News Archive
Sectionals Week For Swimming & Diving Teams Begins Tuesday
SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School swimming and diving teams have arrived at the start of the postseason as the Eagles will take part in the OHSAA Sectional Championships this week. A full slate of action begins on Tuesday night when Cartur Ferguson represents Milford at the boys diving championship. The swimming portion of the action kicks off on Friday evening with the boys championships, before the girls will get their chance on Saturday afternoon. Both days of swimming will take place at Mason High School. Those Eagles not participating at sectionals will have one more opportunity for competition when they take part in the Fred Cooper End of Season Meet at St. Xavier on Sunday afternoon.
THE UPCOMING DOCKET: A look at Milford’s upcoming schedule:
- Boys Sectional Diving Championship: Tuesday, Feb. 6, Miami University, 6:00 p.m.
- Boys Sectional Swimming Championships: Friday, Feb. 9, Mason HS, 6:30 p.m.
- Girls Sectional Swimming Championships: Saturday, Feb. 10, Mason HS, 3:30 p.m.
- Fred Cooper End of Season Meet: Sunday, Feb. 11, St. Xavier HS, 2:00 p.m.
THE BOYS REPORT: January 27 at ECC Championships: On the strength of three conference champions, the boys swimming and diving team earned a solid second place finish at the 2018 Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship.
As they have been throughout this season, the boys were led by juniors Tyler Babinec and Chase Fisher who each earned an individual title, while also serving on a winning relay squad. In all, the boys placed eight on the podium during the event, with five others finding a place in the top-five.
The performance of the meet for Milford was turned in by the 200 freestyle relay team of Fisher, Branham Leavens, Sam Leatherwood and Babinec who set a new MHS Natatorium and ECC Meet record with a time of 1:28.97. Babinec picked up his individual win in the 100 butterfly when he touched the wall in 54.43. The reigning All-American also picked up second place honors in the 100 breaststroke in a time of 58.70. Not to be outdone, Fisher was the winner in the 50 freestyle in 22.07, while grabbing second in the 100 free in 48.64.
Leatherwood also had an outstanding meet with a pair of individual podium finishes. His best event was the 200 freestyle where he took second in the 1:50.05. He earned third place in the 100 backstroke with a 53.87 mark. Leavens joined Fisher on the podium in the 50 freestyle, taking third in 23.20.
Other top-five finishers for the Eagles included Carter Ferguson (5th, diving-146.85), Leavens (5th, 100 freestyle-51.25), Dylan Vearil (5th, 200 IM-2:10.18 & 5th, 500 freestyle-5:11.05) and the 400 freestyle relay team of Jan Rae Chavez, David Niehaus, Porter Bausch and Vearil (4th-3:34.60).
THE GIRLS REPORT: January 27 at ECC Championships: On the girls side, Milford earned five top-10 finishes to take fifth in the team standings.
The top finish of the meet for the girls team went to the 400 freestyle relay team who finished in fifth with a time of 4:00.62. The relay was comprised of Ellen Victory, Lauren Clark, Megan Krieger and Lauren Bell. Bell was the top finisher among the Eagles individually as her mark of 1:14.14 was good for sixth place in the 100 breaststroke.
Clark and Krieger also placed among the top-10 in individual events as each earned a ninth place tally in a race. Clark posted a 2:08.54 in the 200 freestyle, while Krieger posted a 1:00.23 in the 100 freestyle. Diver Sophie Cooper was also a ninth place finisher with a score of 166.30.
POLL WATCH: The boys team was ranked sixth in the final edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer’s area Division I coaches’ poll, released on Feb. 5. Of the three coaches filling out ballots, all three voted St. Xavier No. 1. Mason, Sycamore and the ECC’s Kings make up the rest of the top-five. Also representing the ECC are Turpin and Walnut Hills in a three-way tie for seventh, along with Anderson and Loveland among others receiving votes.
The girls team did not receive any votes in final rankings. Mason was the top team among both voting coaches, ahead of Ursuline, St. Ursula and the ECC duo of Kings and Turpin in a tie for fourth. The league is also represented by Walnut Hills in sixth, Loveland in 10th and Anderson in others receiving votes.
The final coaches’ poll can be viewed at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
