Three-time state qualifier Elayna Krupp leads Rockets

Oak Harbor girls won their own eight-team 11th Annual Subway Invitational last week, scoring 262 points to defeat second place Notre Dame (237).

The Rockets went up against quality programs, too, as Wauseon (235) was third, followed by Findlay (164), Lexington (152), Port Clinton (139), Bryan (74) and Lima Shawnee (39). Three Oak Harbor relay teams won event championships.

Seniors Emily Haar and Elayna Krupp, junior Amelia Mizelle and freshman Paige Krupp got the party started, winning the 200 yard medley relay (1:55.75), defeating Lexington by nearly two seconds.

The Rockets got another relay win as Paige Krupp, Mizelle and freshmen Skyler Turner and Alyse Sorg won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:42.41, over three seconds better than a Wauseon team (1:45.67). 

In the 400-yard freestyle, Haar, Elayna Krupp, Turner and Sorg were champions, finishing in 3:49.57, winning narrowly over Wauseon (3:50.69).

Elayna Krupp won the 100-yard freestyle, finishing in 55.25 to defeat Port Clinton sophomore Carlie Blaesing (55.49) by over a quarter of a second.

It has been that kind of season for the Rockets, defeating Notre Dame 97-88, Huron 153-51 and Danbury 174-6 in dual matches. Their only loss was to Perrysburg, 118-65, but being undefeated is not everything. Getting the opportunity to swim is everything, says 18th-year coach Oak Harbor coach Andrea Sorg.

“The season has been going very well now that meets have started,” said Sorg. “We are just happy to have opportunities to compete and see the season progressing. I can’t ask more of my swimmers, they come each day and work incredibly hard towards their goals. That’s quite a feat in a world that is rather uncertain right now.

“For our girls team, we have some experienced upperclassmen leading the way for the large and talented freshman group. There is a lot of cohesion on the team and they are constantly pushing each other to succeed.”

Last year, Oak Harbor sent four female and seven male swimmers to state, and this year the Rockets return 10 boys and eight girls letter winners.

For the girls, Elayna Krupp is a three-time state qualifier in two relays and two individuals each year, Haar is a three-time state qualifier in relays, Mizelle a two-time state qualifier in relays, senior Abby Beehler is a two-time district qualifier, senior Amanda Clark is a returning district qualifier, and junior Sydney Overmyer is a returning district qualifier.

During lasts year’s Division II state swim meet at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, the Oak Harbor 200 yard medley relay team of then-senior Erin Druyor, Haar, Elayna Krupp and Mizelle finished in eighth place with a time of 1:51.03. The same foursome competed at state in the 200 freestyle relay, placing ninth (1:40.79). In the 50 freestyle, Elayna Krupp placed 12th as an individual, finishing in 24.54.

The Oak Harbor girls scored 45 points, good enough to finish in 13th place out of 59 teams scoring.

Elayna Krupp, who coach Sorg says is being recruited by several college programs, is the school record holder in the 100 freestyle and the Oak Harbor pool record holder in the 50 freestyle. She, Mizelle and Haar were part of the school record setting 200-yard freestyle relay team last year and medaled at state last year in the 200 yard medley relay.

However, as on display at Oak Harbor’s Subway Invitational last weekend, there is a strong youth movement going on in coach Sorg’s program.

“I have a large freshman class of girls that I expect big things from: Skyler Turner, Marissa Mapes, Paige Krupp, and Alyse Sorg will look to make a memorable splash this season. They have been competing in club swimming for several years with me along with freshmen Abby Smith and Annie Mizelle,” Sorg said.

In 17 years coaching at Oak Harbor, Sorg has seen her boys teams win six SBC championships and the girls have won five. Krupp told The Press that winning the league title last year was extra special 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,” Elayna said.

Rocket boys team

Last year at the state meet, the Oak Harbor boys’ 400 freestyle relay team, seniors Thomas Chovanec and Caleb Heintz and juniors Eli Sherman and Troy Metcalf, placed 10th (3:18.59). The boys scored 14 points, good enough for 40th place out of 66 teams scoring.

Metcalf, a three-time state qualifier in relays and an individual event last year, and Sherman are back for their senior years. They are part of a boys team that coach Sorg has confidence in.

“For our boys team, there is a core group that are willing to go the distance day in and day out, rep after rep. They steer the team daily,” Sorg said.

Joining them is senior Malachi Kennedy, a three-time district qualifier, senior Jerry Craddock, a returning district qualifier, junior Josh Aston, a two-time district qualifier, sophomore Karter Lajti, a returning state qualifier in relays, and sophomore Karson Lajti, a district qualifier who also competed at state. There is also a youth movement in the boys program, but on a much smaller scale.

“The only freshman boy to join the team is Spencer Heintz. He has already shown great improvement in the two short months so far,” Sorg said.

At the Subway Invitational, Oak Harbor scored 167 points to finish fourth behind Lexington (270), Findlay (251) and St. John’s (180). PC (123½) was fifth, followed by Bryan (119), Wauseon (107½) and Shawnee (82). 

In dual matches, the Rockets defeated Huron 125-83, Clyde 155-12, but lost to St. John’s 93-77 and Perrysburg 102-78.