Above) The Ada varsity swim team, from left, front row: Lydia Demascio, Lily Baumgartner, Jordyn Smith, Alivia Montgomery. Middle row: Timothy Chrissobolis, Kaden Clum, Kennedy Jones, Alyssa Nau, assistant coach Lorna Spar.
Back: assistant coach Jacob Lehman, Jacob Szippl, Sam Crawford, head coach Ashley Robey. Absent: Grady Morgan.
Below) Returning Ada swim letter winners, from left, front row: Lydia Demascio, Lily Baumgartner, Jordyn Smith. Middle: Tim Chrissobolis, Kennedy Jones, Alyssa Nau. Back: Kaden Clum, Jacob Szippl, Sam Crawford.
By Cort Reynolds
The solid but small 2024-2025 Ada High School swim team will be led by three-time state qualifier Lily Baumgartner this winter, with help from eight other returning letter winners.
Coach Ashley Robey–a former Bulldog swimmer–enters her third season at the helm of the Ada program. She has six girls and five boys on the 11 swimmer roster.
Nine letter winners return in all, led by five veteran girls and four boys back in the fold.
Senior ace Baumgartner recently signed an official letter to attend and swim at Ohio University. She looks to improve on her third-place 100 butterfly finish at the state meet in what would be her fourth straight visit to Canton.
“I couldn’t be prouder of her,” said Robey of Lily. “I think she will do great in college. I am also excited for her senior season at Ada.”
The determined senior excels in all events, but also finished on the state meet podium in the 100 backstroke.
Skilled junior two-time letter winners Lydia Demascio, Alyssa Nau and Jordyn Smith return to lend quality experience.
Ada should be able to form some strong female relay quartets with those three plus Baumgartner, with a promising freshman also contributing.
“Relays will be mixed up throughout the season as we have scheduling conflicts and an odd number of boys and girls,” Robey explained. “Lily, Alyssa, Lydia, Jacob, Tim and Kaden are all very versatile and can be moved around where needed/best suited.”
The team and coaches are still figuring out who will swim which events. “It’s still very early in the season, so we aren’t exactly sure what everyone will be swimming yet,” said Robey.
“We have a few (swimmers) that want to switch events up a bit, and I will be placing multiple swimmers in different events as needed to spread those that can do different strokes and distances around,” she explained.
“Because our team is pretty small in size, we need to utilize as many events as we can to get the most points for the team,” she added.
Talented freshman Alivia Montgomery is coming off a solid summer season and figures to contribute well this winter.
“Alivia will be a strong freestyle and backstroke swimmer, and is also working on technique for breaststroke and fly,” said Robey.
Powerful Kennedy Jones, the squad’s only other senior, returns to lend veteran experience.
“Kennedy is a short distance freestyler,” said Robey. “Jordyn also does short distance freestyle. She has been experiencing knee discomfort during breaststroke, so she may be limited on what she can do due to that.”
The Ada boys team lost one key swimmer to graduation but has four back.
Sophomore lettermen Tim Chrissobolis and Jacob Szippl are back to pace the Bulldog boys swimmers. Both showed a lot of potential last season as freshmen.
Other male lettermen returning are experienced juniors Kaden Clum and Sam Crawford. Both showed a lot of improvement last season.
“Sam is still figuring out and learning the breaststroke and fly, and we are working on fine-tuning his freestyle and backstroke,” Robey noted. “So he will most likely be doing mainly freestyle and backstroke events.”
Solid Grady Morgan is the lone male freshman.
“Grady has a little swim experience on the summer team, but will mostly be doing freestyle as we begin,” said the coach. “But we are hoping to get the technique on the other strokes down as well so he can compete in more events.”
Robey has set some basic goals for the upcoming season.
“We are looking forward to having a fun, successful season,” said the coach. “We are focusing on starts, turns, underwaters, breath control and technique.
“We have a lot of swimmers with the goal of making districts this year,” she continued. “We really hope we are able to send a few boys and girls there, as well as a relay or two.
“Everyone is already starting the season with times faster than when they began last season, so we are very optimistic for their success this season,” Robey added.
Ada practices at the Ohio Northern University natatorium four nights a week.
The Bulldogs dive into the season opener vs. always-tough Bluffton and Bath at the Putnam County YMCA Thursday, December 5.
Ada swims at the Northwest Holiday Classic meet in Bowling Green Dec. 21. The annual Lima Holiday Invitational is Dec. 27.
The North Central Ohio Swim League meet is slated for January 18, hosted by Colonel Crawford.
Ada visits Hardin County foe Kenton in a late regular season dual meet January 28.
Sectionals, district and the state meet in Canton all take place in February.
