After taking on Big Walnut on Feb. 8, Mount Vernon’s swimming team headed to the sectionals, along with other local schools.
Against Big Walnut, top Yellow Jacket performances included Austin Anderson winning the 100-backstroke, beating his best time by almost four seconds.
Mount Vernon coach Steve Sant praised Anderson’s work ethic.
“I am so impressed at how hard he has worked this season, as he had the courage to join the swim team this year without knowing how to swim when he signed up,” Sant said.
Other local winners included MV’s Olivia Wiley, who won the 200-IM, beating her best time by 10 seconds, and placed second in the 100-free, beating her best time by one second. Thomas Sant, who won the 50-free and 100-free, beat his best time in both events.
Owen Merriman, swimming at the meet and representing Centerburg, but training with MV, won both of his events, beating his best time by almost five seconds in the 200-IM and almost four seconds in the 100-breast.
In the Feb. 10 Worthington sectionals, top Mount Vernon girls finishers included:
200-yard medley relay: Julie King, Clare Clarkson, Rylee Jarosz and Bekah Lebold, second; 50-yard freestyle: Olivia Wiley, second, Bekah Lebold, fourth; 100-yard butterfly: Clare Clarkson, third; 200-yard freestyle: Julie King, fourth; 500-yard freestyle: Sarah Misarti, fourth; 200-yard freestyle relay: Rylee Jarosz, Olivia Wiley, Julie King, Bekah Lebold, first place; 100-yard breaststroke: Rylee Jarosz, second; 400-yard freestyle relay: Olivia Wiley, Clare Clarkson, Rylee Jarosz, Bekah Lebold, third.
In Saturday’s sectional at Kenyon College, top Mount Vernon boys finishers included a seventh-place finish by Thomas Sant in the 200-freestyle, and MV swimmers had several eighth-place finishes.
At Columbus School for Girls, East Knox’s top finisher was Hiba Ezzarovali, who placed 18th in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle.
Centerburg swam at Columbus Academy through Merriman, who placed eighth in the 200-IM and the 100-breast.
Competing Thursday at the Ohio State McCorkle Aquatic Center, district qualifiers include: Merriman (Centerburg) Division 2, 200-IM and 100-breast; Tyler Davidson (MV), 1-meter diving; and Collin McFarlane (MV), 1-meter diving (not in attached results).
Competing Saturday at the McCorkle Aquatic Center, district qualifiers include:
Rylee Jarosz (MV) Division 1, 100-breast; Thomas Sant (Mount Vernon) Division 1, 50-free; the Mount Vernon girls relay teams: 200 medley relay, Julie King, Rylee Jarosz, Clare Clarkson and Rebekah Lebold; 200-free relay, Rylee Jarosz, Olivia Wiley, Julie King and Rebekah Lebold; 400-free relay, Olivia Wiley, Clare Clarkson, Rylee Jarosz and Rebekah Lebold; the Mount Vernon boys relay teams: 200-free relay, Thomas Sant, Tyler Davidson, Collin McFarlane and Landon Rush; 200-medley relay, Thomas Sant, Andrew Conway, Landon Rush and Collin McFarlane (second alternate.)
