Patriot aim for more state success

The Patriot girls have made the trek to Indianapolis for the state finals a yearly journey.

Not much has changed in terms of the plan for this season, except perhaps to make the contingent a little bigger.

“Our goal, as it is in the years past, is to get as many, if not more, people down to state as what we have been doing the past several years,” said Jay County High School swim coach Matt Slavik. “Ideally we would like to come back on (day two) in an individual event.”

Swimming on the second day of the state final guarantees a place in the top 16. While Jay County’s five state qualifiers from last year — returners Eliza Bader, Mara Bader, Ashlyn Dow, Rieley Brewster and the departed Erica Hathaway — improved on their seed times during the preliminaries, they did not make the top 16.

Slavik thinks Eliza Bader, a senior, has a chance to swim on day two this year.

“I feel Eliza has a distinct — with how hard she has worked and her intensity put forth so far this season and some changes that we’re going to try to make this year — I think she legitly has a shot to come back for a podium shot.”

Bader posted the team’s top finish by placing 24th in the 100-yard butterfly. She’s the favorite to win that event this year in the sectional meet.

Her sister Mara Bader competed individually at state in the 50 freestyle, and Slavik says she could make it back as well although in what event remains to be seen because of her versatility.

Dow was 25th in the state in the 100 breaststroke. Slavik said the senior could very well qualify in another event as well.

The Patriots’ state-qualifying 200 medley relay team of the Baders, Dow and Brewster all return, and three of the four members of the 200 freestyle relay — Hathaway is the only one to graduate — are back as well.

“We have a pretty bright outlook for our girls team,” Slavik said. “They’re carrying a long tradition, about a 10-, 11-year tradition now of someone going down and excelling at state.

“Hopefully we can keep the ball rolling, keep the momentum going and have a good showing in Indianapolis.”

Slavik said Lilli Clemmons, who may have been overlooked as a swimmer in the past, should make an impact on some of the team’s relays this year.

“She’s taking more ownership of the team and putting the effort in right off the bat and taking the initiative to fire the other girls up,” he said. “I think she’s doing a better job of leading by example and I think she’s got some opportunities to perform well throughout the season.”

Slavik also pointed out junior Elayna Paro and senior Kelly Strausburg as upperclassmen to contribute often.

Hannah Laux and Zion Beiswanger, both freshmen, are expected to have an immediate impact during their first year. Laux should give the Patriots depth at butterfly, while Beiswanger could jump into the lineup in the IM and 200 freestyle events.

In terms of the boys, Griffin Mann headlines a group of five seniors that also includes Sam Crump, Griffin Lennartz, diver Justice Murphy and Mitchell Winner.

Mann, who is mainly a breaststroker, was fourth in the event at sectional last year while also placing sixth in the 50 freestyle.

Slavik has high expectations for his most accomplished senior.

“I think for Griffin, he is an extremely athletic young man and has worked hard to translate that athleticism over to the pool,” he said. “As he continues to work this year — he’s stronger than he ever has been — he’s a more cerebral swimmer this year so I think he understands stuff a little more than years past.

“He’s ready to do whatever it takes … He’s probably one of the hardest workers I’ve ever had outside of the pool as far as his strength and agility.”

Junior Kyle Sanders scored at sectional in both the 100 butterfly (sixth) and 50 freestyle (eighth).

“Kyle is a flat sprinter,” Slavik said. “There’s no two ways about it. He’s well aware of where he needs to be come the end of the season to be truly a sprinter.”

Slavik also noted the improvement of endurance swimmers Aaron Funkhouser, Winner and Lennartz, as well as sophomore Josh Monroe will be a distance swimmer.

He also said he’s impressed by the ability of freshman Nick Lyons to compete in the backstroke.

“Not sure what he classifies himself as, but all that is out the window based on what I saw in the backstroke,” Slavik said.

Jay County’s girls won Allen County Athletic Conference and sectional titles last season, and Slavik’s expectation is for them to do the same again this year. The boys took second to Bluffton in the ACAC championships, and were fifth at sectional.

“Boys, I’d like to give Bluffton a run for their money at ACAC as well as getting a shot for top three at sectional,” he said. “If we finish second at ACAC and third for sectional I would be ecstatic. I think this group has the talent to do so.”