Bulldogs dive into competition December 10
By Cort Reynolds
The Ada varsity swim team boasts two standout state qualifiers and five experienced letter winners back this winter for a new coach.
Former Ada district 500 freestyler swimmer Ashley Robey takes over the head coaching reins, with help from her mother Angela and fellow assistant coach Lorna Spar.
A total of 11 swimmers, including seven girls and four boys, comprise the team roster this winter.
Four seniors and seven lettermen lend experience to the squad. Seniors Kaitlyn Bowden, Brayden Miller, Carlie Oldfield and Kayla Wince serve as co-captains.
Athletic sophomore standout Lily Baumgartner made it to the state meet in Canton as a freshman in the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly. The talented Oldfield has also made it to state as a freshman and junior.
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"Hopefully we can get Lily to the podium (top eight) at state this year," said Robey. "She might also do some distance and individual medley events."
Oldfield is the most experienced returnee. She finished 24th in the 50 freestyle preliminaries at the state meet with a time of 25.17.
The versatile senior swims well in the 50 freestyle, 100 free and 100 back events, as well as relays.
Classmate Kaitlyn Bowden is another very experienced summer and winter swimmer. She is very solid in freestyle and backstroke events.
Bowden excels in the 100 butterfly, having made it to districts. She finished 19th in the 100 fly at the 2022 district meet in Bowling Green.
As freshmen, Oldfield and Bowden were also part of the 2020 Ada girls 200 freestyle relay quartet that finished 16th in the state meet at Canton.
Senior Kayla Wince also returns after swimming a leg for the 2022 district 200 medley relay quartet. She swims well in the 100 breaststroke and is also a key member of the relay events with Bowden, Oldfield and Baumgartner.
Robey notes that she may be pushed for a leg in the relays by promising freshman Alyssa Nau.
Soph ace Baumgartner hopes to finish even higher at the state meet this season.
She excels in all strokes and has a very good butterfly stroke. She even helps the others swimmers refine their form at practice, which takes place in the evenings at the Ohio Northern natatorium.
Last winter at Canton, Baumgartner finished fourth in the 100 butterfly B finals to end up 12th overall at the state meet in a time of 58.1. Her 100 fly preliminary time was 58.56.
Baumgartner ended up 14th in the state 100 backstroke race. She finished sixth in the B Finals event with a school-record time of 59.88.
Baumgartner took third in the 2022 district 100 backstroke race, finishing a half-second (60.59) ahead of fourth-place teammate Oldfield.
Baumgartner also finished second in the district 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.04. She won the 100 back sectional title, with Oldfield right behind in second. Baumgartner also captured first in the 100 fly at sectionals.
Oldfield won the 50 freestyle at the Lima sectionals.
Baumgartner, Oldfield and Bowden each swam for two Ada relay quartets in the 2922 district meet. The 200 medley team came in seventh (1:57.95), while the 200 freestyle foursome finished 15th (1:48.92).
Sophomore Kennedy Jones also is back after a solid freshman campaign. She is penciled in to swim the 50 freestyle.
Nau will swim the breaststroke and freestyle events, and may also push for a spot on the relay quartets.
Willowy Lydia Demascio is the other freshman on the girls squad. She is expected to swim the 50 free and backstroke events. She is also practicing the butterfly stroke.
The four-man boys roster features two experienced lettermen and two freshmen.
Junior Jack Baumgartner returns to swim the butterfly and freestyle distance events. Robey expects him to excel in the 200 and 500 free distance races. "Our goal is for Jack to reach districts," she said.
He took fourth in the 500 free at the Lima sectional meet last winter. Baumgartner also came in 10th in the 20 free.
Senior letterman Brayden Miller is expected to specialize in the breaststroke events. Miller took 17th at the 100 breast in the sectional meet.
Two freshmen boys have joined the team this winter. Kaden Clum is expected to swim the breaststroke, with Sam Crawford likely to compete in the 50 freestyle.
"We just want to continue to drop times for everybody," said Robey of the general team goals. "We want to get Lily and Carlie back to state. The girls medley relay was seventh at district last year, so it would be good to get them to state, too.
"We also want to get the new swimmers to learn more strokes so they can compete in more events," she added.
The Bulldogs dive into competition December 10 at Bath with 11 other schools. The Bath Holiday Invitational is Tuesday, Dec. 27 at the Lima YMCA.
The NCOSL conference title meet will again be hosted by Colonel Crawford at Bucyrus Saturday, January 14.
A dual meet at county rival Kenton January 31 is followed by a tri-meet vs. Lima Senior and Bluffton Feb. 2 at the Putnam County YMCA to end the regular season.
In post-season competition, Ada will swim in the Lima sectionals. The district competition will again be held at Bowling Green.
The state meet is at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton. Ada hopes to get at least two swimmers back there.
PHOTOS
TOP: The Ada varsity swim team, from left, front: Alyssa Nau, Lydia Demascio,
Kaden Clum, Lily Baumgartner, Kennedy Jones.
Middle: Kaitlyn Bowden, Carlie Oldfield, Brayden Miller, Kayla Wince.
Back: assistant coach Lorna Spar, Sam Crawford, head coach Ashley Robey,
Jack Baumgartner, assistant coach Angela Robey.
BOTTOM: The returning Ada swim team letter winners, from left, seated:
Kaitlyn Bowden, Carlie Oldfield, Brayden Miller, Kayla Wince.
Back: Lily Baumgartner, Jack Baumgartner, Kennedy Jones.
