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A group of four local swimmers is bound for state after a strong showing in the Division II district meet Friday at Miami University.
Bellefontaine’s Isaiah Brady, Emily Fulmer and Amy Fulmer advanced to state, as did Indian Lake’s Skyler Tavenner.
The Division II state meet begins with prelims on Thursday and the finals are Friday at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton.
Brady qualfied to state in the 100 butterfly, finishing in a career-best time of 52.02 to place fourth. He has the fifth-best qualifying time for the state meet.
Brady also competed Friday in the 200 freestyle and was 14th.
Amy Fulmer earned a pair of state berths. She swam a personal-best time of 52.79, breaking her own school record, to finish sixth in the 100 freestyle. She is seeded 10th for that event at state.
In the 100 backstroke, she improved her school record with a time of 58.10 to place eighth. She is seeded 12th for the state meet.
Emily Fulmer is headed back to state in the 50 freestyle. She turned in a personal-best time of 24.52 to finish seventh. She then was part of a swim-off for positions across the state. She improved her time to 24.46 to win the swim-off.
Indian Lake’s Tavenner earned a return trip to state after making the podium there as a sophomore a year ago.
Tavenner was second in the 50 freestyle (21:37) and third in the 100 backstroke (52.07) at the district meet Friday.
Tavenner is seeded third in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 backstroke going into the state meet.
Numerous other area swimmers competed in the district meet.
For the Bellefontaine boys, the 200 freestyle relay team of Brady, Drayven Scott, Logan Lamb and Brock Finch finished 23rd.
For the Lady Chiefs, the medley relay of Amy Fulmer, Megan Barthauer, Emily Fulmer and Shelby Starkey swam a season-best time of 1:54.68 to finish 11th.
The girls 200 freestyle relay of Amy Fulmer, Molly Schulz, Starkey and Emily Fulmer updated their own school record to 1:44.01 and finished 11th.
Shelby Starkey finished 31st in 200 freestyle and dropped five seconds in her 500 freesthle to finish 22nd with a time of 5:41.83.
Molly Schulz swam a season-best time in the 100 backstroke (1:05.76) to finish 28th and Megan Barthauer also swam a season- best time in the 100 Breaststroke (1:17.34).
The girls 400 free relay of Evie Belcher, Zoe Price, Lauran Barthauer and Molly Schulz dropped two seconds from their sectional time to finish 24th.
“Not everything went our way, but that is a part of tournaments, they will never be predictable,” said BHS coach Sharon Lewis. “However, overall our swimmers had an excellent showing. I am proud of them for both their performance and their ability to maintain composure and fight. Not once did our swimmers give an inch and this drive is what will help our program to maintain continued success.”
Benjamin Logan freshman Macy Arn also competed in the district meet Friday. She placed 12th in the 200 individual medley and 16th in the 100 freestyle.