Greenville, Versailles swimmers to compete at Southwest Classic

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DARKE COUNTY – The Greenville and Versailles swim teams will compete in the 33rd annual Southwest Ohio High School Swimming & Diving Classic on Jan. 16 and 17.

The Greenville and Versailles swimmers will compete at Miami University in the preliminaries. Other preliminaries will be held at Countryside YMCA, Dayton Raider Aquatic Center, Mason High School, Milford High School, Trotwood-Madison High School and the West Carrolton YMCA. Swimming finals will be contested at St. Xavier High School’s Keating Natatorium.

The prelims of the swimming competition will begin at 8 a.m. on Jan. 16 and 17. The finals will start at 6:30 p.m. both days.

The Southwest Classic remains the largest invitational of its kind in the United States. Thirty-three years ago the preliminaries and finals took place at one location, Keating Natatorium at St. Xavier High School.

This meet has now grown so large there are nine preliminary sites. Approximately 112 schools entering more than 2,950 swimmers and 150 divers are expected to participate in this year’s Classic.

The Classic is unusual because the swimmers compete not only in high school events but also the longer NCAA and USA Swimming events. The Southwest Ohio Swimming Officials Association continues to sponsor this meet.

Through meet proceeds, donations and sponsor advertising, SWOSOA has established an athlete scholarship fund and for the 15th year will offer six $750 scholarships to three senior boys and three senior girls this year. Mac Lewis (Mariemont), Donald Bleasdale (Mason), Kevin George (Moeller), Grace Stimson (Indian Hill), Allie Robertson (Oak Hills), and Hannah Wenig (Versailles) were last year’s recipients.

St. Xavier will be trying for its 33rd straight boys’ team title.

Ursuline Academy will be trying for their 6th consecutive girl’s title. Names to watch for the girls in this year’s Classic include Versailles’ Lexi Fliehman, who is committed to Miami University.

The meet draws many college coaches who come to look over the area swimmers. It will be taped for cablecast as has been done in past years. A video feed is available from the Waycross Community Television truck. Also, check out the Classic’s Web site at www.swimmeet.com for real-time information about the meet, swimmers, entry times and results of preliminaries and finals.

The Southwest District has earned the right to be called “The District of Champions.” It has produced some of the top swimmers in the state. Last year was no exception. In boys Division I, St. Xavier finished first in the state while Moeller finished second, Centerville eighth and Mason 10th. Forty-five boys from this area finished in the top 10 in their events. Southwest boys won six of the 12 individual and relay events

For Division II, Seven Hills boys took first at state while Dayton Oakwood finished third, Wyoming fourth, Madeira seventh and Bellbrook 10th. Forty-five boys from this area finished in the top 10 in their events. Southwest boys won six of the 12 individual and relay events.

In girls competition, St. Ursula finished second in the State for Division I while Centerville and Mason tied for third, Springboro fifth and Ursuline eighth. Forty-three girls from this area finished in the top 10 in their events. Southwest girls won seven of the 12 individual and relay events.

For Division II, Mariemont tied for second while Dayton Oakwood finished fifth and Indian Hill 10th. Forty-four girls from this area finished in the top 10 in their events. Southwest girls won three of the 12 individual and relay events.

The Ohio high school state meet swimming and diving records show how strong Southwest District swimmers have been over the years. Southwest District swimmers and divers hold 22 of the 36 meet records (seven in Boys Division I events, five in boys Division II events, seven in girls Division I events, and three in girls Division II events).

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