Friday, February 23, 2001
Ursuline swimmers in line for fourth state title
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Over the past 10 seasons, the Ursuline girls swim team has either won the state championship or claimed the runner up trophy eight times.
Coached by Tim Beerman, Ursuline is favored to win a fourth state title this weekend, while Oak Hills and St. Ursula are considered competitors.
Senior Tami Ransom and sophomore Whitney Myers are each expected to win two state championships and the Lions' three relay teams also are favored.
Defending state champion Gates Mills Hawken is expected to run away with the Division II championship. It would be the Cleveland-area school's 11th state championship dating to 1984.
Cincinnati Marlins coach Chris Wolford, who previously coached Toledo St. Francis to the 1998 boys state championship, agreed to assess both the Divisions I and II state meets.
Division I
200 Medley Relay: Although Ursuline qualified the fastest at 1:48.27, Wolford looks for Oak Hills to possibly pull off the upset.
“Oak Hills has one of the top breaststrokers (Katie Hunter) and best butterfly swimmers (Liz Schoborg) in the state,” Wolford said. “This will be a great race.”
200 Freestyle: Myers is favored but don't count out Anderson's Megan Tomes.
200 Individual Medley: Ransom will be out to break the national record of 1:58.45 set by Natalie Coughlin (Carondelet, Ca.) last season.
“Tami dropped two seconds and broke the two minute barrier last week for the first time,” Wolford said. “She will be focused on breaking the national record this week.”
50 Freestyle: Any of the top six qualifiers could win with Carolynn McHugh from Oak Hills the favorite.
100 Butterfly: The top four qualifiers are within .04 of a second of each other in what is expected to be the closest race of the meet. Liz Schoborg (Oak Hills) and Randi Vogel (Mount Notre Dame) will be in the hunt.
100 Freestyle: Ransom will easily win and could break the state record of 49.97. She probably won't best the national record of 49.37 held by Cassidy Maxwell from Melbourne, Fla.
500 Freestyle: The Centerville duo of Caitlin Roach and Katie Forster will challenge the defending state champion Myers for the championship.
200 Freestyle Relay: No team will come close to Ursuline with a state record possible.
100 Backstroke: Erin Forster is favored but don't count out defending state champion Rachel Tepe from St. Ursula.
“There's a lot of pride involved for Tepe,” Wolford said. “She's a senior. I think she will be there.”
100 Breaststroke: Cincinnati swimmers could take the top three spots. Oak Hill's Hunter is the favorite, but Wolford warns not to ignore from Mount Notre Dame's Vogel or Mercy's Jen Koch.
400 Freestyle Relay: Ursuline qualified five seconds faster than Worthington Kilbourne and the Lions should win easily and break the state record of 3:25.69.
Division II
200 Medley Relay: This is the first of three relays Gates Mills Hawken will dominate.
200 Freestyle: Hawken's Lauren Torpey will be challenged by Lauren Preyss from Chagrin Falls.
200 Individual Medley: Betsy Jo Brockman from Williamsburg could finish second, but no one will beat Gates Mills Hawken's Anne Stohl.
50 Freestyle: Defending state champion Kelly Jones from Kettering Alter will be challenged by Indian Hill's Betsy Carey with several others in the hunt.
100 Butterfly: Wyoming's Michelle Reynolds qualified fastest but don't count out Jessie Henning (Sandusky Perkins) or Stohl.
100 Freestyle: Indian Hill's Carey could pull off the win, but the sophomore must get past Abbi Terveer (Lima Shawnee) and Alicia Copestick (East Liverpool).
500 Freestyle: All the middle and distance events will be dominated by Hawken with Torpey the heavy favorite. Wyoming's Reynolds will finish in the top three.
200 Freestyle Relay: No contest here as with Gates Mills Hawken will win.
100 Backstroke: Casey Venglarcik from Poland was nearly two seconds faster than Sara Stech (Cleveland Heights Beaumont) last week and should win easily.
100 Breaststroke: Alter's Jones will prevail but don't count out Williamsburg's Brockman.
400 Freestyle Relay: Hawken wins in a breeze with Indian Hill, Madeira and Mariemont in the top five.
Sports Stories
Bengals, Mitchell talking contract
Wohlers key link in bullpen
Greenwell explains comeback plans
Righty trio could throw on Sunday
Boone recovering nicely from knee surgery
XU women clinch share of A-10 title
Xavier on bubble despite 20 wins
XU could host preseason tourney
Ursuline swimmers in line for fourth state title