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Cloverleaf senior Addy Ferguson became a 7-time sectional champion Saturday when she won the 100-yard butterfly and the 100 backstroke. Her backstroke time of 58.04 is a meet record.

AKRON, Ohio – There is no doubt the Stark County Federal League powers are ahead of the Suburban League in girls swimming. But, the gap is narrowing.

At Saturday afternoon’s South Division I Sectional, staged at the University of Akron’s Ocasek Natatorium, North Canton Hoover (310 points) and Massillon Jackson (256) ranked 1-2 in the final team standings. Nonetheless, the Suburban Leaguers from Green, Cloverleaf and Copley raised some eyebrows and will claim their share of spots for the district championships next weekend at Cleveland State.

“Jackson and Hoover, they are so good and to even compete with them is the best feeling,” said Green sophomore Kennedy Herbert, after placing fifth in the 100-yard freestyle (55.85) and seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.77).

Stark County Federal League teams had six champions (seven if you include diving) and the Suburban League countered with three.

Jackson’s junior phenom Chase Kinney won both the 50 and 100 freestyle events. Her time in the 100 (51.59) was a meet record.

Green coach Mike Lazor was pleased with his team’s overall showing. Senior Hope Hickman won the 200 IM (2:15.25), and Herbert gave him a gutsy effort in back-to-back events to close the meet.

“Her mentality is: ‘I want Chase Kinney’s autograph, but maybe one day she’ll want mine,’” Lazor said of Herbert.

After posting a personal-best time in the breaststroke, Herbert came back to anchor Green’s seventh-place 400 freestyle relay (3:51.94). Her split was 55.63.

“She used to be a 57 in the 100 free,” Lazor said.  “I said, ‘Kennedy we’re going to go 55. And, she said, ‘We’re going to go 55.’ Then she jumped in and does 55. She just sees a time and gets after it.

“She’s just got into what it takes to really excel at this level.”

Exhausted following the relay, Herbert tried to reconcile what had happened.

“I wasn’t going to let my teammates down,” she said. “It’s crazy. I never knew I could be like this.

“To be honest, I was really nervous, but it was fun. I had so much fun. I dropped so much time. It’s awesome.”

Kinney wasn’t the only standout to win two individual events. Cloverleaf senior Addy Ferguson became a seven-time sectional champion when she won both the 100 butterfly (58.59) and the 100 backstroke (58.04).

A two-time state qualifier headed to Ohio University, Ferguson faced a stern test in the 100 backstroke. Copley freshman Madison Myers had a seed time of 56.89, and Jackson sophomore Elizabeth Graeff was in at 58.52.

“She thrives on that,” Cloverleaf coach Mike McGee said.

Ferguson thought she might be pitted against Myers at the Suburban League championships, but that matchup did not materialize.

“There’s kind of a rivalry between me and her,” Ferguson said. “She didn’t swim it at Suburban League. So, I was like, at sectionals I definitely want to get her.  Then she was seeded with a 56 and I was like ‘Oh, boy.  This is going to be a tough race.’ But, it was really fun.

“I wanted to go 57 in both (fly and back) today, but low 58 (in back), I’ll take that. I knew if I went out there and worked my underwater, I’d be OK.”

Both Ferguson and Myers (58.72) broke the meet record for an impressive Suburban League showing.

McGee said Ferguson now holds the South Division I Sectional mark in the 100 back and the North Division I Sectional mark in the 100 fly -- a situation created by Cloverleaf being moved to the South.

“It’s been a great a four years,” he said.

Myers had a remarkable meet for a freshman.  She was second in the 100 back, fourth in the 50 free (24.68) and third in the 400 free relay (3:46.52). But, Myers was exceedingly proud of her teammates following a third-place showing in the 200 free relay with Copley swimming in lane 1.

“I had a feeling we were going to do really well,” Myers said. “I’m really proud of all my teammates.”

The team of freshman Emma Round, freshman Brenda Prifti, sophomore Gabi Rodriguez and Myers was clocked at 1:42.39. They were absolutely thrilled on the pool deck reliving the race with their coach Ed Burnsed.

“I do think that a lot of people underestimate being in lane 1 or 8 because they are on the end,” Round said. “But we pulled through and beat some of those people in the middle.”

Rodriguez, a first-year competitive swimmer, received high praise from her teammates.

“She’s great,” Myers said. “We’re so proud of her.”

Copley (148 points) finished seventh in the team standings. Green (10th, 140), Wadsworth (13th, 69) and Cloverleaf (14th, 58) also represented the Suburban League.

Girls Division I Swimming South Sectional

At Ocasek Natatorium

SportsInk.com Area Top 5 Finishers

Team Standings

1. North Canton Hoover, 310

2. Massillon Jackson, 256

3. Youngstown Boardman, 217

4. Canfield, 176

5. Massillon Perry, 175

200 Medley Relay

1. Youngstown Boardman, 1:53.36 -- Gaby DeAscentis, Brooke Bailey, Emily Bodamer, Colleen Manning. 

200 Freestyle

1. Lauren Nist (Hoover), 1:57.71,  2. Brenda Prifti (Copley), 1:58.11.

200 Individual Medley

1. Hope Hickman (Green), 2:15.25.

50 Freestyle

1. Chase Kinney (Jackson), 23.69.  4. Madison Myers (Copley), 24.68.

100 Butterfly

1. Addy Ferguson (Cloverleaf), 58.59.  3. Brenda Prifti (Copley), 1:00.26.

100 Freestyle

1. Chase Kinney (Jackson), 51.59 (meet record).  5. Kennedy Herbert (Green), 55.85.

500 Freestyle

1. Molly James (GlenOak), 5:22.66.

200 Freestyle Relay

1. Hoover, 1:40.40 – Lauren Nist, Elise Schliffka, Emily Evans, Rebekah Acuna.  3. Copley, 1:42.39 – Emma Round, Brenda Prifti, Gabriella Rodriguez, Madison Myers.

100 Backstroke

1. Addy Ferguson (Cloverleaf), 58.04 (meet record).  2. Madison Myers (Copley), 58.72.

100 Breaststroke

1. Emily Thirion (Warren G. Harding), 1:08.07.

400 Freestyle Relay

1. Jackson, 3:39.93 – Elizabeth Graeff, Holly Herstine, Haley Loughner, Chase Kinney.  3. Copley, 3:46.52 – Gabriella Rodriguez, Brenda Prifti, Emma Round, Madison Myers.

North Division I Sectional

AKRON, Ohio – Much like their male counterparts the day before, the Hudson Explorers raced past the field to win the sectional championship.  Hudson sank runner-up Firestone 417-376 to take the crown.

Sophomore Paige Kelly and junior Connie Gan both brought home an individual win for the Explorers and finished in the top three in four events.

Kelly won the 500-yard freestyle in 5:09.45, while Gan came in first in the 100 butterfly in a time of 0:58.51.  The duo also helped Hudson to a second-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (3:39.16).  Kelly also placed second in the 200 freestyle (1:56.59) and third in the 200 freestyle relay. Gan took third in both the 100 freestyle (54.10) and the 200 medley relay.

The Falcons were led by junior Katie Miller, who won the 100 backstroke (59.11) and 200 individual medley (2:08.96) and was part of Firestone’s winning 400 freestyle relay team (3:39.16).  Miller and the Falcons also took second in the 200 medley relay (1:52.76).

Cuyahoga Falls senior Morgan Lydic was a double winner, taking the 50 freestyle (24.50) and 100 free (53.90).

Girls North Division I Swimming Sectional

At Ocasek Natatorium

Team Standings

1. Hudson, 417

2. Firestone, 376

3. Brunswick, 204.5

4. Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 199

5. Revere, 178

200 Medley Relay

1. Walsh Jesuit, 1:52.48 – Kassandra Pawuk, Danielle Margheret, Lauren Tullis, Alyssa Heller. 2. Firestone, 1:52.76 – Katie Miller, Alyssa Athmer, Emily O’Brien, Jillian Stoneburg.  3. Hudson, 1:54.80 – Emily Arther, Laura Murphy, Connie Gan, Natalie Hill.  4. Revere, 1:55.65 – Alex Poitinger, Emma Gresser, Kayla Shockey, Maggie Harris.  5. Brunswick, 1:56.71 – Mikayla Dostall, Hannah McCulloch, Lauren Oktavec, Melissa Froncek.

200 Freestyle

1. Natalie O’Brien (Firestone), 1:56.01.  2. Paige Kelly (Hudson), 1:56.59.  3. Shannon Cahalan (Firestone), 2:00.13.  4. Alex Poitinger (Revere), 2:00.52.  5. Jillian Stoneburg (Firestone), 2:01.15.

200 Individual Medley

1. Katie Miller (Firestone), 2:08.96.  2. Laura Murphy (Hudson), 2:12.52.  3. Emma Gresser (Revere), 2:14.59.  4. Natalie Hill (Hudson), 2:19.56.  5. Emma Toaz (Nordonia), 2:21.22.

50 Freestyle

1. Morgan Lydic (Cuyahoga Falls), 24.50.  2. Maggie Harris (Revere), 24.65.  5. Carolyn Yurkoski (Medina), 25.34.

100 Butterfly

1. Connie Gan (Hudson), 58.51.  2. Emily O’Brien (Firestone), 58.73.  3. Monica Sincel (Kent Roosevelt), 1:01.09.  4. Emma Gresser (Revere), 1:01.19.  5. Lauren Tullis (Walsh Jesuit), 1:01.47.

100 Freestyle

1. Morgan Lydic (Cuyahoga Falls), 53.90.  2. Maggie Harris (Revere), 53.99.  3. Connie Gan (Hudson), 54.10.  5. Shannon Cahalan (Firestone), 54.80

500 Freestyle

1. Paige Kelly (Hudson), 5:09.45.  2. Natalie O’Brien (Firestone), 5:13.48.  3. Alex Poitinger (Revere), 5:20.84.  4. Maddie Miller (Medina), 5:21.42.  5. Selena Pasadyn (Brunswick), 5:22.48.

200 Freestyle Relay

1. Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 1:41.41 – Leandra Trudeau, Paige Coughlin, Megan Zart, Claire Savage.  2. Firestone, 1:43.18 – Natalie O’Brien, Alyssa Athmer, Shannon Cahalan, Carly Chelovitz.  3. Hudson, 1:43.39 – Emily Arther, Laura Murphy, Angie Doerrer, Paige Kelly.  4. Cuyahoga Falls, 1:43.77 – Jenna Kassinger, Sam Nockengost, Natalie Hillyer, Morgan Lydic.  5. Walsh Jesuit, 1:43.80 – Danielle Margheret, Alyssa Heller, Lauren Tullis, Kassandra Pawuk.

100 Backstroke

1. Katie Miller (Firestone), 59.11.  2. Emily O’Brien (Firestone), 1:00.40.  3. Mikayla Dostall (Brunswick), 1:01.70.  4. Emily Arther (Hudson), 1:02.75.  5. Stephanie Boyd (Hudson), 1:02.76

100 Breaststroke

1. Danielle Margheret (Walsh Jesuit), 1:06.03.  2. Laura Murphy (Hudson), 1:08.04.  4. Paige Gravenstein (Firestone), 1:11.10.  5. Clare Scantling (Firestone), 1:11.73.

400 Freestyle Relay

1. Firestone, 3:39.16 – Katie Miller, Jillian Stoneburg, Emily O’Brien, Natalie O’Brien.  2. Hudson, 3:43.36 – Emily Arther, Paige Kelly, Natalie Hill, Connie Gan.  3. Brunswick, 3:44.36 – Selena Pasadyn, Nicolette Crissinger, Hannah McCulloch, Lizzy Gehlmann.  4. Revere, 3:45.08 – Alex Poitinger, Kayla Shockey, Emma Gresser, Maggie Harris.

Division II Sectional

AKRON, Ohio – The Archbishop Hoban Knights used two victories in relay events to help the team to a strong second-place showing at the Division II Akron sectional.  Junior Megan Kudlac, sophomore Annie Zielasko and freshman Abby Blinka made up three-fourths of the Knights’ victorious 200-yard freestyle (1:43.74) and 400 freestyle relay teams.

Senior Sydney Schubert completed the 400 freestyle team (3:49.01), while freshman Alex Jackson helped out on the 200 team.

Zielasko took the team’s only individual victory with a win in the 50 freestyle, touching the wall in 0:25.40.

Hoban finished behind champion Canton Central Catholic 376.5-327.

Girls Division II Swimming Sectional

At Ocasek Natatorium

SportsInk.com Area Top 5 Finishers

Team Standings

1. Canton Central Catholic, 376.5

2. Archbishop Hoban, 327.0

3. Orrville, 231.0

4. Poland Seminary, 190.0

5. Cardinal Mooney, 182.0

200 Medley Relay

1. Canton Central Catholic, 1:58.14 – Gabby dePeralta, Victoria Palagiano, Sydney Butz, Allison Smith.  2. Archbishop Hoban, 2:01.21 – Faith Chrostowski, Erin Drake, Alex Jackson, Sydney Schubert.  5. Tallmadge, 2:08.21 – Samantha Rhine, Brittany DiFiore, Melanie Sass, Jenna DiFiore.

200 Freestyle

1. Madison Monheim (Orrville), 1:59.38.  3. Megan Kudlac (Archbishop Hoban), 2:00.32.

200 Individual Medley

1. Sydney Butz (Canton Central Catholic), 2:20.22.  5. Erin Drake (Archbishop Hoban), 2:27.72.

50 Freestyle

1. Annie Zielasko (Archbishop Hoban), 25.40.  3. Alex Jackson (Archbishop Hoban), 26.58.

100 Butterfly

1. Taylor Tofil (Cardinal Mooney), 1:02.55.  2. Renee Ormond (CVCA), 1:02.72.

100 Freestyle

1. Allison Smith (Canton Central Catholic), 55.82.  2. Abby Blinka (Archbishop Hoban), 56.98.  3. Alex Jackson (Archbishop Hoban), 57.52.

500 Freestyle

1. Madison Monheim (Orrville), 5:21.15.  2. Megan Kudlac (Archbishop Hoban), 5:21.40.  3. Renee Ormond (CVCA), 5:33.58.  5. Sydney Schubert (Archbishop Hoban), 5:39.84.

200 Freestyle Relay

1. Archbishop Hoban, 1:43.74 – Megan Kudlac, Abby Blinka, Alex Jackson, Annie Zielasko.  5. CVCA, 1:49.82 – Katie Stockall, Leah Nice, Madeline Carroscia, Renee Ormond.

100 Backstroke

1. Amandna Patterson (AHSM), 1:02.04.

100 Breaststroke

1. Mikayla Morrow (Youngstown Christian), 1:10.66.  5. Brittany DiFiore (Tallmadge), 1:13.33.

400 Freestyle Relay

1. Archbishop Hoban, 3:49.01 – Megan Kudlac, Abby Blinka, Sydney Schubert, Annie Zielasko.  3. CVCA, 4:02.14 – Leah Nice, Katie Stockall, Madeline Carroscia, Renee Ormond.