By Cort Reynolds
DEFIANCE - The Ada girls and boys swim teams competed in the Div. II swim sectionals at Defiance Ayersville Saturday, with two Bulldog juniors qualifying for the district meet next Friday.
"Sectionals was a very good meet for us, with almost everyone dropping time," said Ada head coach Stephanie Steiner.
Bulldog junior Klava Katayama won the 100 butterfly race and also captured the 50 freestyle to qualify for the Bowling Green district event in both events.
Katayama made it to the state meet at Canton the last two years in sprint freestyle events. This year, she heads into districts seeded first in the 100 fly.
Ada junior Hunter Wells narrowly missed district qualification by one spot by finishing fifth in the 200 freestyle.
"Unfortunately, only the top 32 swimmers from each individual event go on from the whole district, as well as the top 24 relay teams from each district," Steiner explained.
"While Hunter had an amazing swim, dropping eight seconds in his 200 free (which makes 16 seconds he has dropped this season in that event), he did not make it into the top 32."
Bulldog junior Isaac Spar made the district meet for the third straight year after finishing eighth in the 100 butterfly. Spar also finished 11th in the 100 backstroke.
"I am very happy with how most of our swimmers ended our season, and am excited to see what Klava and Issac can do at districts," the coach added.
Top Ada girls sectional finishes:
50 yard freestyle:
1st Klava Katayama :24.57
100 butterfly:
1st Klava Katayama :59.44
100 backstroke:
16th Sidney Gossard 1:18.91
100 breaststroke:
16th Olivia Hiester 1:31.26
400 free relay:
8th Ada A 4:54.12
200 medley relay:
8th Ada A 2:16.64
Top Ada boys sectionals finishes:
200 freestyle:
5th Hunter Wells 2:10.32
100 butterfly:
8th Isaac Spar 1:02.25
400 free relay:
6th Ada A 4:19.79
200 medley relay:
10th Ada A 2:03.83
100 backstroke:
11th Isaac Spar Ada 1:07.5
19th Hunter Wells 1:16.6
100 breaststroke:
12th Ian Dellifield 1:16.5
50 free:
18th Ian Dellifield :26.1
23th Brice Ferguson :27.26
100 free:
18th Brice Ferguson 1:02.22
The Div. II northwest district meet will be held at Bowling Green State University Friday evening, Feb. 15. The 92nd Div. II state swim meet will be at Canton's C.T. Branin Natatorium Feb. 21-23.
The top two finishers in any race from the various district meets automatically make it to Canton. The next fastest times fill out the top 32 qualifiers to state in each event.
