WILLOUGHBY--Eastlake North and Willoughby South split a tightly contested swimming dual meet Friday at the West End YMCA, with South doing just enough across both lineups to claim the combined victory, 158-152. 

South won the girls' meet, 91-69, while North countered by taking the boys' side, 83-67, creating a back-and-forth meet that stayed undecided until the final relays. 

On the girls’ side, South’s depth showed early and often. 

The Rebels opened the meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay as Casey Heil, Ava Shearer, Emma Shearer, and Riley McDaniel touched first in 2:08.90. Ava Shearer followed with an individual victory in the 200 freestyle (2:17.39) and later swam a leg on the 200 freestyle relay and placed second in the 100 butterfly. Emma Shearer added a win in the 200 individual medley (2:40.88) and also swam on the winning 200 free relay, while McDaniel captured the 50 freestyle (28.52), won the 100 breaststroke (1:22.16), and contributed to both relay victories. 

North answered behind Kaylynn Pawlowski, who swept the 100 butterfly (1:03.29) and the 100 backstroke (1:06.97) and anchored the winning 400 freestyle relay with Elena Messemer, Emily Avery and Callie Roberts (4:33.60). Sophia Janik added a distance win for the Rangers in the 500 freestyle (7:09.62), while Emmie Rausch earned South another individual victory in the 100 freestyle (1:06.23) before swimming later in relays. 

The boys’ meet leaned North’s way early with a win in the 200 medley relay, as Caden Reyes, Christopher Pawlowski, Amir Mahraz, and Nathan Milam combined for a 1:53.85. Reyes later doubled up individually by winning the 100 freestyle (54.28) and the 100 backstroke (1:05.10), while Milam added points in the 1-meter diving competition with a score of 137.55 and also swam on the medley and freestyle relays. 

South responded with a strong showing in the middle events. 

Vincent Ballard won both the 200 freestyle (2:00.66) and the 50 freestyle (24.00) and anchored two winning relays. Owen Bliss captured the 200 individual medley (2:12.73) and the 100 breaststroke (1:07.63) while also swimming on both freestyle relays. Max Dunham added a win in the 500 freestyle (5:42.80) and teamed with Christian Rausch, Bliss, and Ballard to take the 200 freestyle relay (1:41.85). Cameron Sterk contributed an individual victory in the 100 butterfly (1:00.31) before joining Bliss, Dunham, and Ballard on the winning 400 freestyle relay, which closed the meet in 3:49.94. 

In the end, South’s relay success and girls' depth proved decisive in the combined scoring, while North’s boys lineup showed its strength with multiple individual and relay victories in a meet that went down to the final events.

• FULL RESULTS

INDIVIDUAL EVENT WINNERS

GIRLS

• 200-Yard Medley Relay: South (Casey Heil, Ava Shearer, Emma Shearer, Riley McDaniel) 2:08.902
• 200-Yard Freestyle: Ava Shearer (South) 2:17.39
• 200-Yard Individual Medley: Emma Shearer (South) 2:40.88
• 50-Yard Freestyle: Riley McDaniel (South) 28.52
• 100-Yard Butterfly: Kaylynn Pawlowski (North) 1:03.29
• 100-Yard Freestyle: Emmie Rausch (South) 1:06.23
• 500-Yard Freestyle: Sophia Janik (North) 7:09.62
• 200-Yard Freestyle Relay: South (Emme Pellegrini, Riley McDaniel, Ava Shearer) 1:57.55
• 100-Yard Backstroke: Kaylynn Pawlowski (North) 1:06.97
• 100-Yard Breaststroke: Riley McDaniel (South) 1:22.16
• 400-Yard Freestyle Relay: North (Elena Messemer, Emily Avery, Callie Roberts, Kaylynn Pawlowski) 4:33.60

BOYS

• 200-Yard Medley Relay: North (Caden Reyes, Christopher Pawlowski, Amir Mahraz, Nathan Milam) 1:53.85
• 200-Yard Freestyle: Vincent Ballard (South) 2:00.66
• 200-Yard Individual Medley: Owen Bliss (South) 2:12.73
• 50-Yard Freestyle: Vincent Ballard (South) 24.00
• 1-Meter Diving: Nathan Milam (North) 137.55
• 100-Yard Butterfly: Cameron Sterk (South) 1:00.31
• 100-Yard Freestyle: Caden Reyes (North) 54.28
• 500-Yard Freestyle: Max Dunham (South) 5:42.80
• 200-Yard Freestyle Relay: South (Christian Rausch, Max Dunham, Owen Bliss, Vincent Ballard) 1:41.85
• 100-Yard Backstroke: Caden Reyes (North) 1:05.10
• 100-Yard Breaststroke: Owen Bliss (South) 1:07.63
• 400-Yard Freestyle Relay: South (Owen Bliss, Cameron Sterk, Max Dunham, Vincent Ballard) 3:49.94

Willoughby South’s swim team put together a balanced showing Saturday, finishing fourth in both the girls’ and boys’ standings at the 2026 Western Reserve Conference swimming & diving championships at Cleveland State University.

Senior Vincent Ballard anchored the Rebels’ effort on the boys’ side, scoring in three events and delivering one of the meet’s strongest individual performances. Ballard finished runner-up in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:56.75, then added a third-place finish in the 500 freestyle and helped South place third in the 400 freestyle relay.

“Overall, I would say that I'm very happy with my performance in all of my events,” Ballard said. “All of my times were within a few seconds of my best from the end of last year's season, which I feel is a great sign for what could happen later this season.”

Owen Bliss, Luke Schmidt, and Christian Rausch teamed up with Ballard to place third in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:57.87.

Ballard said the meet marked a turning point after missing the championships last year due to illness.

“Last year, I missed out on the opportunity to swim this meet due to being sick, and in the years before, I was never fast enough to place high in an individual event, only relays,” Ballard said. “So being able to score well in multiple events was a really great experience for me.”

South’s boys totaled 231.5 points, finishing behind Mayfield, Kenston, and North.

Along with Ballard’s individual success, the Rebels picked up points across the lineup. Bliss placed fifth in the 200 IM and fifth in the 100 breaststroke, while Cameron Sterk finished sixth in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 100 backstroke. Freshman Max Dunham added a sixth-place finish in the 100 freestyle and placed third in the 100 backstroke.

The Rebels’ relays also contributed key points, highlighted by a third-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay with Bliss, Luke Schmidt, Christian Rausch and Ballard, and a fifth-place showing in the 200 medley relay.

Dunham, Bliss, Sterk, and Ballard finished the 200 medley relay in 1:54.51.

“I feel my best event was the individual 200 free,” Ballard said. “I managed to place second, with a 1:56, close to my personal best of 1:54. I felt great during and after the race, and it was nice to swim against other athletes who were very close to my time.”

The Rebels also finished sixth in the 200-yard freestyle relay with Sterk, Schmidt, Rausch, and Dunham combining to complete that race in 1:50.29.

On the girls’ side, Willoughby South scored 261 points to finish fourth overall.

Riley McDaniel led the way with third-place finishes in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle, while Ava Shearer was runner-up in the 100 breaststroke and placed fifth in the 100 butterfly. Casey Heil added a fourth-place finish in the 100 backstroke, and Emme Pellegrini placed fifth in the 50 freestyle.

Emma Shearer earned sixth place in the 200-yard individual medley, and Emmie Rausch placed fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke.

South’s girls’ relays were another strength, including a third-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay and a fourth-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay.

Ava Shearer, Pellegrini, Evelyn Jasinski, and McDaniel finished the 400 freestyle in 4:14.67, and Heil, Emmie Rausch, Emma Shearer, and Jordan Tindell combined to finish the 200-yard medley relay in 2:17.30.

Looking ahead, Ballard said the performance has him eager for what’s next.

“I'm very excited for this year's postseason,” Ballard said. “I've really been training all year for this, and I honestly can't wait to see what I'll be able to do… especially since this is my last chance to do so.”

• Full Results
  
   

The 2026 Western Reserve Conference swimming and diving championships continue on Jan. 3 at Cleveland State University, bringing together defending champions, proven scorers, and emerging underclassmen across a deep two-day meet.

With multiple returning event winners and several top seeds hovering near conference records, both team races and individual titles are set to be tightly contested.

Here’s a look at each swimming event:

GIRLS EVENTS

200 Medley Relay

Kenston enters as the top seed at 1:53.60, but Mayfield and Chardon bring championship experience into the opening event. Chardon won this relay in 2025, while Kenston finished second and Mayfield third. The conference record of 1:49.12 is within sight of Kenston’s seed, and clean exchanges could put pressure on that mark early.

200 Freestyle

Janet Rockenberger (Chardon) leads the psych sheet at 1:59.89 after winning the event last year. She is joined in the top three by Riley McDaniel (South) and Madeline Cresho (Chardon), who placed fifth a year ago.

200 Individual Medley

Briella Hewitt (Chardon) returns as the defending champion and top seed at 2:12.44 after winning this event in 2025. Scarlet Del Vecchio (Mayfield), last year’s runner-up, sits second, while Lila Barnes (Chardon) is seeded third after placing fifth last season. Hewitt’s seed time puts the long-standing 2:09.28 conference record within realistic striking distance.

50 Freestyle

Rylie Fisher (Chardon) is seeded first at 25.25 after winning the 50 free in 2025. Lily White (Mayfield), the runner-up last season, is seeded second again, followed by Madison Minich (Kenston), who finished fifth. Fisher remains the closest swimmer in the field to the 24.26 conference record.

100 Butterfly

Briella Hewitt (Chardon) leads the psych sheet at 58.45 after not swimming this event at last year’s meet, while Ava Shearer (South) returns as the defending champion but is seeded fifth. Emily Isabella (Mayfield), the 2025 runner-up, is seeded third. Hewitt’s time places her less than a second from the conference record of 57.78.

100 Freestyle

Julia Malatesta (Mayfield) returns as the defending champion and top seed at 55.87. Rylie Fisher (Chardon), who placed third last year, is seeded second, followed by Lily White (Mayfield), the fifth-place finisher in 2025. Malatesta’s seed keeps the 53.01 record within range.

500 Freestyle

Rockenberger leads again after finishing second in the 100 free and winning the 200 free last year. Riley McDaniel (South), fourth in 2025, and Libby Selby (Mayfield), third last year, round out the top three. The conference record may stand, but Rockenberger is positioned for another high-scoring swim.

200 Freestyle Relay

Chardon, the 2025 champion, enters as the top seed at 1:45.06. Kenston and South follow, while Mayfield — last year’s runner-up — is seeded fourth. Chardon’s depth gives it a narrow edge, but the top four teams remain closely grouped.

100 Backstroke

Carly Grande (Mayfield) returns as the defending champion and top seed. Emily Eads (Chardon), who finished second last year, is seeded third, while Clara Cook (Mayfield), fourth in 2025, sits just outside the top three.

100 Breaststroke

Julia Malatesta (Mayfield) leads the field after winning this event last season and enters seeded at 1:07.31, just off the conference record. Ava Shearer (South), third in 2025, and Giuliana Walters (Kenston), fourth last year, are seeded second and third.

400 Freestyle Relay

Chardon, the defending champion, again holds the top seed and will be challenged by Mayfield, South, and Riverside. Chardon’s relay depth gives it a strong chance to close the meet with another title.

BOYS EVENTS

200 Medley Relay

Kenston is seeded first, but Mayfield — the defending champion — sits close behind. Chardon, last year’s runner-up, is also firmly in contention.

200 Freestyle

Aidan Carter (Mayfield) leads the psych sheet after finishing second last year and winning the 500 free. Vincent Ballard (South) and Caden Reyes (North) follow, with Reyes returning after a third-place finish in the 50 free.

200 Individual Medley

Casey Cullivan (Mayfield) enters as the top seed, but Daniel Fleck (Riverside), last year’s champion, is seeded second. Owen Bliss (South), fourth in 2025, sits third, making this one of the most competitive races on the boys’ side.

50 Freestyle

Toby Rogers (Chardon) leads the field at 22.28 after finishing first in the 100 backstroke and second in the 100 free last year. Adam Glowczewski (Mayfield) and Gavin Goldstein (Mayfield), who finished first and second in this event in 2025, are seeded second and third.

100 Butterfly

Brayden Marker (Chardon) leads the psych sheet after placing third last year. Jack Bennett (Chardon), fourth in 2025, is seeded second, followed by Cameron Sterk (South), who finished fourth last season.

100 Freestyle

Rogers (Chardon) returns after placing second in 2025 and enters as the top seed. Daniel Fleck (Riverside), third last year, is seeded second, while Adam Glowczewski (Mayfield) rounds out the top three.

500 Freestyle

Carter (Mayfield) returns as the defending champion and top seed, followed by Sam Lanning (Kenston), third in 2025, and Vincent Ballard (South), seeded third.

200 Freestyle Relay

Mayfield, the 2025 champion, is seeded first at 1:31.88 — faster than the existing conference record — setting the stage for one of the meet’s most anticipated races. Chardon and Kenston are the primary challengers.

100 Backstroke

Caden Reyes (North) leads the psych sheet after finishing third last year. Connor Ward (Kenston), fourth in 2025, sits second, with Cameron Sterk (South) seeded third.

100 Breaststroke

Max Semenov (Mayfield), third in 2025, is seeded first, followed closely by Casey Cullivan (Mayfield) and Liam May (Riverside). This event features three proven scorers separated by less than two seconds.

400 Freestyle Relay

Chardon and Mayfield, last year’s top two finishers, are separated by less than a second on the psych sheet. Kenston also returns a top-three relay, setting up an interesting relay.

Boys/Girls Diving

Mayfield’s Kamilla Fekete and Austin Szafraniec won the diving championships on Friday at Mayfield High School.

• Complete Psych Sheets