The 2021-22 Swim and Dive program represented Perrysburg High School with Jacket Pride and moved the bar for team expectations and individual goals to a whole new level. Leadership and energy brought to us through all of our Jackets is second to none with pride and respect each and every time they step on deck together. This year, the team of 36 athletes was led by captains Connor Patrick, Julia Beer, John Majerus and Jenna Rettig. The team welcomed 5 new freshman Yellow Jackets and carried 20 returning sophomores and juniors. Graduating from the program are 7 swimmers and 1 diver.
This year our Girls Team went undefeated in the NLL. They also took first overall at the Cleveland Showdown Invitational, consisting of several highly-regarded swim programs and at the Oak Harbor Subway Invitational. The 400 Free Relay – Natalie Sanders, Claire Gerken, Haley Gano and Julia Beer – set a new NLL meet record with a 3:44.55. Later in the postseason, the team of girls set a new school record with a 3:37.11: Julia Beer, Elise Randolph, Haley Gano and Natalie Sanders while the 200 Medley Relay of Haley Gano, Aubrey Green, Julia Beer and Natalie Sanders set another school record at 1:48.77.
These relays also qualified and competed at the State meet in Canton. Senior Julia Beer returned to the state meet qualifying in the 100 Backstroke race in Canton, finishing with the fastest time of her career and a third new school record of 58.12. With so many talented swimmers, the Girls Team brought a strong presence in every event. Senior Parker Smith had the meet of her life, swimming her fastest times of her career at Sectionals in the 100 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke. Maggie Merriman, Abi Bowden and Ella Smith led in the 500 & 200 Freestyle throughout the season while Kylie Randolph and Ilayda Gocmen represented the team in the 100 Breaststroke. Sydney Rettig and Isabella Staschiak swam the 100 Butterfly with ease while Anna Luscombe, Elena Gerken and Claire Gerken were a strong force in the 100 Freestyle event. Freshman Katherine Cromley used her talent combining all of the strokes in the Individual Medley event.
Our Boys Team was led with power across the board, taking medals at every competition. John Majerus, Seth Merriman and Nik Neceski had some of their season’s bests at the Showdown meet, building up energy early in the season. The Boys Team came out on top at the Oak Harbor Subway Invitational and took the podium several times over at the district meet held at BGSU at the end of their season. Steve Green placed and set a new school record in the 100 Backstroke at 52.68 at the district meet. They finished their season strong, with some of their best times of the season at the district meet including: Senior Jack Burke and Sophomore Ewan Fisher in the 200 and 500 Freestyle, Josh Danforth in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Breaststroke, Fernando Garcia in the 100 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke. Jack Hulbert and Kyle O’Connell helped the Boys Team in the Individual Medley and backstroke throughout the season while Braden Poland held strong in the 100 Breaststroke.
Our team would not be complete without our Diving Team. Sophomores Maddie Searfoss and Emma Erlenbush show excellence competing at districts with the Boys Team consisting of Senior and Captain Connor Patrick and Junior Owen Recker. Recker went onto compete in the postseason, earning the title of State Runner up.
The coaching team could not be prouder of the successes of the season and energy build-up for the future of the program! Go Jackets!