Oak Harbor Rocket senior swimmers go out with a bang

Press Sports Editor
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Ava Grieger, Paige Krupp, Alyse Sorg, Skyler Turner and Marissa Mapes – the Rocket seniors leave the Oak Harbor girls swim team knowing they accomplished some things that had never been done in the history of the program.
The quintet won two district championships, four league titles and finished in the top three twice at districts and in the top 10 twice in Division II.
Last weekend, Oak Harbor finished 10th at the state tournament.
Two relays — the 200 yard medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay — finished seventh.
The 200 medley relay — which consisted of Turner, Sorg, Krupp and Camryn Brown — finished in 1:49.72 while the 200 free relay team of the same four swimmers finished in 1:39.84.
Individually, Turner was sixth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.69 and 16th in the 200 individual medley in 2:13.23; Sorg was 12th in the 200 IM in 2:11.74 and 14th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.41 and Krupp finished 12th in the 100 backstroke in 59.42.
“I think we all did pretty good and ended up how most of us wanted to,” Sorg said. I was aiming for some higher goals, but I’m okay with how I did.
“I’ve been swimming with them since fifth grade, and some before that. We’ve all really grown; there’s a good team culture – we grew up together. It was fun to do that at the same time.”
Oak Harbor coach Andrea Sorg brought the group up through the program for years.
“Their leadership, their purpose for swimming, their mental toughness are contagious in the pool,” she said. “It spread to the boys team and girls team. We did not have drama – they included everyone, and they will be sorely missed.”
Some of the swimmers may continue their career at the collegiate level.
“A couple of seniors are planning on continuing to swim in college; one is going to the military and leaves shortly after graduation,” said Sorg. “Some are looking at continuing their education.”
Alyse Sorg is one of those looking to continue her swimming career at the next level.
“I hope to swim, I’m not quite sure where yet,” she said. “I’m talking to a few colleges, but right now I’m leaning toward BGSU.
“It was hard because there was a point in time where I was dead-set on going to college to play softball. My mom is just trying to get me to be the best I can. In junior high, I liked softball more, but it’s been brought back to swimming,” she said.
Alyse Sorg also ran cross country for four years and is a stellar softball player who played center field for her first two years and has been moved to pitcher. As a softball player, she was instrumental in leading the Rockets to the Division II state semifinals.”
It’s not hyperbole to say that Grieger, Krupp, Turner and Sorg and Marissa Mapes make up one of the best classes in the history of the girls program.
“I would say that’s a fair statement,” said Andrea Sorg. “I had Lindsay Lange and Melissa Jenkins in my class, and this was one of the best classes in the history of the program.
“Those girls have accomplished so much. As freshmen, they won a district title and finished fourth in Division II. As sophomores, they were third place in districts, then second the next year,” she said.
Some of the swimmers get in training twice a day.
“Morning practice is pretty hard to wake up for, but it is necessary in our training. We would even have morning practices on days we had dual meets,” said Alyse Sorg. “It would help us get the feel of the water before having to race. Morning practice is tough to convince yourself to go to, but the whole team would hold each other accountable.”