Eight Orange Swimmers Bound for OHSAA State Championships

CLEVELAND, OH- Orange will be well represented at next week’s OHSAA State Championships in Canton, as four girls and four boys earned spots at Friday’s district meet held at Cleveland State University.

Qualifying for the Lions on the girls side were Charlotte Bolton, Liz Campbell, Aanya Chepyala, and Lucy Jais. Representing the boys will be Sam Amato, Gianni Cakulev, Galvin Dovgan, and Michael Schuster. While specific state event assignments are still to be finalized, each swimmer turned in strong district performances to secure their place among Ohio’s best.

Charlotte Bolton delivered a sixth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:59.72 and added a ninth-place showing in the 100-yard backstroke (1:01.27). Liz Campbell placed eighth in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:17.87 and also competed in the 100-yard freestyle (56.65).

In the sprint events, Aanya Chepyala finished 13th in the 50-yard freestyle (25.48) and 18th in the 100-yard freestyle (56.08). Lucy Jais took 18th in the 50 free (25.92) and earned an eighth-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:03.62.

Lydia Bolton competed in the 100-yard butterfly (1:07.21, 17th) and 100-yard breaststroke (2:20.33, 30th). In the distance events, Sam Speer (6:05.60) and Noomi Levine (6:07.37) placed 18th and 19th, respectively, in the 500-yard freestyle.

The Lions’ relays were a highlight. The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Chepyala, Bolton, Jais, and Campbell placed third in 1:41.45, while the same quartet finished fourth in the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:43.66.

On the boys side, Sam Amato led the charge with a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.41) and eighth in the 100-yard freestyle (48.10). Gianni Cakulev placed 13th in the 200 freestyle (1:50.24) and 10th in the 500 freestyle (5:04.38). Levi Vanderhart also competed in both events.

Galvin Dovgan turned in a standout meet, finishing fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (21.89) and fifth in the 100-yard butterfly (52.41). Michael Schuster placed 14th in the 50 free (22.93) and 21st in the 100 freestyle (51.30).

Suchin Wyckoff competed in the 200 IM (2:14.38) and 500 freestyle (5:10.72), while Oscar Seibel swam the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.13). The 200-yard medley relay team of Eli Neuendorf, Seibel, Armaan Chepyala, and Liam Steele finished 14th in 1:52.21.

Orange’s freestyle relay squad of Dovgan, Cakulev, Schuster, and Amato powered to third-place finishes in both the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:27.83) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:15.04).

With eight swimmers advancing, Orange heads to Canton with momentum and depth, ready to compete against the top talent in the state beginning Thursday.