ATHENS — Watkins Memorial swim coach John Jarvis was all smiles through teary eyes on Feb. 21.
He had just witnessed seniors Olivia Crock and Ava Dutton earn spots at the state championships, and for the first time, the pair will have company as the Watkins girls also qualified two relays out of the Division I district championships at Ohio University.
“Jarvis has coached me since I was 4 years old. [Jarvis and assistant coach Gabrielle Brust] just know me and know what I can do. They love the sport,” said Crock, who began swimming for Jarvis as did Dutton at an early age for the Pataskala Porpoises summer team.
Crock highlighted the day, touching in a time of 1 minute, 52.70 seconds to win the 200-yard freestyle title.
“I definitely thought I was going to have a good chance at it,” added Crock, who will swim collegiately at Cleveland State. “I was a little nervous that third 50, but I kept to my race. I was so happy I won. It’s not my [personal best], but I wanted to win.”
Crock also qualified for next week’s state meet beginning Feb. 27 in Canton with a runner-up finish in the 500 free (5:01.98). She has placed sixth and fifth in that event at state the last two seasons.
Dutton placed third in the 100 butterfly (55.68) and later also earned an at-large berth in the 100 back (57.67) after placing 10th. She went 8 for 8 in her career, qualifying for state in her two individual events each season.
“It’s amazing because we have been able to build such a strong connection and friendship,” said Dutton, who is not planning to compete at the college level. She placed ninth at state in the 100 fly a year ago.
“I have known Jarvis since I was 6 years old, and I have known Gabby since I was 6 years old,” Dutton added. “I have always been able to have her as a role model, so having her as a coach is unbelievable.”
Crock and Dutton joined freshmen Avery Bowman and Izzy May on the sixth-place 200 medley relay (1:49.46) and seventh-place 400 free relay (3:38.42). Both earned at-large berths, as did Bowman after finishing 14th in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.82).
That foursome has been rewriting the Watkins record book all season. Many of those records previously had the name Brust, a 2020 graduate, next to them.
“I am excited. We just get to share the experience with them,” Crock said. “It’s definitely going to be interesting with more events than just the two.”
Dutton added, “It will be awesome. Having a relay there is amazing on its own. It will hype us up even more. Having the (200 medley relay) before our (individual) events eases the nerves a bit.”
Granville senior Grace Largent is making another trip to Canton and said she is overjoyed she’ll be joined by her teammates on the 200 medley relay. Classmate Lily Kronk and juniors Lily Hyslop and Eliana White joined Largent on the eighth-place relay (1:50.23), which earned an at-large berth. Kronk and White both will be competing at state for the first time.
“It is just so fun. [Kronk] is just the sweetest little thing and always has the best reactions,” Largent said. “When I told her we made state, she just started freaking out, and that made me so happy. I didn’t want my season to be over. As a senior, it really sunk in to me that this could have been some people’s last meet, which is really unfortunate because our family at the Granville swim team is so strong.”
Largent placed third in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.32). She has been making her way back from an appendix injury and has nearly returned to her lofty standards, placing ninth at state 12 months ago.
“I have never swam a 1:04 before. I have swam 1:03 and 1:05, so it was kind of a running joke I don’t swim 1:04,” said Largent, who will swim collegiately at Florida Tech. “It’s exciting. My goal this season, ever since I was out of the pool, is to get back to where I was. I am excited to see what I can do next week.”
Hyslop earned at-large berths in both the 100 fly (57.04), in which she placed sixth, and the 200 individual medley (2:09.58), where she placed 11th. Largent, Hyslop, White and senior Sydney Lauffer added a 10th-place finish in the 200 free relay (1:41.23).
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Watkins Memorial, Granville swimmers pile up state qualifications
Reporting by Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
