Tiger swimmers’ seasons end in state prelims

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CANTON — After another very successful season as Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference champions, sectional champions and seeing five swimmers qualify for the state championships in Canton, the Galion Tigers boys swimming season has come to an end.

The two Galion relay teams swam on Thursday evening in preliminary qualifying heats, vying for a spot in the finals on Friday at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton. The top 16 teams would advance to compete for state championships.

The 200-yard medley relay team of Caleb Strack, Sam Rigdon, Clay Karnes and Eli Skaggs had an impressive showing at the district meet in Bowling Green last week, finishing fifth overall with a time of 1:42.90 and qualifying for state as the No. 23 seed.

In Canton on Thursday, Galion swam the event in 1:42.76 and finished 22nd overall.

Top qualifying team in the 200-medley relay was the squad from Columbus Academy (1:34.38) and final qualifying team was Cincinnati Indian Hill (1:41.44).

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the Tigers’ squad of Skaggs, Landon Rose, Karnes and Rigdon qualified for state after a school-record finishing time of 1:30.84 at districts (4th overall). Heading to Canton, Galion was the No. 19 seed in the event.

The Tigers finished the prelims in a time of 1:31.51, which was 20th overall, missing the top 16 cutoff.

Top qualifying team was Celina (1:26.36) and the last team in was Ontario (1:30.69)

Eli Skaggs, the only individual qualifier for Galion, swam the 100-yard freestyle event at BGSU last week in a time of 48.64 to earn a fifth place finish and a No. 23 seed at state.

On Thursday, Skaggs finished 22nd with a time of 49.02 and would see his season come to an end.

Top qualifier was Carson Burt from Cincinnati Wyoming (45.53) and the last swimmer in was Jake Vehar from Rocky River (48.35)

Congratulations to the Tigers on a fantastic season!

By Chad Clinger

[email protected]

Follow Chad on Twitter @GalionSportsGuy

Reach Chad at 419-468-1117 x2048

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