholic coach Jack Dibee said. “She just wants to get everything she can and do her best. She doesn’t allow an opportunity to pass her by.”
Heidersbach teamed with senior Brittany Tweardy, freshman Caroline Hamp and freshman Brooke Bartlebaugh in the 200 free relay. It was the third straight year the EC girls were second in the event to defending state champ Hawken.
“We swam awesome,” Tweardy said. “We held our own with Hawken. We were a little scared with HB (Hathaway Brown) next to us because they were looking for revenge, but I think we’re ready for next week.”
Individually, Tweardy also enjoyed a banner meet. She was third in the 50 free (24.84) and 10th in the 100 free (56.51).
“I was waiting for that 24 in the 50 free all season,” she said. “I just missed it at the NCL (North Coast League) meet (25.01). I was definitely waiting for that.”
Dibee was recognized during the meet as Northeast District Division II coach of the year.
“Jack’s pushed us all season to get out of our comfort zone,” Tweardy said. “He’s a great coach. He’s brought this program so far. He definitely deserves it (coach of the year).”
Hamp broke her school record in the 100 back, placing fourth (1:01.50).
“It’s just been so exciting,” Hamp said. “Everybody’s doing great. Our relay did amazing.”
Elyria Catholic eclipsed its point total from a year ago (167), scoring 169 points to finish fourth. Hawken won its ninth straight Division II title with 456 points. Hathaway Brown (256) and Chagrin Falls (177) rounded out the top three.
“They did fantastic. They swam a ton of personal-record times,” Dibee said. “It was all-around a great weekend for them. I’m very proud of their accomplishments.”
Elyria Catholic enjoyed its best-ever performance in the Division I boys meet, finishing 12th with 58 points. Last year, EC was 25th with 22 points. University School (286) beat out Solon (263) for the boys title.
The Panthers’ 200 free relay appears to be in position for a second straight state at-large berth. Junior Jimmy Reitenbach, junior Alex Miehls, junior Michael Weber and senior Keith Everhart finished sixth in a school-record time of 1:28.29.
The top four Division I boys finishers qualify to state, plus the next 11 fastest at-large times from around Ohio. Last year, the EC boys relay was eighth at the CSU district in 1:30.39 and qualified at-large.
EC’s 400 relay also has a chance for an at-large berth, but its chances are more remote. Reitenbach, Miehls, Weber and Everhart finished ninth with a school-record (3:18.75).
“We dropped so much time,” Everhart said. “We thought we already swam as fast as we could, but I guess not. We achieved the times we were aiming for. We just have to hope for the best.”
Bay junior Amanda Ritzenthaler was third in the Division II 100 back (1:01.22) behind Chagrin Falls’ Meghan Shroyer (1:00.02) and Hathaway Brown’s Claire Pavlak (1:00.17).
“I’ve worked a lot harder this year, so I’ve expected better results,” said Ritzenthaler, a two-time state qualifier. “I’m also training for junior nationals in August. We’ll see where it takes me.”
Westlake’s 200 free relay of junior Casey Hamilton, sophomore Grace Pophal, senior Emily Splain and  junior Alaine Perconti was seeded ninth, but earned an automatic state berth (top five) with a third-place finish (1:39.58) behind Mentor (1:37.94) and Solon (1:38.01). The Demons shattered a 10-year school mark (1:42.11) by over two seconds.
“It was exhilarating,” Splain said. “We worked so hard for this relay. It’s great to have it pay off.”
Freshman Megan Splain, Emily’s sister, also earned an automatic state berth with a third-place finish in the 200 individual medley (2:13.35).
“I was shocked,” she said. “My goal was to try and break 2:15. I didn’t expect to swim this fast. It’s great.”
Amherst senior Kirsten Wengerd looks to qualify to state for the third straight year, but must wait until tonight to find out if she earned an-large berth. She was sixth in the Division I 100 back with a career-record time of 1:00.37.
Avon Lake’s Morgan Srail earned the ninth and final state berth in Thursday’s Division I girls diving.
Division I
Boys
Team scores
1. University School, 286; 2. Solon, 263; 3. Firestone, 252; 4. Canfield, 252; 12. Elyria Catholic, 58; 25. Berea, 18; 42. Westlake, 2; 44. Avon Lake, 1
Individual results
Top 4 finishers per event qualify to state, plus the next 11 fastest at-large from around the state
Saturday’s results
100 free: 1. Zach Turk (St. Edward), 46.36; 2. Chris Nemeth (Mayfield), 46.87; 18. Keith Everhart (EC), 48.85; 24. Jeff Mackey (North Olmsted), 49.14; 38. Jimmy Reitenbach (EC), 49.86; 45. Quinten Patrick (Amherst), 50.83
500 free: 1. Tommy Inwood (Solon), 4:30.91; 2. Tim Montague (Firestone), 4:33.73; 28. Ian Ward (Elyria), 5:04.61; 31. Jack St. Marie (Westlake), 5:05.86
200 free relay: 1. Canfield (Eric Davis, Gavin Trebilcock, Ryan King, James Hunter), 1:26.72; 2. Solon, 1:26.98; 6. Elyria Catholic (Reitenbach, Alex Miehls, Michael Weber, Everhart), 1:28.29
100 back: 1. Sean Evans (University School), 51.01 (MEET RECORD, old record 51.04 set in 2007 by Evans); 2. Kevin Meisner (Firestone), 52.01; 12. Justin Hill (Berea), 56.00; 22. Ward (Elyria), 57.28; 24. Bobby Knurek (Westlake), 57.52; 25. Joe Craven (Westlake), 57.64; 47. Louis Runge (Avon), 1:00.89
100 breast: 1. Andrew Turner (Walsh Jesuit), 58.96; 2. Mike Barringer (Boardman), 59.73; 21. Anthony Zunno (North Olmsted), 1:03.80; 29. Dave Hunyh (North Olmsted), 1:04.74
400 free relay: 1. Canfield (Eric Davis, Jordan Graham, Garrett Trebilcock, James Hunter), 3:10.12; 2. University School, 3:10.74; 9. Elyria Catholic (Reitenbach, Miehls, Weber, Everhart), 3:18.75; 21. Berea (Hill, Chad Flanick, Pat Chadowski, Mike Williams), 3:26.65
Friday’s results
200 medley relay: 1. Canfield (King, Gavin Trebilcock, Garrett Trebilcock, Davis), 1:36.15; 2. Firestone, 1:36.57; 17. Berea (Hill, Flanick, Chadowski, Williams), 1:43.54; 24. Amherst (Dominic Pecze, Matt Elbert, Peter Hause, Quinten Patrick), 1:46.02
200 free: 1. Ian Stewart-Bates (University School), 1:41.68; 2. Montague (Firestone), 1:41.88; 21. Hause (Amherst), 1:49.97; 35. Williams (Berea), 1:52.29
200 individual medley: 1. Inwood (Solon), 1:52.19; 2. Garrett Trebilcock (Canfield), 1:54.30; 12. Weber (Elyria Catholic), 2:01.68; 26. Chadowski (Berea), 2:06.04; 44. Elbert (Amherst), 2:12.24
50 free: 1. Turk (St. Edward), 21.23; 2. Connor O’Halloran (Boardman), 21.59; 6. Hill (Berea), 21.99; 9. Everhart (Elyria Catholic), 22.07; 17. Mackey (North Olmsted), 22.56;  34. Reitenbach (Elyria Catholic), 22.95; 37. Patrick (Amherst), 23.20
100 fly: 1. Alex Kornick (Walsh Jesuit), 50.99; 2. Meisner (Firestone), 51.28; 15. Joe Craven (Westlake), 54.68; 17. Chadowski (Berea), 54.93; 30. Hause (Amherst), 56.82; 34. Zunno (North Olmsted), 56.89
Thursday’s results
Diving
Top 8 divers advance to state
1. Chad Carmichael (St. Ignatius), 484.25; 2. Jamie Engelhardt (Chagrin Falls), 479.05; 16. Logan Crist (Avon Lake), 309.85; 20. Justin Pulling (Berea), 232.95; 24. Robby Phillips (Westlake), 138.00
Girls
Division I
Team scores
1. Solon, 248; 2. Strongsville, 226; 8. Westlake, 107; 30. North Olmsted, 18 1/2; 31. Amherst, 17; 34. Avon Lake, 9, 36. Berea, 6; 37. Olmsted Falls, 4
Individual results
Top 5 finishers per event qualify to state, plus the next 11 fastest at-large from around the state
Saturday’s results
100 free: 1. Samantha Nameth (Mentor), 52.58; 2. Maddie Kete (Magnificat/Bay Village resident), 52.81; 11. Casey Hamilton (Westlake), 54.89; 12. Emily Splain (Westlake), 54.95; 34. Jacque Hawes (Elyria), 56.84
500 free: 1. Beth DeFauw (Strongsville), 5:03.84; 2. Lauren Matevish (Solon), 5:06.62
200 free relay: 1. Mentor (Alicia Berman, Rachel Hunsinger, Katie Haller, Nameth), 1:37.94; 2. Solon, 1:38.01; 3. Westlake (Hamilton, Grace Pophal, Emily Splain, Alaine Perconti), 1:39.58
100 back: 1. Haller (Mentor), 59.09; 2. (tie) Kelsey Moran (Lakewood) and Mandi Grandjean (North Canton Hoover), 59.71; 6. Kirsten Wengerd (Amherst), 1:00.37; 11. Megan Splain (Westlake), 1:01.90; 14. Nikki Kolis (Berea), 1:02.18; 32. Katie Knurek (Westlake), 1:05.77
100 breast: 1. Alisa Vereshchagin (Solon), 1:03.61; 2. Erin Duchon (Stow Munroe Falls), 1:06.29; 15. Erin Graffis (North Olmsted), 1:10.91; 20. (tie) Sara Knezevich (Berea) and Amanda Paliska (Olmsted Falls), 1:12.57
400 free relay: 1. Strongsville (DeFauw, Rachel Roman, Molly Buynak, Neysa Dominguez), 3:36.29; 2. Magnificat, 3:38.39
Friday’s results
200 medley relay: 1. Mentor (Haller, Berman, Nemeth, Hunsinger), 1:49.96; 2. Solon, 1:50.04; 16. Westlake (Megan Splain, Smith, Emily Stephenson, Pophal), 1:56.34
200 free: 1. Vereshchagin (Solon), 1:53.17; 2. DeFauw (Strongsville), 1:54.02; 6. Emily Splain (Westlake), 1:57.82; 9. Perconti (Westlake), 1:58.54; 13. Wengerd (Amherst), 1:59.85; 14. Kolis (Berea), 1:59.90
200 individual medley: 1. Breanna McCann (Firestone), 2:07.71; 2. Stacie Clegg (Glen Oak), 2:11.52; 3. Megan Splain (Westlake), 2:13.35; 13. Graffis (North Olmsted), 2:18.22
50 free: 1. Kete (Magnificat), 23.79; 2. Katey Brooks (North Royalton), 24.31; 14. Hamilton (Westlake), 25.44; 20. Pophal (Westlake), 25.59
100 fly: 1. Nameth (Mentor), 56.26; 2. Beth Rogers (Canton McKinley), 57.97; 14. Paliska (Olmsted Falls), 1:01.94; 16. Emily Stephenson (Westlake), 1:02.48; 33. Smith (Westlake), 1:04.88
Thursday’s results
Diving
Top 9 divers advance to state
1. Rachel Rosenburg (Strongsville), 467.70; 2. Bethany Haver (Firestone), 423.90; 5. MacKenzie Wickliffe (Westlake), 400.95; 6. Tiffany Platko (North Olmsted), 384.20; 9. Morgan Srail (Avon Lake), 374.65; 16. Katie Nageotte (Olmsted Falls), 323.85; 21. Gabriella Nicolay (Olmsted Falls), 123.90; 22. Samantha Nicolay (Olmsted Falls), 119.25
Division II
Team scores
1. Hawken, 456; 2. Hathaway Brown, 256; 3. Chagrin Falls, 177; 4. Elyria Catholic, 169; 9. Bay, 95; 25. Avon, 10
Individual results
Top 3 finishers per event qualify to state, plus the next 11 fastest at-large from around the state
Saturday’s results
100 free: 1. Katie Joseph (McDonald), 53.23; 2. Jennifer Aronoff (Hawken), 53.55; 3. Evan Heidersbach (EC), 53.91; 10. Brittany Tweardy (EC), 56.51; 16. Kristen DeWees (Bay), 57.90; 17. Brooke Bartlebaugh (EC), 57.91; 28. Brittany McLaughlin (EC), 1:00.12
500 free: 1. Brittany Strumbel (Hawken), 4:54.93; 2. Kaitlin Dagg (Hawken), 5:11.15
200 free relay: 1. Hawken (Strumbel, Aronoff, Alana Arnold, Brittany Rospierski), 1:37.93; 2. Elyria Catholic (Tweardy, Bartlebaugh, Caroline Hamp, Heidersbach), 1:41.44; 9. Bay (Mackenzie Clark, DeWees, Kiki Rudden, Amanda Ritzenthaler), 1:46.60
100 back: 1. Meghan Shroyer (Chagrin Falls), 1:00.02; 2. Claire Pavlak (Hathaway Brown), 1:00.17; 3. Amanda Ritzenthaler (Bay), 1:01.22; 4. Hamp (EC), 1:01.50; 15. Rachel Buckley (EC), 1:06.93; 16. Marissa Gerdes (Avon), 1:07.07; 24. Alaina Cvetic (Avon), 1:09.29
100 breast: 1. Rospierski (Hawken), 1:04.16 (MEET RECORD, old record 1:05.72 set in 2000 by Crestwood’s Beth Groselle); 2. Emilee Gysegem (Cortland Lakeview), 1:08.29; 25. Kelly O’Dell (EC), 1:16.48
400 free relay: 1. Hawken (Dagg, Courtney Tumbush, Laura Tramer, Strumbel), 3:39.28; 2. Hathaway Brown, 3:42.10; 7. Bay (Lauren Ritzenthaler, DeWees, Rudden, Amanda Ritzenthaler), 3:55.60; 12. Elyria Catholic (McLaughlin, Emily Fenik, Buckley, Bartlebaugh), 4:01.17; 16. Avon (Amy Meckes, Emma Gerdes, Cvetic, Marissa Gerdes), 4:06.05
Friday’s results
200 medley relay: 1. Hawken (Dagg, Rospierski, Arnold, Aronoff), 1:49.33; 2. Revere, 1:54.40; 5. Elyria Catholic (Heidersbach, O’Dell, Hamp, Tweardy), 1:55.46; 20. Bay (Kate O’Brien, Rachel Fleig, Lauren Ritzenthaler, Mackenzie Clark), 2:09.17
200 free: 1. Strumbel (Hawken), 1:51.01; 2. Samantha Blum (Alliance), 1:59.00; 15. Bartlebaugh (EC), 2:07.74; 28. Emma Gerdes (Avon), 2:14.76
200 individual medley: 1. Rospierski (Hawken), 2:07.09; 2. Aronoff (Hawken), 2:11.75; 7. Amanda Ritzenthaler (Bay), 2:18.07; 20. Marissa Gerdes (Avon), 2:28.73
50 free: 1. Heidersbach (EC), 24.41; 2. Joseph (McDonald), 24.76; 3. Tweardy (EC), 24.84; 21. DeWees (Bay), 26.91; 26. McLaughlin (EC), 27.12
100 fly: 1. Arnold (Hawken), 58.44; 2. Dagg (Hawken), 59.97; 11. Hamp (EC), 1:03.27; 26. Rudden (Bay), 1:08.48; 28. Lauren Ritzenthaler (Bay), 1:08.75
Thursday’s results
Diving
Top 6 divers advance to state
1. Nikki Craft (Bay), 502.80 (MEET RECORD, old record 494.05 set in 2007 by Craft); 2. Tricia Vallinger (Poland Seminary), 360.80; 7. Brittany Tweardy (EC), 271.05; 10. Cvetic (Avon), 235.90; 16. Brooke Dungan (EC), 189.75

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