Lexington snaps Generals’ OCC streak at 5

  • brian questel
  • January 19, 2011
  • 265
                        
012411 NEACgirlsswim Promo: Wooster’s run of OCC swim titles ended by Lex Lexington snaps Generals’ OCC streak at 5 By Brian Questel It may be remembered for what the Wooster girls swim team didn’t do. By any other sense it should be remembered for what it almost accomplished. The Wooster girls had their 5-year reign as Ohio Cardinal Conference champions snapped by Lexington as Lady Lex piled up 443 points at Mansfield Malabar to nip Wooster by 20 points last Saturday. While that stung, for a team with but one senior it gave a clue that Wooster’s drop from the top could be brief. “We did have a good effort,” acknowledged Wooster coach Chris Matthew. “It’s hard to do two championship meets back-to-back. It’s hard to do NEAC (Northeast Aquatic Conference) one weekend and OCC the next. Historically we’ve swum better at NEACs because it’s the first one, but it’s the order, not the importance. The OCC means more because it’s our league association, but it’s hard to get kids up two big weekends in a row. “We had a good effort. We didn’t do many personal-best times, but it was a good effort. Lex just swam better. We were in the hunt and we wanted to win, but it doesn’t always fall your way. If we were 2-4-6, Lex was 1-3-5 every single time out. There was a few times we touched them out, but they just had a great meet.” Wooster got off on the wrong foot Friday night, losing at least nine points when only one diver was able to compete because of illness. “Makena Rhodes was sick, which you can’t control,” said Matthew. “It’s sad for the girls not to win because it’s important for the school and the team. We certainly want to do well at sectionals and in the tournament, which can erase some bad feelings. Second isn’t bad; it’s just we’ve won a lot of titles in swimming. I don’t like to lose anything. “We just didn’t have as much depth as in the past. In the past we’d have someone win one or two events, but the 200 relay was the only thing we won. You get a lot of points – four more than second. And Ashland didn’t help us. We thought they would be much stronger, but they had 4-5 girls out. When they scratched, that helped moved Lexington up. “If you have first places, you make up points. If you win four events, that’s an extra 16 points.” Wooster’s only title came from the 200 free relay as Kim Sibilia, Jillian Perry, Katelyn Persinger and Gabrielle Sibilia touched first in 1:46.00. Wooster’s lone senior, Michelle Sczpanski, had a strong effort as she took a pair of individual seconds. The first came in the 200 free (2:07.68) and the other in the 500 free (5:45.19), with freshman Madison Gingery recording fourths in both of those races as well. Sczpanski joined the 400 free relay of Kim Sibilia, Perry and Emily Cornelius (3:58.84) for a third, while she was also on a fourth-place 200 medley relay of Gabrielle Sibilia, Danielle Tooley and Persinger (2:00.49). “She’s one senior – she such great kid, but just one,” said Matthew. “I feel bad for her. I didn’t think of it as if we didn’t have seniors, but we lost a lot of scorers. In the bulk of our duals over the past 3-4 years, we had 4-6 seniors who scored a lot of points. “As far as leadership … it’s very hard on one senior. It’s difficult without seniors to give you guidance. Kate has stepped up to the plate this past week. She swam very well at NEACs and was second in the (200) and 500. She’s injured, but she works. She does all the work unless she’s hurting. She’s hitting her times for the end of the year.” The other runner-up spots came from diver Kara Daley, whose 269-point performance was worthy of silver, along with Gabrielle Sibilia who turned a 1:07.42 in the 100 backstroke. Thirds went to Persinger in the 50 free (26.48) and Kim Sibilia in the 100 fly (1:08.88). Gabby Sibilia in the 200 IM (2:29.02) and Lauren Miller (100 fly, 1:12.79) collected fourths, while Cornelius had fifths in the 200 IM (2:29.22) and 100 breast (1:14.85) and Perry had her in the 50 free (27.25). “I’m looking forward to the next four weeks to sectionals and four duals to finish,” said Matthew. “I’m looking to finish strong.” While disappointed with the setback, Matthew is looking forward to sectionals and then on to next winter. “With only Michelle gone, it bodes well for the future,” Matthew said. Wooster traveled to Canton Friday night (Jan. 21) to face GlenOak and Perry before returning home today to swim Jackson.


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