This past Saturday the Nordonia High School boys swimming and diving team made a strong showing at the annual Suburban League National Conference Championships finishing third in the field of eight behind 1st place Solon and Second Place Hudson.
Swimmers placing top four in their events were Paul Yorkievitz (2nd place 200 Individual medley, 2nd place 500-yard freestyle) Patrick Newyear (3rd place 200-yard freestyle, 4th place 100-yard Breastroke) Noah Holtz (4th place 200-yard freestyle) and Noah Beaver (4th 100-yard butterfly).
Also placing in the top three on relays along with the swimmers mentioned above were Logan Zurowski, Zach Stalzer, and Jimmy Alexander.
Coach Yorkievitz was pleased with the boys’ results saying, “I couldn’t be happier for our seniors Brayden Mellott, Noah Holtz, and Jimmy Alexander. These guys came in my second year of coaching and really were the ones who changed the culture of the program and showed what it meant to work hard at practice every day and always push yourself to the limit. To see the team improve from a last place finisher in this meet, to where we are now really is a testament to them and words cannot express my thanks to their dedication.”
Freshman Swimmer Adam Ralls opened some eyes with a 5th place performance in the 500 free with a time that was well below his lifetime best along with Sophomore Nick Hoover who posted two lifetime bests in the 200 Individual Medley and the 100-yard Butterfly. Coach Yorkievitz said, “it is nice to have young swimmers that will continue to live up to the standard that our seniors have set. Also contributing for the Knights were Coleman Frey, Tristan Frey Ethan Mellott, Oliver Lechner, Gabe Hart and Diver Logan Welch.
The Nordonia Knights are now 6 and 1 in dual meets so far this season and head into the second half of the season with their eyes set on Fast February. “I think this group can set a record for the number of individual swimmers and divers that we have qualified for Districts at the end of the year. They are one of those teams that is just fun to be around every day and I can’t wait to see where their hard work and dedication takes them,” Coach Yorkievitz added.
