Maya Schweikert Stars, St. X Dominates at Ohio State Swim Meet

United States - Ekhbary News Agency

Schweikert Shatters Records, St. Xavier Claims Top Honors at Ohio DI State Swimming Championships

The Ohio High School Athletic Association state swimming meet concluded with a spectacular display of talent, highlighted by the remarkable achievements of Maya Schweikert, a senior from Kings High School. Schweikert cemented her legacy by winning her third consecutive 100-yard backstroke state title, obliterating her own state tournament and pool records with an astonishing time of 52.31 seconds. This victory was preceded by her second consecutive 100-yard butterfly title, achieved in 52.98 seconds, narrowly missing the overall state record. Her dominance extended to team events, contributing to a third-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay, which ultimately earned her the coveted Female Performer of the Meet award for the second year running. Schweikert is widely regarded as the most accomplished swimmer, and potentially the best athlete, in her school's history, now tied for third place in state history for individual female swimmers with five career state titles.

Reflecting on her performance, Schweikert acknowledged the mental fortitude required. "Yesterday, I had a very hard day with pressure mentally. It just felt like I had an expectation I had to go after and I crumbled a little bit, but just learning from it, getting back up and still doing what I knew I could do, even under those circumstances, was what I was aiming to do," she shared. Discussing her record-breaking backstroke race, she added, "I've been training that last wall like no other. I knew I was gonna be able to kick pretty hard. I'm proud of that swim." Her coach, Sam Mizener, lauded her character and dedication: "Maya is a one-of-a-kind athlete, someone that I'm super proud of. Someone that I've had the honor of watching grow up, too. In terms of the maturity that she has, the way she treats her teammates, those are the things I'm the most proud of watching her do." Schweikert attributes her success, particularly in the latter stages of her career, to her strong mental game, trusting her rigorous training regimen to push through any physical discomfort.

The boys' Division I competition saw St. Xavier High School (St. X) emerge as a formidable force. Entering the meet with a determined spirit after a close district loss, the St. X "Bombers" showcased exceptional depth and talent. Chase Grisi led the charge, capturing his second consecutive 200-yard freestyle state title. His race strategy, honed through specific drills focusing on the final 100 yards, proved effective as he surged past competitors in the closing stages. "For most of the season, we do a special drill, prioritizing the third 50 of our races, so we step into that fifth gear and I really executed it well," Grisi explained. His teammates, Alex Nixon and freshman Will Farrell, also contributed crucial points in the freestyle event.

St. X's dominance was evident across multiple events. Grisi added a second-place finish in the butterfly, while Tucker Charles secured a victory in the backstroke and a third-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle. Owen Gee and Alex Nixon completed a strong showing in the 500-yard freestyle, taking second and third place, respectively. The team's relay squads also performed admirably, with all three relays achieving podium finishes. The 400-yard freestyle relay provided a dramatic conclusion, as Charles and Grisi orchestrated a remarkable comeback to win the race by nearly three seconds, avenging a narrow loss from the previous year. "It definitely still haunts me, considering I swam second in that race. The biggest motivation was that was my last St. X race ever. I left it all in the pool," Grisi remarked about the past defeat.

Ultimately, St. Xavier finished as the team runner-up for the second consecutive year, accumulating 311 points, just behind the champions St. Charles (348.5 points). Despite holding a slight lead at one point, a crucial shift in the 200-yard freestyle relay allowed St. Charles to secure the overall team title. "We knew it wasn't going to be handed to us, but I'm more proud of how everyone supported each other. We have a great group of guys and we'll have these relationships for the rest of our life. You can't lose when you have friends like that," Grisi stated. Coach Jim Brower acknowledged the team's effort: "I told the kids back in the fall that if the window was open, we were gonna win. The window wasn't open, but St. Charles swam great. We matched them to the best of our ability."

The meet also recognized former St. Xavier coach Mark Sullivan, who was named the Boys and Girls Coach of the Year. His teams, the Comets, secured runner-up finishes in the girls' division for the third straight year and achieved their highest-ever team finish for the boys, placing third with 214 points. Sullivan humbly attributed the success to his swimmers: "Anytime I get those awards, and I know a lot of coaches feel that way, it's a team award. These kids make me look good." Notable individual performances for his teams included Liam Clark's championship win, Austin Zhong's fourth-place finish in the IM, and Aidan Jansen's fifth and sixth-place finishes in the 50 and 100 freestyle, respectively. Relay teams also contributed significantly, alongside strong performances in diving from Juju Nkhumane and Christian Poh.

The boys' team's season was marked by significant achievements, including a near-win against St. Xavier at the Southwest Classic and a historic victory over them at the district level for the first time in 57 years. "I have really been so proud of their leadership throughout the entire year. The seniors played a significant role with that. I couldn't be more proud of those guys that are leaving a great legacy and culture for our program to the younger kids," Sullivan commented.

Other notable team performances included Milford placing seventh in the boys' race, Lakota East ninth, and another Milford entry tenth. For Mason High School, Bella Teply was the sole girls' champion, supported by Dana Fairbanks' runner-up finish in the 500-yard freestyle and a third-place finish in the IM. Isabella Giraldo added points with a ninth-place finish in diving. St. Ursula Academy secured third place in the girls' team standings.

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