WOOSTER, Ohio — Lexington gave Wooster a run for its money, but the Generals maintained their stranglehold on the Ohio Cardinal Conference swimming championship Saturday at the Ellen Shapiro Natatorium.
Derek Sautter won a pair of individual events as the Minutemen finished second in the boys race. Lex had 443 points to Wooster’s 493. Mansfield Senior (220) was third and Madison (204) was fourth, followed by Ashland (200) and Orrville (153).
On the girls side, Wooster piled up 487 points to outdistance Lady Lex (380). Orrville (362), Ashand (353), Madison (197) and Mansfield Senior (44) rounded out the field.
A senior, Sautter won the 500 yard freestyle for the third straight year. His time of 5:03.58 was 13 seconds better than runner-up and teammate Jack Bennett (5:16.77).
Sautter also defended his title in the 100 butterfly, finishing in 54.99. Lex teammate Noah Eckstein was second in 57.94.
“Derek went about his business. It was good to see where he is at,” said Lex coach Brock Spurling the boys co-coach of the year. “In both of his events we went first and second, so he will graduate but the guys who were second place are juniors.
“The highlight of the meet for us was our freshman boy diver, Tanner Donley, won diving last night.”
Sautter’s time in the 500 was six seconds off the OCC record. He swam a leg on Lexington’s runner-up 200 medley relay team and on the second-place 400 freestyle relay team.
“My 500 was my best in-season,” Sautter said. “I can’t complain about where I’m at. I’m training as hard as I can.
“I’m trying to make sure everything is in place for when the end of the season comes.”
Bennett was third in the 200 individual medley (2:12.56). He also swam a leg on the second-place 200 freestyle relay team.
Mansfield Senior’s Drew Weeks was second in the 200 freestyle (1:52.19) and the 100 freestyle (50.13). Madison’s Colby Titus finished third in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.41).
“I don’t think our boys have finished fourth in years,” Madison coach Matt Wade said. “The kids swam well. We had more podium finishes today than we had in a long time.”
In girls action, Lexington’s Ashley Basham was second in the 200 individual medley (2:23.13) and the 100 butterfly (1:04.75) and a member of the second-place 200 medley relay team and third-place 400 freestyle relay quartet.
Lexington’s 200 freestyle relay team was second in 1:46.18. Alaina Merkel was second in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.73).
“The girls were third last year,” Spurling said. “The kids fought to the end.”
Madison’s Brooklyn Maurer had a pair of runner-up finishes in the 100 freestyle (58.32) and 100 backstroke (1:04.59).
“Brook was seeded sixth in the 100 free and finished second,” Wade said. “She swam well, as did all the kids. Just about every swimmer had at least one season-best time today.”
Mansfield Senior’s Grace Haring was third in the 100 butterfly (1:06.65).
