State Swimming: Avon Lake's Aubrey Kozar successfully defends state titles

Avon Lake sophomore Aubrey Kozar once again was the class of her field for her two para races at Friday's Ohio high school state swimming and diving championships at Canton's Branin Natatorium. Kozar successfully defended both her para titles in the 50 free and the 100 back. Both victories were achieved in personal-record time. The Shoregal went a time of 28.02 seconds in the 50 free to defeat Hathaway Brown freshman Charlotte Galbreath (35.09) by over seven seconds. Kozar dropped 0.15 of a second from her winning district time. "For the first race I was just excited to swim," said Kozar. "I was ready. I saw all the (Avon Lake) fans across from me at the other end of the pool. It just made me happy seeing them and helped to make me more calm right before my race." Kozar made it a sweep about an hour later as she won the 100 back in a time 1:08.62 as she again defeated Galbreath (1:27.93), this time by over 19 seconds. Kozar sliced 1.77 seconds from her winning time at districts. "I was more excited about the 100 back," said Kozar. "I dropped time at districts and I wasn't even tapered. Coach Ben (Brooks) and all my teammates told me that I had to break 1:10 and I did." And even though Kozar experienced the top of the awards podium twice last year, Friday's awards ceremonies felt just as special. "I was just trying to soak it all in," said Kozar. "Everyone cheering, everyone in the stands, looking at my family, my coaches and my teammates and watching their reactions. It feels amazing. I can't wait to do it again the next two years."The memories I made last year at state were just so fun, during the meet and after. I'm doing that again today, just to have fun with my teammates and my family, celebrate together, celebrate the win. It hasn't totally sunk in yet but I feel super happy." Kozar was heading out from the state tournament venue shortly thereafter to share dinner with her family and friends. "The state meet is special," said Kozar. "Everybody is just so pumped up. It's crazy loud. Everyone is cheering on everyone. It's like nothing I've seen at any other swim meet. My coaches have been great. Always supporting me, always cheering me on. They're always super happy with my races even when I don't think so. They always find the good in everything. They make me feel super confident when I'm racing. Even though the training is hard and it can be exhausting, my teammates and I try to get the most fun out of it that we can." The Avon Lake sophomore has another major competition March 7-8 at the Para Swim Open Series Meet at the Birmingham Crossplex in Alabama. The event is part of the U.S. Paralympics Swimming Open Series and is a significant competition for para swimmers across the country. "She has the best mindset out of anyone I've ever met," said Brooks. "She knows what her goals are. She knows what to do to complete them. She knows that this is a stepping stone for something bigger. Her coming into today, having fun, being with her teammates and just getting out there and racing is exactly what she did. That was our plan. She did absolutely fantastic, better than anyone I think thought she would. It was awesome. "She understands that hardships are always part of the process. She doesn't view it as something that is sad, but something that you can learn from and build upon. Everything she puts into everything is that mindset. When those tough times do come she knows she has it in her and gets right back to work. She's phenomenal." Weber and Rini Division II All-Ohio Midview freshman Aly Weber and Vermilion senior Cole Rini earned Division II All-Ohio honors (top 16). Weber won her consolation final to finish ninth place overall as she clocked 58.76 seconds. The Midview freshman dropped 0.82 of a second from Thursday's prelims. Weber was seeded No. 9 (58.61) in a field of 32 coming into the state meet from districts. She then dropped back to the No. 13 seed (59.58) after prelims. Hathaway Brown junior Josephine Piliang won the event for the third year in a row with a winning time of 54.32. "This swim season has been a crazy ride," said Weber. "I grew up in the pool and am excited for the next three years to see what I can do. I am so grateful for my Avon teammates who have supported me through it alI. I can't thank my coaches enough for pushing me and guiding me in the pool. I can't wait for next season." Weber is only the second Midview girl swimmer to earn All-Ohio. Grace Henely was the first to turn the trick, placing 13th in the 100 breast at the 2024 Division I state meet. "Aly's first state meet was a success," said Midview coach Patrick Kennedy. "This is the greatest high school swim meet in the country and it is a very intimidating atmosphere. To final as a freshman is a challenge but to win the B final was a perfect end to Aly's freshman season. I am excited to see where Aly's continued hard work will take her next season." Rini, a three-time state qualifier in the 100 breast, became the Sailors' first All-Ohio state finisher (top 16) as he placed 13th in 59.49. "Swimming has been a major part of my life and has taught me many valuable lessons," said Rini. "I wouldn't be half the man I am today without this sport. Earning All-Ohio is truly an honor but as much as I did it for myself, I did it for my school, my city, my team, my family, my friends and all the coaches who made me the person I am today. I am truly blessed for all the memories, lessons and friendships swimming has given me. Sailor for life." The third time was the charm for Rini. He placed 13th in 59.49 as he dropped 0.34 from his prelim time. He placed 23rd last year at state in 1:01.08 and 19th in 2024 in 1:00.52. "We are very proud," said Vermilion coach Colleen Rini, Cole's mom. "He has worked hard over the years and we enjoyed watching him have this moment." Last year's state runner-up, Columbus St. Francis senior Luke DeFrancisco, won the event in 56.36. Avon boys 200 medley relay advances The Avon boys 200 medley relay earned Lorain County's lone ticket to today's Division I finals (top 16). Sophomore Luke Lundgard, along with senior Tommy Lipowski, senior Gavin Bello and sophomore Ian Cibulskas, finished 16th in Saturday's prelims (1:37.89) to nose out Brunswick (1:37.90) for the final qualifying berth. "Our goal for the boys this year was to get here in a relay. Avon had never accomplished that before. We wanted to change that," said Avon coach Adam Crabtree. "Making it back to finals is the bonus. For not just months of hard work, but years of trying to do things the right way to make it to this meet. "The boys are enjoying the experience and swimming relaxed. Luke missed his start a bit and Tommy was right on where he was last week. We were not quite where we wanted to be at the 100 mark, but Gavin really threw down a special split to bring us back into the race. He took almost a full half second off his lifetime best split. That gave Ian a shot to get us into finals. Ian did what he needed and we slipped in by one hundredth of a second. For two seniors who started on a team that was rebuilding and so young to join with two sophomores to not only get here, but to final is so special." Later in the meet Lundgard, Lipowski, Bello and Cibulskas finished 20th in the 400 free relay (3:16.70) and missed the final cutoff (top 16) by 2.92 seconds. The Avon boys 200 medley and 400 free relays are the first-ever relays to advance to the state meet on the Avon boys side. "Ian basically started really swimming 16 months ago. He had done a little summer league, but he has come so incredibly far," said Crabtree. "Luke has dropped two seconds in the 50 back and both Tommy and Gavin have taken off basically a second each to give us this opportunity. It is a blessing and one of the proudest coaching moments of my career." Lipowski and Lundgard also competed individual events but didn't make finals with those. Lipowski placed 25th in the 100 breast (59.34). Lundgard placed 27th in the 50 free (21.81) and 29th in the 100 free (47.87). Senior Sierra Kobak of Avon made her third straight trip for both her individual events: 200 IM and 100 breast. Junior Emma Molenaar of Avon made her second straight state appearance in the 100 back. Kobak placed 25th in both the 200 IM (2:12.51) and 100 breast (1:06.89). Molenaar placed 24th in the 100 back (58.97). Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.