Swimming

Kirtland senior Matt Stipkovich closed out his high school swim career with a 14th place finish in the 100-yard backstroke at the 2017 OHSAA Swimming and Diving Championships.

Kirtland’s swim team opens the season on Friday. The youthful Hornets have some growing to do but head coach John Stipkovich is eager to see his squad in action.

Independence senior Ashley Rega leaves behind a legacy of success that includes becoming the first Blue Devil to qualify for the state swim meet and the first to earn all-Ohio honors.

Kirtland junior Matt Stipkovich continues to make history. First, he qualified for the state swim meet and on Thursday he became the first Hornet to advance to the finals of his individual event.

Independence junior Ashley Rega finished sixth at the 2015 Division II Northeast District Meet in the 50 yard freestyle to punch her ticket to the OHSAA state meet, which begins on Wednesday in Canton. Rega is the first Independence swimmer to qualify for the state meet.

Senior Sydney Torok placed among the Top 15 in four events and sophomore Matt Stipkovich finished in the Top 6 in two events at the 2015 Chagrin Valley Conference Swim Meet at Hawken on Saturday. Overall, the Hornets showed improvement across the board.

Senior Ashley Rega finished among the Top 10 in four different events at the 2015 Chagrin Valley Conference Swim Meet at Hawken on Saturday. Rega led the Blue Devils to a seventh place finish in the girls competition while the Independence boys finished fifth.