South edges North in split dual at West End YMCA

WILLOUGHBY–Eastlake North and Willoughby South split a tightly contested swimming dual meet Friday at the West End YMCA, with South doing just enough across both lineups to claim the combined victory, 158-152.

South won the girls meet, 91-69, while North countered by taking the boys’ side, 83-67, creating a back-and-forth meet that stayed undecided until the final relays.

On the girls’ side, South’s depth showed early and often.

The Rebels opened the meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay as Casey Heil, Ava Shearer, Emma Shearer, and Riley McDaniel touched first in 2:08.90. Ava Shearer followed with an individual victory in the 200 freestyle (2:17.39) and later swam a leg on the 200 freestyle relay and placed second in the 100 butterfly. Emma Shearer added a win in the 200 individual medley (2:40.88) and also swam on the winning 200 free relay, while McDaniel captured the 50 freestyle (28.52), won the 100 breaststroke (1:22.16), and contributed to both relay victories.

North answered behind Kaylynn Pawlowski, who swept the 100 butterfly (1:03.29) and the 100 backstroke (1:06.97) and anchored the winning 400 freestyle relay with Elena Messemer, Emily Avery and Callie Roberts (4:33.60). Sophia Janik added a distance win for the Rangers in the 500 freestyle (7:09.62), while Emmie Rausch earned South another individual victory in the 100 freestyle (1:06.23) before swimming later in relays.

The boys’ meet leaned North’s way early with a win in the 200 medley relay, as Caden Reyes, Christopher Pawlowski, Amir Mahraz, and Nathan Milam combined for a 1:53.85. Reyes later doubled up individually by winning the 100 freestyle (54.28) and the 100 backstroke (1:05.10), while Milam added points in the 1-meter diving competition with a score of 137.55 and also swam on the medley and freestyle relays.

South responded with a strong showing in the middle events.

Vincent Ballard won both the 200 freestyle (2:00.66) and the 50 freestyle (24.00) and anchored two winning relays. Owen Bliss captured the 200 individual medley (2:12.73) and the 100 breaststroke (1:07.63) while also swimming on both freestyle relays. Max Dunham added a win in the 500 freestyle (5:42.80) and teamed with Christian Rausch, Bliss, and Ballard to take the 200 freestyle relay (1:41.85). Cameron Sterk contributed an individual victory in the 100 butterfly (1:00.31) before joining Bliss, Dunham, and Ballard on the winning 400 freestyle relay, which closed the meet in 3:49.94.

In the end, South’s relay success and girls’ depth proved decisive in the combined scoring, while North’s boys lineup showed its strength with multiple individual and relay victories in a meet that went down to the final events.

• FULL RESULTS

INDIVIDUAL EVENT WINNERS

GIRLS

• 200-Yard Medley Relay: South (Casey Heil, Ava Shearer, Emma Shearer, Riley McDaniel) 2:08.902
• 200-Yard Freestyle: Ava Shearer (South) 2:17.39
• 200-Yard Individual Medley: Emma Shearer (South) 2:40.88
• 50-Yard Freestyle: Riley McDaniel (South) 28.52
• 100-Yard Butterfly: Kaylynn Pawlowski (North) 1:03.29
• 100-Yard Freestyle: Emmie Rausch (South) 1:06.23
• 500-Yard Freestyle: Sophia Janik (North) 7:09.62
• 200-Yard Freestyle Relay: South (Emme Pellegrini, Riley McDaniel, Ava Shearer) 1:57.55
• 100-Yard Backstroke: Kaylynn Pawlowski (North) 1:06.97
• 100-Yard Breaststroke: Riley McDaniel (South) 1:22.16
• 400-Yard Freestyle Relay: North (Elena Messemer, Emily Avery, Callie Roberts, Kaylynn Pawlowski) 4:33.60

BOYS

• 200-Yard Medley Relay: North (Caden Reyes, Christopher Pawlowski, Amir Mahraz, Nathan Milam) 1:53.85
• 200-Yard Freestyle: Vincent Ballard (South) 2:00.66
• 200-Yard Individual Medley: Owen Bliss (South) 2:12.73
• 50-Yard Freestyle: Vincent Ballard (South) 24.00
• 1-Meter Diving: Nathan Milam (North) 137.55
• 100-Yard Butterfly: Cameron Sterk (South) 1:00.31
• 100-Yard Freestyle: Caden Reyes (North) 54.28
• 500-Yard Freestyle: Max Dunham (South) 5:42.80
• 200-Yard Freestyle Relay: South (Christian Rausch, Max Dunham, Owen Bliss, Vincent Ballard) 1:41.85
• 100-Yard Backstroke: Caden Reyes (North) 1:05.10
• 100-Yard Breaststroke: Owen Bliss (South) 1:07.63
• 400-Yard Freestyle Relay: South (Owen Bliss, Cameron Sterk, Max Dunham, Vincent Ballard) 3:49.94