Survive and advance.

That postseason mindset paid off in a big way for Willoughby South on Saturday, as the Rebels pushed eight swimmers through to the OHSAA Division I district meet, with senior Ava Shearer and sophomore Riley McDaniel leading the charge by qualifying in four events apiece.

For Shearer, the accomplishment meant something more than a list of events — it meant another week in the water.

“It is a huge relief knowing I have another week to swim,” Shearer said. “I put in a lot of work during the regular season to set myself up for success in the postseason, so it feels great to see that effort paying off. It’s a great time to celebrate the successes of sectionals and focus on getting ready for districts.”

Shearer advanced in both of her individual races — the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke — and was a key piece of two qualifying relays.

Her strongest swim came in the breaststroke, where she placed fifth in 1:11.03.

“The 100 breaststroke was my best race because I had the opportunity to implement things I have been working on in practice,” Shearer said. “I’ve been focusing on a faster start and a stronger streamline pullout, and it was exciting to see those improvements show up when it mattered.”

Shearer joined Casey Heil, Emma Shearer, and McDaniel on the girls’ 200 medley relay that finished sixth in 2:01.34, and teamed with Evelyn Jasinski, Emme Pellegrini, and McDaniel to take fourth in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:49.54 — the Rebels’ highest finish of the day.

Her opening speed was a positive, but the senior already has her sights set on what comes next.

“I was satisfied with my first 50 splits and relay splits because they showed that increasing my tempo is translating into better results,” Shearer said. “To reach the next level, I know I need to improve my back-half splits in both the 100 fly and the 100 breaststroke. I have been working on the little details in practice so that I can see improvements at districts.”

McDaniel matched Shearer’s four-event district haul, qualifying in the 100 freestyle and 500 freestyle while also swimming on both advancing relays.

On the boys’ side, Vincent Ballard qualified in three events, placing sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:56.40) and moving on in the 500 freestyle while anchoring the 200 medley relay with Max Dunham, Owen Bliss, and Cameron Sterk. The quartet finished seventh in 1:51.30.

Bliss also moved on in two individual events, taking seventh in the 200 IM (2:12.08) to go along with his breaststroke qualification, while Sterk advanced in the 100 butterfly.

The district meet now brings a new challenge — and for Shearer, a lifelong goal.

“It has been a dream of mine to do well enough at districts to advance to the state championship,” Shearer said. “The mindset going into the district tournament is to earn a personal best time and a podium spot to make it to the next level. I’m excited for the challenge and ready to give everything I have.”

For the Rebels, the objective remains simple — and familiar.

Survive, advance, and keep the season going.

• Full Results

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