Orange Lions Make Waves at State Finals in Canton

CANTON, OH- The Orange Lions swim team capped off a tremendous season Friday night with strong performances at the OHSAA State Finals in Canton, competing against the fastest swimmers in the state.

Senior standout Sam Amato delivered an impressive showing in two individual events. Amato placed 9th in the 200-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 1:43.28, and followed that with a 10th-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 46.85, narrowly missing the podium in both races.

Teammate Galvin Dovgan also competed in two individual events, finishing 12th in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.77 and 15th in the 100-yard butterfly in 52.72, showcasing his versatility and speed on the state stage.

The Lions’ relay teams added to the excitement of the evening.

On the girls side, the quartet of Aanya Chepyala, Charlotte Bolton, Lucy Jais, and Liz Campbell placed 11th in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:42.14. The same group returned in the 400-yard freestyle relay, finishing 13th in 3:45.10, closing out a strong postseason run.

The boys relay team made a significant impact in both of their events. The team of Galvin Dovgan, Gianni Cakulev, Michael Shuster, and Sam Amato earned a podium finish with a 5th-place showing in the 200-yard freestyle relay, clocking in at 1:27.56. They followed that performance with a 7th-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay, posting a time of 3:14.90 to conclude their night.

Competing at the state level is a testament to the dedication and hard work of these athletes throughout the season. Congratulations to all of the Orange Lions state swimmers on an outstanding year in the pool.