Krupp, Matcalf leading Rockets to championships

By: 
J. Patrick Eaken

Oak Harbor junior swimmers Troy Metcalf and Elayna Krupp were named Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division Performers of the Year after leading their team to league championships.
        In 17 years coaching at Oak Harbor, coach Andrea Sorg has seen her boys teams win six SBC championships and the girls have won five. Krupp said winning the league title was extra special this year because of the time the swimmers put in.
        “It’s a lot (of work). This season has definitely been our hardest working season overall as a team. I think it’s just because we’ve all gotten a lot closer this year. I think that’s helped all of us achieve what we have,” Krupp said.
        In the eight-team girls meet, Oak Harbor scored 224 points to place ahead of second place Margaretta (199), followed by Huron (85), Willard (80), Sandusky St. Mary (32), Tiffin Calvert (31), Gibsonburg (20) and Danbury (5). Krupp won two individual events and was part of two championship relay teams.
        Krupp won the 50 yard freestyle, finishing in 24.76, ahead of second place Lily Green (25.02), a Margaretta sophomore. She holds the pool record for the 50 yard freestyle at Oak Harbor. Krupp also won the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 1:02.41, over two seconds ahead of Green (1:05.55).
        “Elayna is an outstanding swimmer who started in seventh grade, so she’s kind of young in terms of how swimmers go for high school. So, she’s swimming quite well and levels above to be performer of the meet. She’s on track for another good season,” Sorg said.
        Krupp was joined by senior Erin Druyor, junior Emily Haar and sophomore Amelia Mizelle in winning the 200 yard medley relay race, finishing in 1:56.41. On the 400 yard freestyle (3:57.69), she was joined by Haar, junior Kennedy Blunt and Druyor.
        Druyor could have made a case for Performer of the Year, too, as she won the 100 yard freestyle, finishing in just under a minute at 59.78 and beating second place Calvert senior Alana Kennedy (1:01.43). Druyor also won the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:06.74, well ahead of second place Margaretta senior Miranda Cruz (1:12.21).
        Druyor, Haar, Krupp and Mizell are also returning state meet qualifiers from last year. Krupp is a two-time state qualifier in the 500 and 100 freestyle as well as some relay teams and she expects to be back this year.
        “Right now I would like to make it to state in two individuals and two relays and we’d like to place top eight — that’s our major goal right now,” Krupp said.
        Gibsonburg junior Sydney Leyerle also won two events at the SBC Bay Division meet — the 200 yard freestyle, finishing in 2:12.8 to beat second place Abby Beehler, an Oak Harbor junior, who crossed the finish line in 2:18.07. Leyerle won the 500 freestyle, finishing in 5:50.73 to defeat second place Beehler (6:10.84).
 
Rockets win by 100-plus points
        In the boys meet, the Rockets scored 239 points to easily outdistance second place St. Mary (115). Huron (112) was third, followed by Margaretta (104), Willard (94) and Calvert (1).
        Metcalf, a two-time state qualifier in relays, won two individual events and was part of a championship relay team at the SBC meet. He said it was all about “team”.
         “It was really good — we have a young team. It was really nice to win — we’ve won two years in a row now so I can’t complain about it,” Metcalf said. “It really comes down to team. I have a lot of kids who have pushed me this year, as well as freshmen that are fast and can push me. I’m thankful for that, which has made me how fast I am,”
        Metcalf won the 50 yard freestyle, finishing in 22.34 to beat St. Mary junior Mason Blank (22.9). Metcalf also won the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 54.99, edging out Willard senior Nicholas Bauer (55.43).
        “He’s been a standout swimmer since he’s been in this age group and this year he’s really taken his training to the next level on his own,” Sorg said. “He’s mentally tougher. He’s doing all the right things and it’s finally nice to see him transition from a good swimmer to who could be a great swimmer. We treat these meets as checkpoints on the way to sectionals, districts and hopefully beyond, so he’ just kind of put another notch in his belt, so to speak.”
        Oak Harbor senior Thomas Chovanec won the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 56.98 to edge out Huron freshman Granthem Brown (58.87). Chovanec is the school record holder in that event.
        Metcalf, Chovanec, senior Caleb Heintz and junior Eli Sherman teamed up to win the 400 yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:29.04, edging a team from St. Mary (3:32.86). Chovanec, Caleb Heintz, Griffin Heintz, and Kobe Fletcher are also returning state qualifiers from last year.
        Sorg believes Krupp and Metcalf have a shot at swimming in college, and Krupp has already expressed interest. They often prepare in the offseason by cross training into other sports, so she is not sure what their plans will be.
        “We are a small school, and to be successful in sports and to be successful in sports our student-athletes are three-sport athletes,” Sorg said. “Elayna is also a two-year state qualifier in track and she plays soccer, so as soon as swimming is over she goes to track and as soon as track is over she’s in soccer for the summer and the fall. Troy has been a multisport athlete as well. They need time away and to be able to prepare during the season because it is pretty intense.
 
 
 
       
 
 

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