The DARTS did the same thing they’ve done all summer in Wednesday’s season finale against the visiting Otters from Highland: win.
The Juniors took care of business to the tune of a 480-372 final while the Seniors won 678.5-451.5.
“The Stingrays are rounding into form,” coach Bill Rietz said. “We had just over 50 percent season-best times in 201 individual event swims. The numbers point to an exciting GCSL (Greater Columbus Swim League) championship run to repeat as Junior and Senior Division champs.”
The top highlight belonged to the girls 14U 200 medley relay team as Liz Abahazi, Lily Jacknewitz, Rena Ouyang and Olivia Oyster won in 1:57.91 to break a nine-year team record in the event.
The meet marked the final time some really, really good area swimmers will compete for the DARTS in their home pool. Brooke Glesenkamp, who spent 12 years as a DARTS swimmer, is off to The Ohio State University in the fall. Kristen Puthoff and Craig Klumpp, 10- and 13-year members, respectively, will swim at Wooster next season and Molly Schul, a 10-year member, is headed to Lake Forest College (Illinois).
Glesenkamp, Puthoff and Klumpp each won two individual events. Glesenkamp took top honors in the girls 18U 100 backstroke (1:03.65) and 100 breaststroke (1:11.12), Puthoff won the girls 18U 100 individual medley (1:04.62) and 100 butterfly (1:06.17) and Klumpp picked up first-place points in the boys 18U 100 backstroke (1:02.05) and 100 breaststroke (1:04.57).
Other standouts included Regan Kauderer, who won the girls 12U 50 backstroke (32.75 seconds), 50 fly (30.04 seconds) and 50 freestyle (27.34 seconds); Kaden Gannon, who won the boys 12U 50 back (38.86 seconds), 50 fly (35.12 seconds) and 50 free (29.45 seconds); and Zach Ward, who won the boys 14U 50 back (28 seconds), 50 fly (26.22 seconds) and 50 free (24.81 seconds).
Next up, the championship meet. The 57th annual GCSL Swimming and Diving Championship will get underway with the diving portion of the competition Friday afternoon at Jack Florence Poll. The diving action wraps up Saturday at 9 a.m. before the swimmers take center stage Monday and Tuesday in Gahanna. Preliminary events for the Seniors start at 10 a.m. while the Juniors will race in their prelims at 4 p.m.
Finals start Tuesday at 2 p.m. for both divisions.
