CANTON – Seven Hills swimming coach Brandon Williams said standout senior Ella Jo Piersma decided to give up the 100 free for the 100 butterfly because she knew she had a shot at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II state tournament record.
For Piersma, it was an enjoyable, new challenge.
"That one was really just for fun," Piersma said. "I decided to do it because it's my last year. I've never swam in it before at state; whatever happens, happens."
More:Indian Hill's Holmes wins 5th state swimming title; CHCA's Ottke wins 100 breaststroke
Whatever the reason, the result was as expected Friday in the OHSAA Division II state swimming and diving meet at C.T. Branin Natatorium.
In the preliminary rounds on Thursday, Piersma set a state record in the 100 butterfly with a time of 53.46. That record would stand for just a day, as Piersma re-broke Ohio's top 100 butterfly run with a state championship time of 53.43 on Friday.
Earlier in the meet, Piersma cruised to a third consecutive state championship in the 200 freestyle, finishing in 1:48.22. Piersma finishes an illustrious prep career with six career OHSAA state championships.
"She is able to set a goal in her mind and every meet she comes in fully prepared to put it all out there," Williams said. "I'm glad she got the state records in the prelims and she could just come out here and have fun."
Seven Hills finished fourth in the girls teams standings with 123 points. Piersma, Corinne Keiser and juniors Josie Domet and Carolyn Wolujewicz combined to finish fourth in the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay.
Kieser, a senior, found the podium in the 100 free (8th) and 200 free (7th).
Redemption for CHCA's Jessey Li
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)
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