Sunday, February 25, 2001
St. Xavier wins 23rd state swim title
Bombers claim 7 events
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
St. Xavier's Jayme Cramer.
(AP photo)
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CANTON — The thrill of victory never seems to grow old for the St.Xavier swimming team.
Immediately following the final event, the Bombers broke into a victory celebration while the big following of fans cheered from the grandstand.
If St.X coach Jim Brower's assessment is on target, the Bombers will emerge as the 2001 national champions, their first national title since 1992.
“They'll take all of the events and come up with a mythical race,” Brower said. “We needed to beat (Jacksonville, Fla.) Bolles' times in the relays, and we did it tonight.”
St.Xavier won seven state championships overall, the most since 1972.
The state title was St.Xavier's 23rd since the 1969-70 season, the year Keating Natatorium opened.
Max Leassner and Jayme Cramer led St.X, as both won two individual state championships. Leassner came through in the 200 freestyle Friday and the 100 freestyle Saturday.
Anderson's Rob Kauscher was the only non-St.Xavier swimmer from Greater Cincinnati to win a state championship.
Kauscher, bound for Ohio State, recorded a personal-best 57.54 to win the 100 breaststroke. He qualified in 57.69, which was his best until the finals.
“I would have liked to go faster tonight,” Kauscher said. “I knew I was behind after 50 (yards), but I wanted to go out smooth and save something for the end. I just got there.”
Kauscher is the first swimmer from Anderson to win a state championship since Jason Druso brought home the gold in the freestyle.
A consensus All-American, Cramer was outstanding. The Stanford-bound swimmer won the 200 individual medley Friday and dominated the 100 backstroke Saturday in a record time of 47.65.
“I was going for the national record but fell short,” Cramer said. “Winning the 200 freestyle relay motivated me. I'm happy with the state record, but it's not where I wanted to be.”
There's no doubt that the emergence of Leassner, a senior, has been one of the keys for the Bombers, who lost eight seniors to graduation from the 2000 state championship team.
“I knew we had lost a lot of talent, and after last season, I decided to dedicate myself to swimming,” Leassner said. “I don't have any college offers as yet, but my performance should help me.”
The outcome of the 100 freestyle was never in doubt after Leassner swam the first 50 yards in 21.50, opening up a body length lead over Andy Swonger from Springfield North. He closed in 23.67 to win going away.
As a junior, Leassner was seventh at the state meet in the 100 freestyle and eighth in the 50 freestyle, performances that are now forgotten.
“I was undefeated in the 100 this season,” Leassner said. “But Jayme (Cramer) beat me early in the season in the 200 freestyle.”
“Max was not only the difference for himself but for the team this year,” Brower said. “He was the enforcer on the team and made everybody do what they had to be successful.”
St.Xavier's victory in the 200 freestyle relay was unexpected. Traditionally, the Bombers never do well in this sprint event.
Leassner led off and put the Bombers into a slight lead with a 21.04. Freshman Pete Carothers followed with Kurt Hardesty and Kyle Ransom closing it out.
“Since we got up here, teams were saying they would beat us in the 200 freestyle,” Carothers said. “This was a motivation and we were very focused going into the race.”
This is the first time since 1992 that St.X swept all three relay state titles.
St. Xavier closed out the meet by dominating the 400 freestyle relay, giving Leassner and Cramer the four gold medals.
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St. Xavier wins 23rd state swim title