Dominic Pecze just wants to have a good showing at Saturday’s 35th annual Cleveland State Viking Swimming and Diving Invitational.

The Amherst junior is a returning district qualifier in the 100 back and 500 free, as well as a member of the district-qualifying 200 medley and 400 free relays. But he knows the Viking Invitational will give him and his teammates a good idea what kind of season they might ultimately have.

“It’s great competition,” Pecze said. “I’m not used to being around the faster swimmers in the area so early in the season. We’re used to doing a lot of dual meets, so a meet like the Viking kind of opens your eyes. It definitely pushes you and drives you to go faster.”

Pecze won the 200-yard free (1:54.48) and 500 free (5:18.24) last Thursday in Amherst’s 72-29 win over Berea. Although it was a decent showing, he had higher hopes for the meet. But the grind of heavy-duty, early season training was simply too much for him to overcome.

“The double that I typically swim — the 500 free and 100 back — is pretty difficult,” said Pecze, who is 6-foot-2 and weighs 160 pounds. “There isn’t much recovery time between events.”

Pecze’s hope weren’t especially high as a freshman. After all, he barely broke the one-minute barrier for the 100. He wasn’t even thinking about the 100 back until he broke the school record in a dual meet at Midpark.

“Breaking the school record for the 100 back my freshman year definitely was a motivator,” Pecze said. “It got me thinking that I was better than I was and that I had some potential.”

Last year, Pecze made big strides in the 100 back. He was third (57.66) at the Southwestern Conference meet and sixth (56.43) at the Lakewood Division I sectional, qualifying at-large to the CSU district meet.

Pecze’s school record for the 100 back is 55.7, but he’s gone as fast as 54.9 competing for Lake Shore Swim Club.

“I’m a backstroker, but I wouldn’t want to write off doing either a 200 free or 500 free, either,” said Pecze, the son of former Amherst coach Scott Pecze (1997-99).

He joined Lake Shore Swim Club the summer between his freshman and sophomore years.

“I’ve been improving ever since,” Pecze said. “I played junior high football in seventh and eighth grade, but I dropped it in high school in order to focus on swimming.”

Prelims for the Viking meet begin at 8 a.m. with finals set for 6 p.m. The top 10 from prelims advance to the championship finals, while places 11-20 go to consolation finals for all events and relays except the 500 free.

Crist, Srail start strong Senior Logan Crist and junior Morgan Srail of Avon Lake, both returning Division I state qualifiers, had excellent six-dive scores Saturday at Westlake.

Crist set a school record with a score of 258.45. Srail scored 264.6, two points shy of the school record she broke at the end of last year.

Srail will be a guest on Les Szekely’s morning show on WEOL 930-AM on Tuesday at 7:30. Srail is a two-time All-Ohioan, taking 10th at state her sophomore year and 14th as a freshman.

Players of the week

Dominic Pecze, Amherst

• Year: Junior
• Last week: Won the 200 free (1:54.48) and 500 free (5:18.24) and was a member of the winning 200 medley (1:51.55) and 400 free (3:37.96) relays Dec. 10 in a 72-29 win over Berea.
• Bio: Was a district qualifier in the 100 back and 500 free last year, as well as the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. Is the school record-holder in the 100 back (55.7). Club team is Lake Shore Swim Club. Is a member of Leo’s Club and has a 3.6 grade-point average taking honors classes.
• Parents: Scott Pecze and Mary Bartek

Kayla Huffman, Firelands

• Year: Junior
• Last week: Won the 200 free and 500 free in a tri-meet with Norwalk St. Paul and Mansfield St. Peter’s, going 2:29.06 and 6:49.88, respectively. Swam a personal record in the 200 by seven seconds and the 500 by 12 seconds.
• Bio: A two-year letterwinner, first took up swimming as a freshman after playing club-level soccer. Originally from Amherst, she lived in St. Cloud, Fla., for three years before returning to Lorain County her freshman year. Is a National Honor Society member and has a 3.8 grade-point average.
• Parents: Kevin and Tracy Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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