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Eric George/ThisWeek

Regan DeWitt won the 200 IM and 500 freestyle at the OCC meet Jan. 28. The Pacers will compete Feb. 11 at the Thomas Worthington sectional. Buy This Photo

The Delaware Hayes High School swimming and diving teams will begin the Division I postseason Saturday, Feb. 11, in a sectional meet at Thomas Worthington.

Senior Jessica Ward and sophomore Brittany Puthoff will be looking to help the Pacers improve on last season, when both scored at state in individual events and helped comprise the 200-yard medley relay that also scored.

“Jessica and Brittany will obviously be two of the eight or nine girls who won’t be tapering for the sectional, but for the district,” coach Bill Rietz said. “The rest of the 22 girls will be tapering as they go for season and career bests to help them get through to district.”

Last season marked the first time since 1995 that the girls team had a representative at state. The Pacers scored eight points to finish 40th of 56 teams scoring at Branin Natatorium in Canton as Upper Arlington (286) won.

Ward finished 14th in the 100 butterfly (58.24 seconds) and Puthoff was 14th in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.04). Joining the two in the 16th-place 200 medley relay (1:51.58) were junior Lindsey Norris and 2011 graduate Abby Kremer.

“We would like to replicate that scoring at state and it’s what we’ve been working toward all season,” Rietz said. “If things go right, we could see those eight or nine girls competing in six or seven events at state.”

Rietz thinks Ward could qualify in the 100 backstroke and 100 fly, with Puthoff returning in the 100 breast. He also thinks Lindsey Norris (100 fly) and Regan DeWitt (500 freestyle) could advance, in addition to the 200 medley and 400 free relays.

The 200 medley relay consists of Ward, Puthoff, Norris and DeWitt, and the 400 free relay lineup is expected to be Ward, Samantha Curtin, DeWitt and Puthoff.

Last season, the girls finished fourth (142) in a 13-team sectional at Thomas, which won with 194 points. Puthoff won the 100 breast (1:07.14), and the 200 medley relay also won (1:51.43). Seven girls combined to advance to district in six individual events and the three relays.

The Pacers, who closed the regular season Feb. 4 against Mansfield, finished second (282) behind host New Albany (326) in the OCC-Capital meet that concluded Jan. 28. Watkins Memorial (170), Mount Vernon (155), Olentangy Orange (155), Big Walnut (110) and Hilliard Bradley (92) followed.

It was the third consecutive season that Delaware finished runner-up to New Albany.

“They beat us by 100 points three years ago and by 68 last season, so losing by 44 means that we’re continuing to close the gap,” Rietz said. “It was a two-horse race and we were down 20 with three events remaining, but they had more girls scoring than we did, so depth was an issue. But we were pleased. We didn’t swim great times, but we competed and everyone contributed to the team effort.”

Delaware won seven of the 12 events. League champions were Ward in both the 100 fly (1:00.67) and 100 back (1:01.8), DeWitt in both the 200 individual medley (2:18.27) and 500 free (5:28.27) and Puthoff in the 100 breast (1:09.86). The Pacers won the 200 medley relay (1:53.79) with Ward, Puthoff, Norris and DeWitt and the 400 free relay (3:50.25) with Ward, Norris, Curtin and Puthoff.

The boys team tuned up for the postseason by finishing second (221) in the OCC-Capital meet behind New Albany (389) and ahead of Mount Vernon (201), Orange (143), Watkins Memorial (103), Big Walnut (98) and Bradley (25).

Scott Chapman won diving with 170.6 points for Delaware’s lone first-place showing. Finishing second were Cameron Hackett in the 200 free (1:51.92), Thomas Lenhart in the 100 back (1:02.9), Anthony Sanfillipo in the 200 IM (2:12) and the 200 free relay (1:39.93) of Sanfillipo, Hyeon Woo Bae, Spencer Deighton and Hackett.

“Considering we have just nine boys on the team, there’s a limit to what we can do scoring-wise against teams that have more depth,” Rietz said. “We knew before the start we were battling Mount Vernon for second place and we beat them to achieve what we could achieve.”

Rietz thinks Hackett in the 200 free presents Delaware’s best chance to reach state.

“We haven’t had a boys swimmer compete at state since 2006, so it would be great to see Cameron or someone step up and end that drought,” Rietz said. “He is part of the 400 free relay that also has a chance to get to Canton.”

Also in the 400 free relay are Lenhart, Skyler Pollock and Sanfillipo.

Last season, the boys finished 11th (39) at sectional as New Albany (238) won. Delaware advanced in three individual events and all three relays, as 11 Pacers competed at district.

“I think Hackett and Pollock will reach district in the 200 free and 500 free,” Rietz said. “Lenhart and Bae should make it in the 100 fly and Bae should make it in the 100 breast. Lenhart should also be in the 100 fly, and I think all three relays will advance.”

Perhaps the best hopes for the Delaware boys were lost when sophomore Anthony Hinton became ineligible for what Rietz said was breaking team policy.

•The wrestling team finished ninth in the home 12-team Rieman Invitational on Jan. 28.

Seth McCurdy was runner-up at 126 pounds, losing to Hilliard Davidson’s Lee Wilson in a final. McCurdy was 30-3 before the Pacers closed OCC-Capital duals against Hilliard Bradley on Feb. 2.

Massillon Perry totaled 341 points to win the Rieman. Olentangy (236.5) was runner-up, followed by Cincinnati Elder (203.5), Davidson (191), Norwalk (173.5), Westerville North (130), Troy Christian (127.5), Springfield Kenton Ridge (127), the Pacers (107), Massillon Perry B (104), DeSales (72.5) and Bloom-Carroll (67).

“It was the best point total we’ve had in the Rieman in many years,” coach Josh Heffernan said. “I was proud of the boys and pleased that the volunteers and officials helped us run another smooth tournament where all of our guests enjoyed themselves.”

Andrew Sierawski finished third at 170 to improve to 22-12, Shawn Johnson was fifth at 195 to improve to 13-13 and Colton Christner was fifth at heavyweight to improve to 16-13.

Overall, 40 athletes who were mentioned in Brian Brakeman’s High School Wrestling Forecast competed, including six top-ranked wrestlers and 12 who were ranked in the top 15.

•The gymnastics team will compete in the OCC-Central meet Saturday, Feb. 11, at Dublin Coffman.

Last season, the Pacers finished third (131.250) in the league meet at Worthington Kilbourne, behind champion Kilbourne (134.975) and Olentangy Liberty (128.775) and ahead of Dublin Scioto (109.625), Davidson (108.125) and Westland (70.5).

It could be difficult to replicate that this season, according to coach Christina Andres.

“We just lost two girls, all-around girls, to academic ineligibility, so it makes things more difficult,” Andres said. “I think we’re just going to concentrate on improving individually for the (postseason).”

Senior Alex Kern finished fourth on bars in the league meet last season en route to qualifying to state. Senior Kristin Yannacey was runner-up on floor in the league meet.

“Alex hasn’t been as focused this season, but she’s still got time to turn in a good season and get back to where she was last year,” Andres said. “Kristin is improving and working herself into a good position, especially on her floor routine.”