MANSFIELD — For north central Ohio’s state swim meet qualifiers, this week is more business trip than sight-seeing mission.

Several locals will be in the hunt for high podium finishes when the Division II swimming prelims hit the water Thursday at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association released the official list of tournament qualifiers Sunday after at-large bids were determined.

The top three individuals and top two relay teams at each of the four district tournaments over the weekend automatically qualified for the state meet. The remaining bids were determined by times. There are 32 qualifiers in each individual event and 24 in each relay event.

Lexington’s Trey Nickoli is seeded second in the 100-yard breaststroke after winning the Northwest District championship in 56.86 seconds. Nickoli, who is seeded behind Connor Bennett of Hamilton Ross (55.84), finished third in the event last year. 

Nickoli is joined in the 100 breaststroke by Ontario’s Carson Smith (1:01.15), who is seeded 31st. Nickoli also qualified in the 200 individual medley and is seeded 20th (2:00.65). Ontario’s Colten Montgomery (1:57.84) is seeded 12th in the 200 IM and 18th in the 100 butterfly (52.83).

Qualifiers in the 50 freestyle include 11th-seeded Grantham Trumpower of Ontario (21.57), 16th-seeded Oden Bell of Lexington (21.78) and 30th-seeded Evan Ruhe of Ontario (22.29).

Trumpower is one of three Warriors to qualify for state in the 100 freestyle. He is seeded sixth (46.55), while teammates Logan Bernat (48.96) is seeded 23rd and Owen Walter (49.33) is seeded 32nd. Lexington’s Bell (48.23) is seeded 21st.

Lexington’s Cooper Watters (1:46.58) is seeded 20th in the 200 freestyle, while Walter (1:48.83) is seeded 30th. Watters also qualified in the 500 free and is seeded 10th (4:49.28).

Bernat is seeded 15th in the 100 backstroke (53.41). He’s joined by teammate Jackson Swiatek, who is seeded 31st (56.20).

Three Minutemen qualified for the 1-meter diving competition. Deven Goodman is seeded 12th (307.50), while Adam Britton (234.80) is seeded 28th and Quinnten Anderson (192.65) is seeded 32nd.

Ontario’s 200 freestyle relay is seeded second after winning a district title in 1:27.21. The Warriors are seeded behind Mentor Lake Catholic (1:26.31).

Ontario and Lexington both qualified in the 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay. Ontario is seeded fifth in 400 relay (3:12.96), while Lex is seeded ninth (3:18.57). 

Lexington is seeded fourth in the 200 medley relay (1:36.80). Ontario is seeded ninth (1:38.61).

Division II Girls

Ontario’s Mirielle Trumpower headlines a strong contingent of area girls who will compete in the Division II tournament.

Trumpower is seeded fourth in the 100 butterfly (56.02) and fifth in the 100 backstroke (57.47). She’ll be joined in the 100 back by Lexington’sBrynn Bruner, who is seeded 27th (1:01.77).

Ontario’s Tessa Crum is seeded 16th in the 50 freestyle (24.82) and 17th in the 100 free (54.15).

Lexington’s Kayla and Emma Caldwell both qualified in the 200 freestyle. Kayla (1:57.00) is seeded 14th, while Emma (2:02.78) is seeded 29th.

Kayla Caldwell also qualified in the 500 freestyle, where she is seeded 12th (5:18.55). Shelby’s Emma Montgomery (5:12.93) is seeded seventh in the 500 free and 18th in the 200 individual medley (2:12.97).

Mansfield Senior’s Macey Wade and Aspen Payne both qualified in the 1-meter diving competition. Wade is seeded 14th (336.05) while Payne is seeded 31st (276.25).

The Ontario 200 freestyle relay team is seeded fourth (1:38.80) while the 400 free unit is seeded seventh (3:38.75). Lexington is seeded 18th in the 400 free relay (3:46.71) and 11th in the 200 medley relay (1:52.40).

Division I Divers

Three Ashland divers will be in action this week in the Division I tournament. 

Frankie Rupsis will compete in the girls 1-meter diving competition after placing seventh at the district meet with a score of 319.10. She is seeded 32nd.

Owen Lemon and Altin Rowland will represent the Ashland boys. Lemon (362.75) is seeded 27th and Rowland (329.30) is seeded 30th.

State swimming information

The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s first state tournament of the winter season begins Tuesday in Canton with the swimming and diving state tournament at C.T. Branin Natatorium.

C.T. Branin Natatorium has the largest seating capacity of any natatorium in Ohio, with capacity for 2,000 fans. It marks the OHSAA’s 98th swimming and diving state tournament for boys and the 49th for girls.

All sessions will be covered with live streaming by the NFHS Network. The swimming sessions will have commentary provided by Jennifer Beck and Hunter Bell.

Diving sessions are Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by swimming sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Once again, the OHSAA will conduct two events for paralympic competitors.

Paralympic Qualifiers: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/Sports/Swimming-Diving/2024-25/PsychSheetPara.pdf  

Division I and II Diving Qualifiers: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/Sports/Swimming-Diving/2024-25/D1DivingQualifiers.pdf 

Division II Swimming Qualifiers: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/Sports/Swimming-Diving/2024-25/D2statequalifiers.pdf 

Division I Swimming Qualifiers: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/Sports/Swimming-Diving/2024-25/D1StateQualifiers.pdf 

Full Schedule: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/Sports/Swimming-Diving/2024-25/2025StateMeetSchedule.pdf 

More State Tournament Information, Schedule, Qualifiers, NFHS Network Information: https://www.ohsaa.org/Sports-Tournaments/Swimming-Diving/Swimming-and-Diving-2024-25/2025-Swimming-Diving-State-Tournament-Coverage