By Cort Reynolds
BOWLING GREEN - Ada freshman swimmer Klava Katayama qualified for the state meet by finishing second in the 100 freestyle race at the Div. II Bowling Green district meet held Friday evening. She will now swim at the Div. II state meet Feb. 23-24 in Canton.
Katayama finished sixth in the 50 freestyle race as well, two spots away from state qualification in that event. She posted personal-best times in both freestyle events.
Several other Bulldogs competed in the BG Div. II district meet as well, but none qualified for Canton. Senior Andrew Ross posted the best Ada boys finish, coming in ninth in the 100 backstroke.
Junior Zach Beaschler (200 IM), and two relay quartets (200 medley relay, 400 free relay) each came in 10th.
The Lady Bulldogs finished 21st out of 32 teams with 30 points. The Ada boys came in 17th in the field of 32 with 42 points. Lexington won the girls Div. II district team title, while Celina won the boys crown.
A top four finish at a district event typically advances a swimmer or relay foursome to the state meet at the C.T. Branin Natatorium. Girls Div. II preliminary events start Thursday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m.
The Div. II finals races will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24.
Ada girls BG district finishes: (Event, Place, Swimmer, Time) 100 freestyle: 2nd Katayama, Klava 53.66 50 freestyle: 6th Katayama, Klava 24.92 100 butterfly: 31st Pfeiffer, Ruth 1:12.43
Ada boys BG district finishers: (Event, Place, Swimmer, Time) 100 backstroke: 9th Ross, Andrew 59.65 24th Smittle, Evan 1:05.14 200 Individual Medley: 10th Beaschler, Zach 2:08.42 200 medley relay: 10th Ada 1:45.69 1) Ross, Andrew 2) Beaschler, Zach 3) Spar, Isaac 4) Robey, Andrew 400 freestyle relay: 10th Ada 3:29.6 1) Robey, Andrew 2) Spar, Isaac 3) Ross, Andrew 4) Beaschler, Zach 100 backstroke: 11th Ross, Andrew 59.94 26th Smittle, Evan 1:05.11 50 free: 16th Robey, Andrew 23.12 24th Ross, Andrew 23.89 100 breaststroke: 17th Beaschler, Zach 1:07.75 100 free: 20th Robey, Andrew 52.43 100 butterfly: 24th Spar, Isaac 1:01.15
