After 10 years as a private club gymnast, Morgan Srail knew her body could no longer take all the pounding. Still, she enjoyed the challenge and demands of her sport.
She needed a comparable alternative.
Srail found the perfect substitute: diving.
The Avon Lake sophomore’s transition into her new sport has been smooth. She qualified to last winter’s Division I state meet with less than a year of training experience.
“I was just trying to have fun. Success has been a bonus,” said Srail, who finished third at the Cleveland State Viking meet Dec. 20 with a personal-best 11-dive score of 384.00.
Last winter, Srail finished fifth at the Solon sectional (354.6), then took ninth to earn the final qualifying berth at the Cleveland district with a score of 374.65. Srail was 14th out of 24 divers at the state meet in Canton with a score 337.15.
Her interest in diving was piqued by a friend of her father’s, whose daughter received a full college scholarship in diving.
“I was getting a lot of injuries in gymnastics,” Srail said. “The water is more forgiving. It’s something different with a new style. It’s more technique. Less power, but more graceful.”
Srail’s years of experience in gymnastics obviously played a big role in her diving success. She’s also an excellent student, carrying a 4.0-grade-point average.
Nonetheless, she isn’t taking her success for granted.
“It’s been a real surprise with how fast I caught on,” said Srail, a former Level 8 gymnast for Great Lakes Gymnastics in Avon Lake.
The level of competition in the Southwestern Conference has been helpful. Westlake’s MacKenzie Wickliffe (eighth), North Olmsted’s Tiffany Platko (10th) and Brecksville’s Julie Pinter (13th) also advanced to last year’s state meet. Platko, a junior, and Pinter, a senior, are back this season.
“Right now, my focus is trying to perfect my 11th dive,” Srail said. “I want to try and make it the best dive for me, but at the same time it’s got to be the toughest.”
Diving and gymnastics aren’t the only sports she excels at. She’s a fine pole vaulter, clearing 10-3 as a personal best and taking sixth at the SWC meet at 9-9. She’s also a two-year defender in soccer for the girls junior varsity team.

Sectional stuff

The Division II boys sectional meets set for Friday, Feb. 13, at the University of Akron and Hawken School appear unusually out of balance, but there’s a reason.
Akron (40 teams) runs with 10 lanes and has the space. Hawken (21 teams) does not have the space to hold any more teams. The breakdown also includes the number of athletes per team based on last year’s number of participants.
The Akron sectional includes Elyria Catholic, Firelands and Bay. Avon is the only local team at the Hawken School sectional, which includes top state tournament contender University School.
There are no significant changes for the Division II girls sectional at Lakewood High (Feb. 13), which includes Elyria Catholic, Avon, Bay and Firelands. The Falcons return to the Lakewood site for the first time in eight years. Firelands previously competed at the Wooster and Canton sectional meets.
Likewise, the Division I boys and girls sectional at Lakewood (Feb. 14) also remains basically unchanged. Elyria, Amherst, Avon Lake, Berea, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls and Westlake are among the 17 teams.

Comets repeat

For the second year in a row, the Amherst boys swim team came from behind to win the North Olmsted Eagle Invitational.
Amherst defeated Elyria Catholic 206-202 to win the ninth annual event on Saturday despite winning just one event. Last year, Amherst came from behind to defeat North Olmsted, 230-221, but had the benefit of four wins.
The EC girls team won its second title in three years and third overall at North Olmsted by outdistancing the host team, 204½ to 178.
“It was a good meet,” EC coach Jack Dibee said. “I don’t think we could have altered our lineup any differently on the boys side. Actually, some gambles we took paid off.
“We didn’t load the medley relay on the girls side, so I knew we were in good shape being ahead before the two free relays. We’re on the right track with a lot of good swims.”
North Olmsted had four meet records. Two from junior Jeff Mackey (50 free, 23.03; 100 free, 50.22) and one each from seniors Dave Hunyh (100 breast, 1:03.52) and Erin Graffis (100 breast, 1:11.45).
Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Peter Hause, Amherst

YEAR: Senior
LAST WEEK: Helped Amherst defend its meet title at Saturday’s Eagle Invitational at North Olmsted. Had the Comets’ only win,  chalking up a meet record in the 100 fly (57.87). Was also a member of the second-place 200 medley (1:49.60) and 200 free (1:41.08) relays. Took third in the 50 free (23.35).
Other sport: Cross country
BIO: Was a Division I district qualifier last year in the 200 free, 100 fly and 200 medley relay. Won the team’s coaches’ award, As a sophomore, was second team All-SWC in the 200 free. Is a member of the NEON Swim Club. Was second team All-Lorain County Division I cross country in 2007 and was voted the Comets’ most improved runner. Plans to continue his swim career while attending either Allegheny or Wooster. Has a 3.5 grade-point average.
PARENTS: Ron and Laura Hause

Morgan Srail, Avon Lake

YEAR: Sophomore
LAST WEEK: Finished third at the Cleveland State Viking meet on Dec. 20 with a career-best 11-dive score of 384.00.
OTHER SPORTS: Soccer, track
BIO: With barely six months experience as a diver, managed to qualify to the Division I state meet last year as a freshman, finishing 14th. A former Level 8 private club gymnast for Great Lakes Gymnastics in Avon Lake, she is also a pole vaulter for the varsity track team and a defender on the junior varsity soccer team. Carries a 4.0 gpa.
PARENTS: Randy and Judy Srail

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