Firestone senior swimmer Sarah Schueler fits the mold of a well-rounded student-athlete.
Schueler will compete in four events in the Division I district meet at Cleveland State University’s Busbey Natatorium on Saturday, Feb. 21, as she continues to work toward advancing to the state meet for the third year in a row.
Schueler has earned four varsity letters in cross country and is about to receive her fourth varsity letter in swimming, but there is more to her than sports.
“I am a member of the IB [International Baccalaureate] program and a diploma program student,” Schueler said. “I am President of the Catalina Club [at Firestone]. I have been a Girl Scout since I was a Daisy in kindergarten. I’m a member of NHS [National Honors Society] and I’m also part of the Locker Room experience at my school, which is a student led initiative to make the school a better place.”
Schueler, who has a 3.9 GPA, has committed to swim at Grinnell, an NCAA Division III college in Iowa. She plans to double major in biology and political science.
“Sarah’s an incredible leader,” Firestone coach Cindy Dial said. “She’s been through this. This is her fourth year and is going to carry her journey on in swimming, so that’s how much she has put into this sport. Going to carry the journey into college, but has done so much in high school and is carrying her teammates on to the district and hopefully on to the state meet.”
Schueler finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:08.91 at the sectional meet at the University of Akron’s Ocasek Natatorium on Feb. 14 to advance to the district meet at CSU. She was also second at UA in the 100 butterfly (1:01.79), 200 medley relay (1:54.44) and 400 freestyle relay (3:48.87).
Brian Neugebauer, a teacher, athletic director and boys basketball coach at Firestone, described Schueler as “a great kid.”
“Sarah is very personable, respectful, gets great grades and excels in her sports,” he said.
Firestone seniors Avery Crabtree and Kate Davis and freshman Stella Oliverio are also entered in four events in the district meet at CSU — the two relays with Schueler and two individual events apiece. Davis is committed to swim at Ohio Northern University and Crabtree is set to swim at Franklin College in Indiana.
Crabtree placed first in the sectional meet at UA in the 100 backstroke (1:02.67) and Oliverio won a sectional title in the 200 IM (2:16.13).
“We did what we needed to do at sectionals,” Dial said. “Now we’re just pulling together. They jelled really well right from the beginning and now carrying that through to the district meet. It’s going be a fun weekend.”
Schueler helped Firestone win four City Series girls cross country team championships. She was the league’s individual champion as a sophomore and junior, and was second as a freshman and senior.
Schueler’s Division I state swim meet experience includes four events as a sophomore and two events as a junior. She is seeking her first podium finish.
“Sarah is a great leader,” Firestone assistant coach Carl Shallenberger said. “She does a great job helping everybody stay on task. … She’s committed to Grinnell College for next year, so she’s just working really hard right now and trying to get better every day.”
Schueler was 10th in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.27) and 18th in the 100 butterfly (58.61) at the state meet during her junior year.
Schueler was on Firestone’s 200 medley relay (1:48.23) and 400 freestyle relay (3:39.73) that finished 14th and 18th, respectively, at the state meet during her sophomore year. She was also 26th in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.55) and 31st in the 200 IM (2:16.18).
She credits her coaches, Dial, Shallenberger and Erin Crabtree, for helping her and her teammates improve.
“From a team standpoint, I am like over the moon with how our team is looking this year,” Schueler said. “I just feel like I like every single person on this team as a person, I feel like I can hang out with them outside of swimming, and I think that that translates really well at practices and at meets when we can compete well together as a family. I’m just super excited for what this season has for us.”
Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Sarah Schueler continues to make impact in swimming, clubs at Firestone
Reporting by Michael Beaven, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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