Lachey sisters lead New Albany

Growing up with a touch of sibling rivalry, sisters Ava and Mia Lachey worked together to help New Albany Country Club win its third consecutive Country Club League swimming and diving championship July 17 at Ohio State.

With the sisters contributing in six events, New Albany scored a combined 3,069 points to finish ahead of The Lakes (2,171), Scioto (2,032.5), Wedgewood (1,899.5), Kinsale (1,881.5), Tartan Fields (1,230.5), Worthington Hills (1,218), Muirfield (1,213), Medallion (816), Brookside (814), Jefferson (771) and Columbus Country Club (139).

"We're really competitive with each other," Mia said. "Since we share a room, we fight a lot at night. We argue about who gets the (television) remote and a lot of other things."

Ava, 8, set meet records in the 8U girls 25-meter freestyle (16.56 seconds) and 25 backstroke (20.1). She also was first in the 25 butterfly (18.75) and joined Emma Yakam, Olivia Hovorka and Julia Zaper in winning the 100 medley relay (1:23.26).

Mia, 10, broke the meet record in the 10U 50 free (30.9). She also joined Abigail Yakam, Olivia Bergmann and Peyton Spychalski in winning the 100 medley relay (meet-record 1:09.69).

"(Winning the title) really made me happy," Ava said. "We practiced really hard for this meet and I felt really good going into the meet."

"Mia and Ava started out as very good swimmers, but they've really progressed (this summer)," coach Stephanie Donley said. "They're very focused on the details. They want to get in there, race and win."

New Albany won the girls points trophy (1,586) ahead of runner-up Scioto (1,053.5) and the boys points trophy (1,483) ahead of The Lakes (1,139).

Pearson Spychalski placed first in the 12U boys 50 back (meet-record 32.54) and 50 fly (31.41). Also taking first for the boys team were Mike DeAscentis (10U 25 back, 18.15), Chris Rogers (6U 25 free, 21.35) and Darden Spychalski (8U 25 back, 22.53).

Also winning for the girls were Taylor Berend (18U 50 back, 31.97), Elly Gleason (18U 50 free, 27.9) and Julia Zaper (8U 25 breaststroke, 23.23).

The boys also placed first in the 8U 100 medley relay (1:29.69) and 12U 200 medley relay (2:21.33). The girls won the 14U 200 medley relay (2:13.76) and 18U 200 free relay (1:55.91).

*Worthington Hills' Nick Ramos admitted he was nervous before the 14U boys 50 free, but he swam a 25.9 to finish ahead of Wedgewood's Derek Nguyen (26.27) and capture the first of his three individual titles.

"I was a little psyched out," said Ramos, who also won the 50 back (29.81) and 50 fly (27.88). "I was seeded second (27.04) and there was a pretty good gap between Derek (26.74) and me.

"Right off the dive, I could see I was gaining on him and then after the turn I couldn't see him anymore. That event gave me a good mental advantage for the rest of the meet."

*Keeler Callahan anticipated Brookside would struggle in the relays but was taken back by how well his team performed.

Callahan, Edward Cordek, Ben Mastruserio and Ryan Wiet placed first in the 18U boys 200 medley relay (2:00.59) and 200 free relay (1:45.48).

"I was really surprised with how well our relays did," said Callahan, who also was first in the 18U 50 fly (27.45) and 50 free (24.3). "We were down a little in our 15-18 age group, but we still put together some nice races."

*Wedgewood's Mia Brown broke the meet record in the 10U girls 25 breast (17.95). Also setting records were Kinsdale's Luke Nester, Max Miller, Christian Hosler and Blake Overly in the 10U boys 100 medley relay (1:11.39); Hosler, Mitchell McKee, Miller and Overly in the 10U boys 200 free relay (2:22.05); Scioto's Tom Weimer in the 12U boys 50 free (28.24); Wedgewood's Reed McGraw, Alex Docie, Matt Helton and Nguyen in the 14U boys 200 medley relay (2:06.39); and Wedgewood's Carly Wolfe, Sabrina Whiting, Alicia Margello and Grace Thomas in the 14U girls 200 medley relay (1:59.09).