Trailing 13-time defending state champion St. Xavier (177.5-171.5) by six points in the team standings heading into the meet’s final event,
Beavercreek captured the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I state title, the first for a public school since 1987, with a first place finish in the 400 free relay Saturday at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium.
Upper Arlington’s 159-139 win over Hawken 35 years ago was the last time a non-private school won the state championship.
Needing to place ahead of St. X in the 400 free relay, the Beavers did just that with a first-place time of 2:59.53. The Bombers finished fourth. St. X was two-tenths of a second from being runner-up in the relay, which would have resulted in a tie for the team title.
Beavercreek’s margin of victory was four points (211.5-207.5).
The foursome of Luke Sullivan, Michael Rine, Dillon Edge and Ethan Otten not only won the 400 free relay fro Creek, but also won the 200 medley relay (1:30.81).
Individually, Edge, a Notre Dame recruit, won the 200 free (1:36.16) and was second in the 100 breaststroke (54.90). Rine placed second in the 200 IM (1:49.37) and 8th in the 500 free.
Other placers for the Beavers were: Otten (4th in the 100 free and fifth in the 50 free), Caleb Manning (6th in the 500 free) and Sullivan (tied for 7th in the 100 back).
