Story and photos by Cort Reynolds
ADA - The Bulldog varsity swim team has a new coach with a familiar face this winter in an Ada native.
Former Bulldog and Ohio Northern University swimmer Katey Stuart assumes the reins of the Ada swim program this season.
Stuart is a pharmacy major at ONU, and has finished her eligibility for the Polar Bear swim team. She will get coaching help from former Ada swimmer Zach Beaschler.
Due to the pandemic, for the first time in almost 20 years the team is unable to practice at the ONU natatorium. Instead, the squad has to practice at the Kenton YMCA.
9 swimmers on the team
A total of nine swimmers, with five girls and four boys, are on the team this winter. The roster number is down from 18 last season.
The squad also lost two decorated seniors to graduation. Four-year state qualifier Klava Katayama swims at Div. I Marshall University, while Isaac Spar, a multiple-time district qualifier, also graduated.
But four letter winners return to the squad, including three with district and state meet swim experience.
Girl swimmers
Strong senior Paige Cole returns as the most experienced swimmer on the girls squad. A three-time letter winner, Cole has made it to districts individually and as part of relay teams in the past.
She is expected to concentrate on the butterfly, breaststroke and freestyle events this winter. She made it to districts in two races last winter.
Cole finished 19th in the 100 breaststroke, and came in 18th in the 100 butterfly at the 2020 Bowling Green district meet.
Sophomore standout Carlie Oldfield is also a threat to advance past districts in the freestyle and backstroke events. She had a fine freshman campaign and has been a standout swimmer on the Ada summer team.
Last year she made it to the district meet in two events. Oldfield finished a strong eighth in the 100 backstroke, and came in 17th in the 50 freestyle.
Sophomore classmate Kaitlyn Bowden was also a part of two district-qualifying relay teams last winter. The 200 free and 200 medley quartets made it to BG, and three of the four swimmers from those foursomes are back (other than Katayama).
The girls 200 freestyle relay quartet of Oldfield, Cole, Katayama and Bowden ended up sixth in the district 200 freestyle. They became the first Ada girls relay team ever to qualify for state or districts, and were seeded 12th at Canton.
At the state meet in Canton, the Ada girls 200 freestyle relay quartet ended up 16th out of 24 teams in a time 1:43.12 to finish eighth in the B finals race.
Cole, Oldfield and Bowden will look for a fourth to try and return to BG and possibly Canton. Sophomore returnee Kayla Wince is expected to vie for that last leg, and will also concentrate on freestyle and breasstroke events.
The Ada girls foursome of Oldfield, Cole, Katayama and Bowden also finished a solid eighth in the district 200 medley relay race.
Freshman newcomer Carisa Temple is expected to compete in the freestyle and backstroke races.
Boy swimmers
The boys roster is relatively inexperienced at the varsity level, with three sophomores and one freshman on the roster.
Sophomores Connor Daugherty, Dylan Hartman and Brayden Miller team with freshman Jack Baumgartner to comprise the boys roster.
Daugherty is expected to swim in the freestyle and butterfly events. Miller and Hartman will compete in the freestyle and backstroke races.
Accomplished summer swim team member Jack Baumgartner will swim the fly and freestyle events.
The Bulldogs hope to return Cole and Oldfield at least to districts if not further, as well as the girls relays.
The Bulldogs dive into competition December 17 at the Van Wert Invitational. A dual meet at county rival Kenton ends the regular season February 2.
The NCOSL conference title meet will again be held at Colonel Crawford Saturday, January 30.
In post-season competition February, Ada will compete in the Lima sectionals. The district competition will again be held at Bowling Green State University.
The state meet is at Canton.
The team:
The Ada varsity swim team, from left, front: Kaitlyn Bowden, Connor Daugherty, Carisa Temple.
Middle: Paige Cole, Jack Baumgartner.
Back: head coach Katey Stuart, Brayden Miller, assistant coach Zach Beaschler.
Not pictured: Carlie Oldfield, Kalya Wince, Dylan Hartman.
