MANSFIELD — Tobie Zeller will use this weekend’s Northwest District swim meet as an open audition.
A senior and district qualifier in four events, Zeller will be in action at Cleveland State University’s Busbey Natatorium on Saturday. The Northwest district meet is traditionally held at Bowling Green State University, but construction at BGSU forced the Ohio High School Athletic Association to relocate the Northwest district meet to CSU, already the site of the Northeast district meet.
The Richland Source Athlete of the Week, Zeller plans to attend Cleveland State next year.
“I’ve talked to the coaching staff about swimming for them next year,” Zeller said. “Hopefully I do well enough this weekend to impress them.”
If the district meet follows the same script as last week’s sectional meet, the Vikings will open Zeller with open arms. She won the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 breaststroke at last week’s Division I sectional meet at Malabar and was a member of the winning 200 medley relay team and the runner-up 400 freestyle relay team.
“To tell you the truth, we kind of expected that from Tobie,” Mansfield Senior coach Steve Shoenfelt said. “She’s our best overall swimmer this year and she has worked very hard.
“I know she was a little disappointed with her times last weekend, but she wasn’t tapered. I expect to see a big time drop this weekend.”
Zeller’s winning time of one minute, 12.09 seconds in the 100 breaststroke is the 12th best in this weekend’s district field. She has the 19th best time in the 200 individual medley (2:22.87).
The top two finishers at each of the four district meet automatically qualify for the state meet in Canton on Feb. 19 to 22. After that, a total of 16 at-large bids from all district meets are up for grabs.
“It’s going to be very tough just because there are so many great swimmers and the competition is incredible,” Shoenfelt said. We’re keeping our fingers crossed. She really deserves to swim fast.”
In addition to her two individual events, Zeller will try to help the 200 medley relay team and the 400 freestyle relay team punch their tickets to the state meet. She is joined on the 200 medley relay team by senior Danielle Boddy, sophomore Grace Haring and senior Sammie Lehman. That unit’s sectional time of 1:59.47 is 14th best among district qualifiers.
The 400 freestyle relay team of Haring, Helman, junior Liz Wolfe and Zeller has the 17th best time among district qualifiers (4:00.69).
“Everyone is working really hard,” Zeller said. “I would really like to see the relay teams get through, but it is going to be a challenge.”
Zeller has never shied away from a challenge. She is also on the girls golf team in the fall and is president of Mansfield Senior’s Class of 2014.
“I like staying busy,” she said. “I always have something to focus my attention on.”
Shoenfelt hopes her attention is on the pool for at least a few more weeks.
Tobie is one of our senior captains and one of our workout leaders. The other girls really look up to her,” he said. “She is an accomplished swimmer and hopefully she will qualify for the state meet.
“It’s going to take a phenomenal effort, but I wouldn’t put anything past her.”