They all have one goal in mind: Make it out of the Division I and II boys and girls district swimming and diving meet at Cleveland State University’s Thomas Busbey Natatorium this weekend and qualify for next weekend’s state meet at C. T. Branin Natatorium in Canton.

 

But in many cases, the difference between earning a bid, and not earning one, is less than a second, less than an inch, less than a breath. Sometimes, it’s so small that you can’t even really measure it with the mind’s eye.

 

So, with the competitors all so good – all so close in ability -- how do the winners and placers make up that seemingly invisible gap and extend their season another week?

 

Is it really just as simple as doing shaving and tapering?

 

“Sure, they’ll do that this weekend, or at least most of them will,” 10th-year Cuyahoga Falls boys and girls coach Mike McDonald said. “But it’s more than that. It’s much more about the attitude of the kid than it is about any shaving or tapering.

 

“During the regular season, they say it’s 90 percent physical and 10 percent mental. And it’s true. All you do is work and practice to keep getting stronger, faster and better.
 

“But when you get to this point, you’ve punished your body as much as you can punish it. Now it’s 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. It’s like track and cross country in that you train all season but when you get to this point, you back off and begin working on the mental aspect.

 

“Your job as a coach now is to instill confidence. It’s all about confidence. You’re a cheerleader. All you’re trying to do is pump up that kid and get him or her ready to do their very best, and believing that they can do their very best.”

 

Indeed, the easy work is done, toughening up the body. Now comes the hard part, toughening up – or, as it were, massaging – the mind.

 

MULTI-TALENTED: In addition to competing in the meet in the 100 breaststroke and as a member of the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay teams, Walsh Jesuit sophomore Danielle Margheret will sing the national anthem before the Division II boys and girls district meet at 3 p.m. Friday at Cleveland State. We’re told she is an outstanding singer, so plan to get there on time so you can hear her. “I love to sing. I love singing,” she said. She lists her favorite song to sing as, “Wind Beneath My Wings.”

 

MULTI-TALENTED, TAKE 2: Margheret really is an amazing young woman. In addition to being a championship swimmer and having a voice like a songbird, she was a member of Walsh’s state and national champion girls soccer team, carries a 4.1 grade-point average and wants to go to college and study pre-med, with the intent to be a dermatology doctor. But maybe her greatest accomplishment is simply carving out enough time to be able to do it all, not haphazardly and hurriedly, but with the time needed to do it well. “I have to stick to my studies a lot,” she said. “I have to burn the midnight oil. I just try to manage my time as well as I can and work as hard as I can.”

 

HER TIME?: After finishing third in the state meet as a sophomore and second last season, Cuyahoga Falls senior diver Haleigh Bartlett has her sights set on winning the event and finally taking home the gold. “I was disappointed with how I did last year. It just wasn’t a very good meet for me,” she said. “But at the same time, all I want is to do my best. If I’m convinced that I did the very best that I could, then I’ll be happy with whatever I get.”

 

PERFECT BALANCE: Bartlett was a gymnast – and a very good one at that – for 11 years, not taking up diving until her mother, Shannon, talked her into it as a freshman. “I miss gymnastics a lot. I really enjoyed it,” she said. “But it’s a lot harder to get a college scholarship in gymnastics than it is in diving. Plus I was getting hurt a lot, and gymnastics tends to be pretty pricey.”

    

 

AND FINALLY, THE BIG LIST: Following is a list of all the local Division I and II boys and girls district qualifiers at Cleveland State:

 

 

GIRLS DIVISION II

 

200 medley relay

Walsh

Revere

CVCA

 

200 freestyle

Alex Poitinger, JR, Revere

Melinda Renuart, FR, Walsh

Samantha Stack, JR, Walsh

Colleen O’Brien, SR, Revere

Lizzie Cymanski, SR, Crestwood

Erin Peiffer, SO, Revere

 

200 individual medley

Brittany Geyer, SR, Walsh

Emma Gresser, SO, Revere

Andrea Cleveland, JR, Walsh

Renee Ormond, JR, CVCA

Kayla Shockey, JR, Revere

Sara Reilman, Walsh

 

50 freestyle

Maggie Harris, JR, Revere

Kelly Ormond, SR, CVCA

Kaitlin Amicone, SR, CVCA

Sami House, SO, Revere

Kassandra Pawuk, SO, Walsh

 

100 butterfly

Emma Gresser, SO, Revere

Lauren Tullis, SO, Walsh

Rosalie Woolf, SR, Walsh

Kaitlin Amicone, SR, CVCA

Kayla Shockey, JR, Revere

Lauren Andrefsky, FR, Walsh

 

100 freestyle

Katie Kimberly, SR, Revere

Maggie Harris, JR, Revere

Kelly Ormond, SR, CVCA

Samantha Stack, JR, Walsh

Sami House, SO, Revere

Andrea Cleveland, JR, Walsh

 

500 freestyle

Alex Poitinger, JR, Revere

Renee Ormond, JR, CVCA

Melinda Renuart, FR, Walsh

Colleen O’Brien, SR, Revere

Erin Peiffer, SO, Revere

Lizzie Cymanski, SR, Crestwood

 

200 freestyle relay

Walsh

CVCA

Revere

 

100 backstroke

Kassandra Pawuk, SO, Walsh

Sara Reilman, SO, Walsh

 

100 breaststroke

Danielle Margheret, SO, Walsh

Brittany Geyer, SR, Walsh

Katie Kimberly, SR, Revere

Brittany DiFiore, SO, Tallmadge

Lindsey Mann, SR, Walsh

 

400 freestyle relay

Revere

Walsh

Crestwood

CVCA

 

 

 

 

 

BOYS DIVISION II

 

200 medley relay

Walsh Jesuit

Archbishop Hoban

CVCA

 

200 freestyle

Graham Burnell, JR, CVCA

Michael Petras, SO, Walsh

Michael Hudock, JR, Walsh

Drew Lenz, FR, Walsh

Danny Renner, JR, Hoban

Paul Davies, SR, Hoban

Michael Kudlac, SR, Hoban

Christian Hanz, SO, CVCA

 

200 individual medley

Bryan Kirkpatrick, SR, Walsh

Ben Boshkos, FR, Walsh

Nick Pelini, SR, Hoban

 

50 freestyle

Jon Davis, SO, Revere

Michael Mausser, SR, Walsh

Logan Rogers, JR, Hoban

 

100 butterfly

Joe Simpson, SR, Walsh

Nick Roberts, SR, Hoban

Jacob Sprague, FR, CVCA

Tanner Schodowski, SO, Walsh

Mike Pelini, JR, Hoban

Andrew Leppo, SO, Walsh

 

100 freestyle

Adam Fenton, SR, Revere

Michael Petras, SO, Walsh

Logan Rogers, JR, Hoban

Michael Mausser, SR, Walsh

Nick Yager, JR, Walsh

 

500 freestyle

Graham Burnell, JR, CVCA

Bryan Kirkpatrick, SR, Walsh

Joe Simpson, SR, Walsh

Danny Renner, JR, Hoban

Drew Lenz, FR, Walsh

Mike Pelini, JR, Hoban

Michael Kudlac, SR, Hoban

 

200 freestyle relay

Walsh

Hoban

CVCA

 

100 backstroke

Nick Roberts, SR, Hoban

Tanner Schodowski, SO, Walsh

Adam Fenton, SR, Revere

Jacob Sprague, FR, CVCA

Nick Comeriato, JR, Hoban

Johnny Andrefsky, SR, Walsh

Michael Hudock, JR, Walsh

 

100 breaststroke

Ben Boshkos, FR, Walsh

Jon Davis, SO, Revere

Eric Vlahos, SO, CVCA

Adam Novak, SR, Walsh

Nick Yager, JR, Walsh

 

400 freestyle relay

Walsh

Revere

Hoban

 

 

 

 

 

GIRLS DIVISION I

 

200 medley relay

Mayfield

Strongsville

Firestone

Hudson

Brunswick

Medina

Twinsburg

Nordonia

Kent Roosevelt

Stow

 

200 freestyle

Paige Kelly, FR, Hudson

Maria Eidam, SR, Twinsburg

Jillian Stoneburg, JR, Firestone

Sammi Hargis, SO, Strongsville

Erin Finnerty, JR, Solon

Erika Tribuzi, SR, Copley

Grace D’Amico, SO, Strongsville

Hannah McCulloch, FR, Brunswick

Carrie Shortman, JR, Hudson

Hope Bagarus, SR, Hudson

Dana Steinert, SR, Kent Roosevelt

Maggie McCue, SR, Hudson

Hailey Kim, SO, Mayfield

Jacquelynn Anderson, SR, Mayfield

Lindsey Adkins, FR, Stow

Megan Kudlac, SO, Hoban

Leah Lehotsky, SR, North Royalton

Jane Verdi, JR, Mayfield

Rachel Fox, SR, Green

Caroline Granger, FR, Strongsville

Jordan Lemke, SR, Firestone

Amanda Vargo, JR, Twinsburg

Hannah Vegh, JR, Firestone

 

200 individual medley

Katie Miller, SO, Firestone

Stephanie Nemeth, JR, Mayfield

Amanda Knapp, SR, Twinsburg

Laura Murphy, SO, Hudson

Hope Hickman, JR, Green

Dana Lautenschleger, FR, Solon

Maddy Kawiecki, JR, Strongsville

Abby Kriak, SO, Medina

Natalie Hill, SO, Hudson

Sami Petruzzi, FR, Medina

Kristin Schubert, JR, Medina

Alyssa Athmer, JR, Firestone

Angie Doerrer, SO, Hudson

Selena Pasadyn, JR Brunswick

Katherine Mitchell, SR, Solon

Taylor Kelly, JR, Hudson

Emma Toaz, SO, Nordonia

Taylor Ulisse, JR, Twinsburg

Erin Sandridge, FR, Solon

Julia Goodwin, SO, Valley Forge

Sydney Spiro, SR, Solon

Claire Hardman, JR, Firestone

Tia Simpson, JR, Strongsville

Jessie Lee, JR, Stow

Rachel Andrasek, JR, Normandy

Kennedy Herbert, FR, Green

Lexi Ristaino, JR, Twinsburgh

Laurel Crocker, SR, Kent

Katie Opacich, FR, Mayfield

Christine Darkes, SR, Strongsville

 

50 freestyle

Elaina Lanson, SR, Wadsworth

Annie Marquiss, SR, Solon

Taylor Wise, SR, Kent

Morgan Lydic, JR, Cuyahoga Falls

Katherine Taylor, SR, Solon

Kelsey McRill, JR, Solon

Lizzy Gehlmann, FR, Brunswick

Carolyn Yurkoski, FR, Medina

Molly Washko, FR, Strongsville

Maddie Goots, SR, Brunswick

Jamie Wlosowicz, JR, Nordonia

Jenna Barrus, SO, Strongsville

Francesca Viotti, JR, Solon

Katie Mailey, SR, Hudson

Rachel Harlock, SR, Green

Alexa Hoynacke, SO, Brush

Carly Brown, SR, Strongsville

Taylor Polojack, SR, Brunswick

Jillian Saccogna, FR, Hudson

Mary Beasley, FR, Green

Alexandria Amato, SR, Strongsville

 

100 butterfly

Addy Ferguson, JR, Cloverleaf

Connie Gan, SO, Hudson

Stephanie Nemeth, JR, Mayfield

Gabi D’Abato, FR, Strongsville

Logan Arnold, JR, Mayfield

Maddy Kawiecki, JR, Strongsville

Hannah Hornis, SR, Hudson

Monica Sincel, JR, Kent

Kelsey Csumitta, SO, Mayfield

Natalie Hill, SO, Hudson

Alyssa Athmer, JR, Firestone

Jenni Heid, FR, Stow

Sam Petruzzi, FR, Medina

Carly Dean, SR, Nordonia

Alexandria Amato, SR, Strongsville

Steph Malloy, SR, Hudson

Lauren O’Conner, SR, North Royalton

Nicolette Crissinger, FR, Brunswick

San Stauffer, SO, Twinsburg

Sarah Jackson, JR, Cuyahoga Falls

 

100 freestyle

Elaina Lanson, SR, Wadsworth

Taylor Wise, SR, Kent

Morgan Lydic, JR, Cuyahoga Falls

Annie Marquiss, SR, Solon

Rachel Ciferno, JR, Mayfield

Connie Gan, SO, Hudson

Hannah Hornis, SR, Hudson

Jillian Stoneburg, JR, Firestone

Carolyn Yurkoski, FR, Medina

Lizzy Gehlmann, FR, Brunswick

Anna Wong, FR, Solon

Hannah McCulloch, FR, Brunswick

Jenna Barrus, SO, Strongsville

Hope Bagarus, SR, Hudson

Jamie Wlosowicz, JR, Nordonia

Lindsey Adkins, FR, Stow

Casie Aitken, JR, Copley

Hailey Kim, SO, Mayfield

Ellie Surratt, FR, Wadsworth

Rachel Shaw, JR, Hudson

Caroline Granger, FR, Strongsville

Rachel Harlock, SR, Green

Francesca Viotti, JR, Solon

Amanda Vargo, JR, Twinsburg

Taylor Polojack, SR, Brunswick

Carly Brown, SR, Strongsville

 

500 freestyle

Katie Miller, SO, Firestone

Paige Kelly, FR, Hudson

Dana Lautenschleger, FR, Solon

Selena Pasadyn, JR, Brunswick

Sammi Hargis, SO, Strongsville

Erin Finnerty, JR, Solon

Carrie Shortman, JR, Hudson

Maddie Miller, JR, Medina

Dana Steinert, SR, Kent

Erika Tibuzi, SR, Copley

Rachel Fox, SR, Green

Sydney Spiro, SR, Solon

Grace D’Amico, SO, Strongsville

Megan Kudlac, SO, Hoban

Maggie McCue, SR, Hudson

Jane Verdi, JR, Mayfield

Marscha Hornis, SO, Hudson

Jordan Lemke, SR, Firestone

Abby Kriak, SO, Medina

Emily Kelly, SO, North Royalton

Claire Hardman, JR, Firestone

Kelli Harrod, JR, Kent

Chelsea Simpson, SR, Stow

Allie Toaz, SR, Nordonia

Alex Iosue, FR, Brush

Leah Lehotsky, SR, North Royalton

 

200 freestyle relay

Solon

Mayfield

Brunswick

Strongsville

Wadsworth

Hudson

Nordonia

Green

Twinsburg

Kent

 

100 backstroke

Addy Ferguson, JR, Cloverleaf

Anna Wong, FR, Solon

Logan Arnold, JR, Mayfield

Amanda Knapp, SR, Twinsburg

Hope Hickman, JR, Green

Shannon Justic, JR, Hudson

Jacquelynn Anderson, SR, Mayfield

Kelsey Csumitta, SO, Mayfield

Casie Aitken, JR, Copley

Elizabeth Zenczak, SR, Brunswick

Kristin Schubert, JR, Medina

Katherine Taylor, SR, Solon

Emily Arther, SO, Hudson

Briana Schrage, JR, Strongsville

Carly Dean, SR, Nordonia

Tia Simpson, JR, Strongsville

Erika Pyatt, FR, North Royalton

Alexa Hoynacke, SO, Brush

Maddie Miller, JR, Medina

Holly Hickman, SR, Green

Katie Mailey, SR, Hudson

Sarah Jackson, JR, Cuyahoga Falls

Taylor Ulisse, JR, Twinsburg

Sara Crane, JR, Hudson

Kelli Harrod, JR, Kent

Chelsea Simpson, SR, Stow

LeAnne Jacomin, SR, Strongsville

Erin Sandridge, FR, Solon

 

100 breaststroke

Alana Arnold, SR, Mayfield

Laura Murphy, SO, Hudson

Gabi D’Abato, FR, Strongsville

Rachel Andrasek, JR, Normandy

Jacqueline Yurkoski, SR, Medina

Maddie Goots, SR, Brunswick

Emma Durante, SR, Firestone

Jessie Lee, JR, Stow

Maria Eidam, SR, Twinsburg

Paige Gravenstein, SO, Firestone

Emma Toaz, SO, Nordonia

Katherine Mitchell, SR, Solon

Kelsey McRill, JR, Solon

Amy Donohoe, SR, Strongsville,

Jenni Heid, FR, Stow

Julia Goodwin, SO, Valley Forge

Steph Malloy, SR, Hudson

Francesca Bankovich, SO, Hudson

Christine Darkes, SO, Strongsville

Angie Doerrer, SO, Hudson

Stephanie Buda, SR, Mayfield

Autumn Merrill, SO, Green

Erin Drake, JR, Hoban

Amanda Deevers, JR, Green

Jenna Kassinger, FR, Cuyahoga Falls

 

400 freestyle relay

Mayfield

Hudson

Strongsville

Firestone

Solon

Medina

Green

Brunswick

 

1-meter dive

Haleigh Bartlett, Cuyahoga Falls,

Rachel Speakman, Hudson

Taryn McLaughlin, Hudson

Nicole Rozsa, Cuyahoga Falls

Molly Morgan, Hudson

Maddie Fortune, Firestone

Kylie Tayerle, Medina

Ashleigh Weddington, Nordonia

Sivan Mills, Solon

Taylor Epstein, Solon

Jackie Vance, Mayfield

Tina Ortiz, Mayfield

Jamie Wilson, North Royalton

Madison Beiganski, Solon

Erin Schmitt, Strongsville

 

 

 

 

 

BOYS DIVISION I

 

200 medley relay

Akron Firestone

Hudson

Strongsville

Solon

North Royalton

Medina

Stow-Munroe Falls

Nordonia

 

200 freestyle

Jimmy Dagly, JR, Hudson

Mark Belanger, SO, Firestone

Andrew Appleby, SO, Cuyahoga Falls

Jamie Gallagher, SR, Solon

Chris Hoffman, SR, Strongsville

Grant Gillenwater, SO, Mayfield

Cody Vantrease, FR, Stow

Daniel Sokolov, JR, Firestone

Tim Varrelmann, SO, Medina

Cooper Goeke, JR, Hudson

Zack Milenius, SO, Mayfield

Mark LIppert, SO, Solon

Marty Haas, JR, Hudson

John Scantling, SO, Firestone

Mitchell Delventhal, SO, Strongsville

Ricky Angeletti, JR, Green

Adam Goodreau, FR, Cloverleaf

David Macko, JR, Barberton

Toby Alkire, SR, Firestone

 

200 individual medley

Dan Cahalan, SR, Medina

Mike Pavlak, JR, Wadsworth

John Zucca, SR, Hudson

Ryan Carson, SO, Solon

Aidan Dorman, SR, Medina

Ryan Hutcheson, SO, Hudson

Killian Wagner, SR, Solon

Kyle Shepherd, JR, Strongsville

Alex Strawser, JR, Strongsville

John Poling, JR, Copley

Jeremy Wentz, JR, Stow

Bryan Gerber, SR, Nordonia

Henry Signore, JR, Copley

Andrew Bartley, SR, Firestone

Chris Lane, JR, Copley

Brian Csumitta, SR, Mayfield

Craig Barrus, SR, Strongsville

Greg Oneacre, SR, Stow

Caleb Goodreau, SR, Cloverleaf

David Tanczos, SR, Nordonia

 

50 freestyle

Michael Meldon, SR, Strongsville

Dan Telljohann, SR, Solon

Michael Kaplan, SR, Brush

Lenny Sterle, SO, Mayfield

Colin Lyon, SR, Strongsville

Ryan Hillyer, SO, Cuyahoga Falls

Adam Motter, JR, Hudson

Patrick Tippen, FR, Solon

John Sopko, JR, Kent Roosevelt

Chris Makepeace, JR, Brunswick

Chirs Dawson, SR, Hudson

Dan McMahon, SR, Solon

Joey Ferrante, JR, Strongsville

Alex Wedel, SR, Strongsville

Justin Ciferno, FR, Mayfield

Scott Brooks, SR, North Royalton

Mike Harris, JR, Firestone

 

100 butterfly

Alex Polishchuk, JR, Solon

Daniel Sokolov, JR, Firestone

Kevin Carrabine, SR, Hudson

Danny Nemeth, SR, Strongsville

Adam Motter, JR, Hudson

Kyle Shepherd, JR, Strongsville

Joe Feudeman, JR, Stow

Dan Cahalan, SR, Medina

Lance Sterle, SR, Mayfield

Nick Bartelme, SR, Valley Forge

Tristan Wagner, SR, Solon

Justin Ridings, SR, Medina

Jach Zuercher, SO, Nordonia

Matthew O’Brien, SR, Strongsville

Brian Csumitta, SR, Mayfield

Joe Sayre, JR, Wadsworth

Nick Bockanic, SR, Hudson

Patrick Choi, SO, Hudson

Brian Maddock, SR, Elyria

Mike Craig, SR, North Royalton

John Major, JR, Copley

 

100 freestyle

Andrew Appleby, SO, Cuyahoga Falls

Michael Meldon, SR, Strongsville

Dan Telljohann, SR Solon

Michael Kaplan, SR, Brush

Ryan Hillyer, SO, Cuyahoga Falls

Colin Lyon, SR, Strongsville

Cody Vantrease, FR, Stow

Killian Wagner, SR, Solon

Lenny Sterle, SO, Mayfield

Cooper Goeke, JR, Hudson

Kevin Carrabine, SR, Hudson

Patrick Tippen, FR, Solon

Phillip LaHue, SR, Wadsworth

Marty Haas, JR, Hudson

Mike Harris, JR, Firestone

Jeremy Wentz, JR, Stow

Henry Signore, JR, Copley

Kamyer Sadegi, SR, Nordonia

Ian Simpson, FR, Strongsville

 

500 freestyle

Mark Lippert, SO, Solon

Jamie Gallagher, SR, Solon

Zach Milenius, SO, Mayfield

Tim Varrelmann, SO, Medina

Chris Hoffman, SR, Strongsville

Grant Gillenwater, SO, Mayfield

Ryan Hutcheson, SO, Hudson

Toby Alkire, SR, Firestone

Peyton Brown, FR, Hudson

Mitchell Delventhal, SO, Strongsville

John Poling, JR, Copley

Kory Braman, SO, Copley

Kyle Grigsby, JR, Medina

Jason McDonough, JR, Cuyahoga Falls

Joey Otcasek, FR Strongsville

Josh Stephan, SR, Wadsworth

Jason Young, JR, Normandy

 

200 freestyle relay

Strongsville

Solon

Hudson

Mayfield

North Royalton

Stow-Munroe Falls

Nordonia

Wadsworth

Copley

 

100 backstroke

Jimmy Dagley, JR, Hudson

Mark Belanger, SO, Firestone

Nick Bockanic, SR, Hudson

Brian Maddock, SR, Elyria

Ian Simpson, FR, Strongsville

Ryan Carson, SO, Solon

Scott Brooks, SR, North Royalton

Zach Zuercher, SO, Nordonia

Nick Verbos, SO, Strongsville

Justin Ridings, SR, Medina

Doni Moffa, FR, Hudson

Matthew O’Brien, SR, Strongsville

Paul Camper, SR, Brunswick

Cooper Comstock, SO, Copley

Peyton Brown, FR, Hudson

Joe Freudeman, JR, Stow

Mike DeLisio, JR, Mayfield

Phillip LaHue, SR, Wadsworth

Nathan Yu, SO, Mayfield

 

100 breaststroke

Andrew Bartley, SR, Firestone

Aidan Dorman, SR, Medina

John Zucca, SR, Hudson

Alex Polishchuk, JR, Solon

Mike Craig, SR, North Royalton

Alex Lindroth, SR, Hudson

Caleb Goodreau, SR, Cloverleaf

Mike Pavlak, JR, Wadsworth

Craig Barrus, SR, Strongsville

Greg Oneacre, SR, Stow

Chris Lane, SR, Copley

Bryan Gerber, SR, Nordonia

Kyle Mazurek, SR, Hudson

Tyler Behm, FR, Hudson

Kory Braman, SO, Copley

Alex Strawser, JR, Strongsville

Danny Nemeth, SR, Strongsville

Gregory Rechner, JR, Cuyahoga Falls

 

400 freestyle relay

Strongsville

Solon

Mayfield

Hudson

Firestone

Medina

Cuyahoga Falls

Nordonia

Copley

 

1-meter dive

Steven Romanik, Nordonia

Alex Obendorf, Hudson

Seal Tyrell, Nordonia

Scott Danner, Nordonia

Spencer Lightfoot, Firestone

Ty Talley, Brunswick

Brendan Dagley, Hudson

Preston Clouse, Medina

Cameron Williams, Nordonia

Michael Kreft, Solon

Troy Richert, North Royalton

Douglas Karn, Solon

Blake Green, Strongsville