Saturday, February 20, 1999
St. Xavier romps in district swim meet
Sycamore's Ketchum breaks 500 free mark
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
OXFORD — It was business as usual for the St. Xavier swimming team Friday.
Performing before a capacity crowd of more than 1,000 at Miami University's Nixon Aquatic Center, the Bombers amassed 539 points to capture the boys district championship. Anderson finished second with 236 points, followed by Centerville.
“It's gone very well, but we still have a lot of work to do,” St. Xavier coach Jim Brower said. “It looks like we'll take about 17 swimmers to the state meet, which is a great number.”
Two individuals, Sycamore's Dan Ketchum and Jayme Cramer of St. Xavier, won two events, while three meet records were set.
St. Xavier's 200 medley team started the meet with a record time of 1:34.97, while Ketchum broke the 500 freestyle mark and Cramer the 100 backstroke.
The following is a look at each event.
• 200 Medley Relay: Ryan Earhart led off for St. Xavier in the backstroke and put the Bombers in position to break the record of 1:35.37 set last year. Garth Fealey, Cramer and Rob Toth all followed with good times to set the record in 1:34.97.
“We didn't have breaking the record on our mind,” Cramer said. “We wanted to play it safe and qualify.”
• 200 Freestyle: Although defending state champion Ketchum's time of 1:39.89 was well off the district record of 1:36.48, the Sycamore junior was not challenged after the first lap.
• 200 Individual Medley: A personal-best time of 1:52.96 gave St. Xavier freshman David Janszen the victory by nearly four seconds over Jason Topits of Moeller.
• 50 Freestyle: A great start and excellent turn was the difference for Roger Bacon senior Jeff Luhn, the sixth fastest qualifier in 21.13.
• 100 Butterfly: Cramer, a sophomore, nevered trailed. Forrest Kennedy of Mariemont swam 26.84 to take second place.
• 100 Freestyle: This was the only event that a Cincinnati swimmer didn't win. Springfield North's Andy Swonger, a state placer last year, won in 46.28. Swonger was the slowest qualifier in the heat with a time of 49.03.
• 500 Freestyle: The district record of 4:29.82 set in 1998 fell with defending state champion Ketchum swimming 4:28.83.
“I'm thinking about trying to break my state record (4:25.68) next week,” Ketchum said. “But breaking the national record (4:16.39) is a ways away.”
• 200 Freestyle Relay: St. Xavier trailed Centerville the first 100 yards, but Scott Ransenberg and Toth took control the final 100 to win going away.
The biggest surprise was turned in by Princeton. The team of Brad Sprecher, Mark Reichert, Justin Shafer and Dave Bergan took third in a school-record 1:28.40.
• 100 Backstroke: The district record of 50.37 set by Mike Andrews of St. Xavier in 1992 fell with Cramer, also from St. Xavier, swimming 50.22.
St. Xavier's Earhart beat Cramer at last week's section.
• 100 Breaststroke: Anderson senior Trevor Dumond was third after the first 50 yards but came on in the final 50 to win in 58.76.
The top three qualifiers in each event earn an automatic bid and the next 11 fastest swimmers from the five districts also qualify.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. St. Xavier 539, 2. Anderson 236, 3. Centerville 212.5, 4. Sycamore 173, 5. Fairfield 124, 6. Moeller 112, 7. Dayton Christian 104, 8. Elder 99, 9. La Salle 84, 10. Oak Hills 81, 11. Princeton 74, 12. Roger Bacon 69, 13. Mariemont 56, 14. Springfield North 54, 15. Milford 54, 16. Beavercreek 40, 17. Alter 35, 18. Turpin 34, 19. Talawanda 29, 20. Finneytown 16, 21. Oakwood 16, 22. Colerain 13, 23. Wyoming 12, 24. Badin 11, 25. Greeneview 9.5, 26. Bellbrook 8, 27. Lakota West 7, 28. Milford 6, 29. Miami Valley 6, 30. Walnut Hills 5, 31. Troy 4, 32. Chaminade-Julienne 4, 33. Summit Country Day 4, 34. Loveland 3, 35. Edgewood 2, 36. Sidney 1.
STATE QUALIFIERS
200 Medley Relay: 1. St. Xavier (Earhart, Fealey, Cramer, Toth) 1:34.97 (district record); 2. Anderson (Foster, Dumond, Tomes, Pennell) 1:36.96, 3. Centerville (Grubb, Schlarb, Kent, Stull) 1:39.03.
200 Freestyle: 1. Ketchum (Sycamore) 1:39.89, 2. Foster (Anderson) 1:42.80, 3. Pinney (St. Xavier) 1:42.83.
200 Individual Medley: 1. D. Janszen (St. Xavier) 1:52.96, 2. Topits (Moeller) 1:56.90, 3. Stoffer (St. Xavier) 1:57.30.
50 Freestyle: 1. Luhn (Roger Bacon) 21.23, 2. Dehne (La Salle) 21.32, 3. Toth (St. Xavier) 21.33.
Diving (Top six advance to state meet): 1. Maggio (St. Xavier) 444.35, 2. Donohue (Turpin) 404.30, 3. Kaufman (Oak Hills) 394.90, 4. Boner (Sycamore) 376.30, 5. Myers (Talawanda) 355.0, 6. Boller (Elder) 345.85.
100 Butterfly: 1. Cramer (St. Xavier) 50.05, 2. Kennedy (Mariemont) 51.05, 3. Thomas (Elder) 51.44.
100 Freestyle: 1. Swonger (Springfield North) 46.28, 2. Luhn (Roger Bacon) 46.33, 3. Ransenberg (St. Xavier) 46.78.
500 Freestyle: 1. Ketchum (Sycamore) 4:28.83 (district record), 2. Middleton (Centerville) 4:36.99, 3. Pinney (St. Xavier) 4:38.81.
200 Freestyle Relay: 1. St. Xavier (D. Janszen, Lessner, Ransenberg, Toth) 1:27.0, 2. Centerville (Knickrehm, Pedersen, Middleton, Milheim) 1:28.16, 3. Princeton (Sprecher, Reichert, Shafer, Bergan) 1:28.40.
100 Backstroke: 1. Cramer (St. "Xavier) 50.22 (district record), 2. Earhart (St. Xavier) 51.30, 3. Early (Dayton Christian) 52.14.
100 Breaststroke: 1. Dumond (Anderson) 58.76, 2. Fealey (St. Xavier) 59.08, 3. Burns (St. Xavier) 59.46.
400 Freestyle Relay: 1. St. Xavier (Earhart, Cramer, Leassner, Ransenberg) 3:11.81, 2. Sycamore (Ford, Wight, Tyler, Ketchum) 3:13.15, 3. Moeller (Jacobs, Gates, Topits, Brandon) 3:14.17.
Sports Stories
Butler gets another chance
XU women post 20th win PHILADELPHIA - Jen Phillips notched her fifth double-double of the season, scoring a team-high 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, in Xavier's easy 72-39 win at Temple Friday.
XU pitching could fuel run to A-10 title
Huggins reprimanded by C-USA
UC-Louisville goes from humdrum to humdinger
UC women claim share of C-USA title
Speedster commits to UC Speedy tailback will pick UC
Bell on fast track to major leagues
Reds' bid for Meares falling short
REDS NOTEBOOK
Jaguars safety targeted
Coslet: No grudge with Pickens
