Licking County summer swimmers connect with teen coaches

DRESDEN — Sometimes for Ethan Goodwin it is as important knowing what not to say than what to say to young swimmers.

The Northridge senior remembers his first years in the pool, and he uses his experiences to pass down his knowledge to the youngest members of the Johnstown-Northridge Jaguars.

“We have been in their shoes,” Goodwin said. “We know exactly what they are going through. That’s why we know how to push them because we’ve been there. We know what’s going through their heads because it went through our heads too.”

The Tri-County Aquatic League season ended Wednesday with the annual CHAMPS meet in Dresden.

It represented the end of an era for Newark Catholic graduate Ella Schirtzinger, who will soon head to swim at Saint Peter’s University. She has served as an assistant coach for the Moundbuilders Piranhas, and the next time this event rolls around, that will be her only role in it.

“It’s a little sad because especially next year I won’t be able to swim anymore and can only coach, but it’s also really nice being able to swim with my teammates still,” Schirtzinger said. “I get to see these kids improve. It’s been a really good summer.”

Ages 11 through 18 were in action Wednesday afternoon. For the afternoon session, it was the 8-and-under and 9-10 divisions that hopped in.

Maddie Hoyt is no longer able to compete in the TCAL since she graduated from Watkins Memorial in 2022 and headed off to Ohio Wesleyan, but she still makes time to coach for the Pataskala Porpoises.

"I have been so lucky to get to coach these swimmers for the past several summers, and my favorite part is always watching them improve throughout the season," Hoyt said. "The kids have been working so hard this summer, and it has been so fun to watch their progress. I get to mostly work with our younger kids, and it has been great to see them try new strokes this season and go best times."

The Johnstown-Northridge girls had three entries in the 9-10 100 medley relay. The program is growing leaps and bounds under coach Rachel Furr as the Northridge and Johnstown high school programs both continue to grow.

“I love helping coach the little kids because I obviously have a super huge passion for swimming,” Johnstown junior Kaci Grice said. “I love seeing them try so hard at practice and then putting it all into the meet. They improve so much, and it makes me so proud of them. They have so much fun when they’re here, so it’s just a great environment.”

In the morning session, Pataskala’s Olivia Crook was a double individual winner in the 15-18 100-yard individual medley (1:02.35) and 100 breaststroke (1:11.51), and she joined Wes Arnholt, Reagan McCleese and Matthew Jenkins on the winning 11-18 mixed 200 freestyle relay (1:46.50).

Avery Bowman added a win in the 13-14 100 IM (1:06.07) for the Pataskala girls. She joined Isabella May, Lori Crock and Deryn Summers on the winning 13-14 200 medley relay (2:08.92) and 200 free relay (1:55.83).

The foursome of Nathan Arheit, Luke Holbert, Daniel Remlinger and Xaden Arnholt won 13-14 200 medley relay (2:01.55) and 200 free relay (1:46.28) for the Pataskala boys, who totaled 219 points to take runner-up behind Chevington Woods’ 266. Andrew Taulbee added a win in the 15-18 100 IM (54.61), and Christopher Tolia matched him in the 11-12 50 free (26.57).

Lily Hyslop won the 15-18 50 butterfly for the Moundbuilders girls, and the Piranhas also picked up a victory from Clara Baker, Brinley Zimmerman, Hope Fackler and Mia Brigden 11-12 200 medley relay (2:19.52).

Licking Valley’s Tanner Mohler won the boys 13-14 50 free (25.10) and 50 backstroke (28.33) for the host Dresden Dorados.

Growth in the pool is an offseason objective for those looking ahead to next winter. The reward, however, comes from sharing their knowledge.

“It’s awesome to be able to partner with Johnstown in doing stuff like this because it gets the community involved,” Goodwin said. “It’s kind of cool to be able to give back in that sort of sense.”

Charlie Couzins won the boys 9-10 25 back (16.72) to lead Moundbuilders to the team title, totaling 173 points, finishing ahead of Groveport’s 145. Couzins was joined by Nate Alexander, Easton Robertson and Grayson Wilson in winning the 9-10 100 free relay (1:06.12), and Tim Hughes won the 6u 25 back (34.44).

Led by a victory from the foursome of Kali Opfer, Lily Hardwick, Henley Tracey and Kennedy Wilson in the 8u 100 medley relay (1:35.23), the Moundbuilders girls also won the afternoon championship, totaling 124 points, finishing ahead of Groveport’s 112.

Pataskala’s Palmer Steel won the girls 9-10 individual medley (1:21.59) and 9-10 fly (16.58), and teammate Vivian Dorsett matched her in the 6u 25 free (22.96) and 25 back (27.18).

Johnstown-Northridge’s Emma Trathen won the girls 9-10 25 breaststroke (19.16).

The wins are not the only results celebrated.

For many young swimmers, each time in the pool is a success.

“Look at the bigger picture than the small things,” Schirtzinger said. “They finished the race. At the end of the day, that’s the best thing. They had the courage to do the race.”

ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com

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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County summer swimmers connect with teen coaches