Delaware Hayes Roundup: Pacers swimmers battled way to state meet
ThisWeek group
A challenging season for the Delaware Hayes boys and girls swimming and diving teams ended on a high note, with three individuals and a relay competing in the Division I state meet Feb. 26 and 27 at Branin Natatorium in Canton.
Despite fewer meets and reduced practice time, as well as numerous restrictions because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, coach Jordan Nicol said the Pacers took everything in stride and put together a successful season.
“When they came to practice they worked hard, and they were able to kind of set aside really early that it wasn’t going to be a normal season, but they didn’t let that get in their way too much,” he said. “They could have gone into the season and been down the whole time and been sad about the whole thing, but they got over that pretty quickly and they got to work.”
Delaware Hayes Roundup: Pacers wrestlers ready for postseason battles
ThisWeek group
After its younger roster was tested throughout the regular season, the Delaware Hayes boys wrestling team is feeling confident heading into the postseason.
A year removed from winning a league title, the Pacers – despite having lost multiple contributors to graduation – went 6-1 in the OCC-Capital Division to finish second behind Westerville North (7-0).
Delaware opens the postseason in a Division I sectional Feb. 27 at Watkins Memorial. The top four finishers in each weight class advance to district March 6 and 7 at Hilliard Darby.
Kevin Rieman, who coaches the team with Josh Lamb, said the Pacers believe they can advance multiple wrestlers out of sectional and deeper into the rest of the postseason. Last year’s team qualified a program-record six wrestlers for the state tournament, which was canceled because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.