Amanda Palutsis and Nathaniel Mullins help lead the Vikings past the Bulldogs.
NORTH CANTON The North Canton YMCA got loud Friday afternoon when Green High School took on Hoover in a dual swim meet. The stage proved an excellent setting for a Federal League matchup, according to Hoover head coach Rick Morrison.
“They all raced today,” Morrison said about the meet. “A lot of kids were very close to personal bests. It was fun to get up and race nose to nose with good competition, and that competition draws the best out of you.”
And raced is what both teams did as some events came down to the final seconds.
Yet, the Vikings defeated the Bulldogs 110-73 in the boys meet and 137-46 in the girls meet. Hoover’s success mainly relied on securing subsidiary places.
“The meet was going to be won by thirds, fourths and fifths,” said Morrison. “We had a lot of good, secondary kids scoring points, which is what you have to do to win a meet.”
Those secondary places bolstered the Vikings’ score by providing a comfortable lead throughout the meet.
Hoover’s Amanda Palutsis also commented on the importance of her team’s ability to acquire multiple places in the events in order to beat a tough Green swim team.
“We had to bring our A-game,” Palutsis said. “The girls have done a really great job of looking at it as a team aspect. Whether you win an event, or get one point for a fifth place finish, that’s helping the team no matter. Those points can make a really big difference when you add them up at the end of a meet.”
Palutsis helped her relay teams finish first in the 200 medley and the 400 freestyle. She also secured first place in the 500 freestyle. Palutsis will swim at Ohio State next year.
Hoover’s Nathaniel Mullins, who will swim at North Carolina State next year, realized that the Bulldogs can never be taken lightly.
“They are really big challenge for us coming in for the Federal League title,” said Mullins. “That’s one thing that’s on top of our list is to bring back the crown to North Canton. Green’s a big obstacle for us to go through.”
Mullins finished first in 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. He was also part of the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays, which placed first.
“I love this meet,” Green coach Mike Lazor said. “The kids come here and race a state caliber team like Hoover. Our kids raise their game up a little and try to compete stroke for stroke with them.”
Tyler Doerrer of Green finished first in the 200 and 100 freestyles. Parker Doerrer placed first in the 500 freestyle. Andrew Rohweder won the 100 breaststroke.
Green travels to Perry for their next dual meet this coming Thursday and looks forward to the Northeast Classic.
Hoover’s sights are not only on the Northeast Classic and the Federal League, but the state meet as well.
“We’re looking at the state,” Morrison said. “We got four weeks of hard training and then the championship season starts and that’s where our focus has been all year long.”