CHCA senior Jessey Li had delivered numerous key points to the CHCA girls swimming team in recent years, but couldn't seem to get to the top of the podium.
Li was state runner-up in the 50 free in 2020, then was state runner-up in the 50 and 100 breaststroke last winner. After a trio of second-place performances, Li broke through on Friday.
The senior captured her first state championship in the 100 freestyle, finishing in 50.58.
"It's always been a dream of mine," Li said. "I start every year with a set of goals and every year coming back (to Canton) is always on my list. To come back and see that 1 next to my name is a dream come true."
But she saved her best for the last high school performance of her career. In the 100 breaststroke, Li set a state record with a 1:01.02 and a second state championship.
"There are no words to describe how happy I am for Jessey (Li)," CHCA head swimming coach Don Rielag said. "As good of a swimmer she is, she's 10 times better as a person — she deserves this.
"I don't think work ethic describes it — she's a powerhouse. There's no accepting failure with her. She knew what she wanted, especially with how close she came last year. This was 365 days in the making."
Li helped lead CHCA to the best team finish in the girls standings among local clubs. The Eagles were third with 161 points. Li's two state titles brought home 40 combined points. She also anchored CHCA's 200 freestyle relay with freshmen Taylor Bacher and Julia Shafer and junior Maria DeCarlo, which finished as the state runner-up (34 points).
That same group was state runner-up in the 200 medley relay for another 34 points.
Bacher showed she should be a Canton mainstay in the coming years, finishing as the state runner-up behind Piersma in the 200 freestyle and seventh in the 100 butterfly. Shafer, another freshman with high hopes down the road, was sixth in the 200 free and eighth in the 500 free.
Big day for Cincinnati
In addition to CHCA and Seven Hills, Greater Cincinnati had four girls programs finish in the Top-10 in the team standings.
Indian Hill finished seventh with 103.5 points. Senior Isabella Pivor tied for fifth place in the 50 free. Pivor, along with fellow seniors Anna Palen and Kathy Zhao and sophomore Marina Oria, finished third in the 200 free relay and fifth in the 200 medley relay.
Zhao found the podium individually with a seventh-place run in the 100 breaststroke.
Mariemont came in ninth place with 74 points. The Warriors only had two podium visits, but MacJilton Lewis' club was consistent.
Junior Mia Latimer had Top-5 finishes in the 50 free (third) and 100 backstroke (fifth), combining for 30 points. In the 100 breaststroke, junior Lydia Eberlein and senior Jacqueline Young were ninth and 10th, respectfully, with junior Ava Ellis finishing 13th. The trio brought in 20 points combined in one heat. Ellis also finished 11th in the 500 free for six points.
Those four were in Mariemont's lone relay — the 200 medley relay — and finished ninth for 18 points.
Local podium placers
200 medley relay – CHCA (2nd); Indian Hill (5th)
200 freestyle – Piersma, Seven Hills (1st); Bacher, CHCA (2nd); Audrey Conley, Waynesville (3rd); Shafer, CHCA (6th); Kieser, Seven Hills (7th)
50 freestyle – Latimer, Mariemont (3rd); Pivor, Indian Hill (t-5th)
100 butterfly – Piersma, Seven Hills (1st); Bacher, CHCA (7th)
100 freestyle – Li, CHCA (1st); Kieser, Seven Hills (8th)
500 freestyle – Conley, Waynesville (2nd); Shafer, CHCA (8th)
200 freestyle relay – CHCA (2nd); Indian Hill (3rd); Seven Hills (4th)
100 backstroke – Latimer, Mariemont (5th)
100 breaststroke – Li, CHCA (1st), Zhao, Indian Hill (7th)
400 freestyle relay – Seven Hills (4th)
