FHS swimming opens season with resounding wins

FINDLAY SWIMMING FINDLAY – Findlay's returning veterans came through in a big way on Tuesday when the FHS boys and girls swim teams opened their 2025-26 season with overwhelming wins over Wapakoneta in a dual meet at the University of Findlay's Sink Natatorium.Senior Jake Best, a returning Northern Lakes League champion in the 200-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly, won four events Tuesday and Maddox Debelak, a sophomore who won the NLL backstroke last season figured in three firsts.Sophomore Tillie Abbott, an OHSAA state and 2025 National YMCA Short Course qualifier in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, was also in on four first on Tuesday, along with 2025 all-district swimmer Norah Dolan.Dominic Smith (236.75) for the boys and Megan Guthrie (194.25) for the girls both set personal bests in diving as Findlay posted a 142-40 victory in the boys meet, and a 152-21 score over Wapakoneta in the girl competition."We had a great start to our season," said FHS swim coach Jason Chomic."We pushed our kids in practice to start strong and keep the momentum up throughout the entire meet. This was a great stepping stone for when we get into the championship part of our season in January and February."Best won the 50 free with a time of 23.27 and the 100 free in 50.91. He was also on the winning 200 free relay (1:38.71) with Kai Borsay, Nicholas Kasiborski and Duncan Black and the first place 400 free relay (3:37.1) with Stephan Mahler, Borsay and Kasiborski.Black and Mahler also teamed with Debelak and Joe Dusseau to finish first in the 200 medley relay (1:49.50).Debelak also was first in the 200 IM (2:13.49) and the 100 backstroke (58.91), while Borsay won the 200 free (2:03.89), Black the 100 fly (1:02.41), Dusseau the 100 breaststroke (1:12.53) and Mahler the 500 free (5:29.23).In the girls meet, Abbott doubled up in winning the 100- (55.75) and 200-yard (2:03.92) freestyles. She also swam a leg on the first place 200 free relay (2:01.03) with Emmalyn Cislo, Sara Kasiborski and Jessica Rader, and the 400 free relay (4:13.62) with Ava Blide, Cislo and Norah Dolan (4:13.62).Norah Dolan was a two-time individual winner by capturing the 100 fly (1:08.86) and the 100 breast (1:20.62).Blide won the 200 IM (2:41.87), Annabelle Cislo the 50 free (28.94), Kenzie Schneider the 500 free (6:13.97) andEden Kempf won the 100 back (1:14.37) and teamed with Dolan, Blide and Annabelle Cislo on the winning 200 medley relay (2:11.49).Following the Thanksgiving Holiday, Findlay will prepate for the Ned Reeb Invitational to be held Dec. 5-6 at Ohio State University. FINDLAY HOCKEY FINDLAY 3BULLIS 2FINDLAY – Draven Wilson assisted on Findlay's tying goal and scored the game-winner late in the second period as the FHS hockey team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat Bullis Academy of Maryland 3-2 on Tuesday.Findlay led 1-0 on Louis DiBerardino's goal off a Colin Somerville assist with 8:16 into the game. Bullis Academy got goals from Colten Bailey and Cooper Kuehl and led 2-1 at the break.Just 2:28 into the second period, Somerville tied it 2-2 on a power play goal. Wilson and Ryan Maas had assists on the goal.Defense and goalie saves dominated the next 10 minutes, but Wilson poked in the go-ahead goal with 2:11 left in the period.Findlay returns to the ice on Friday when the Trojans face Team Ohio at 7 p.m. at The Cube. It will be the first of four games at The Cube as part of the Jaime Ruffer Memorial Tournament. Local SportsBowlingSPORTSMAN LANESUNITED METHODIST LEAGUEHigh game men: Jay Bowen 209; (women) Deb Badertscher 204. High series: (men) Bowen 598 (women) Katrina Rigsby 473. Schedule Friday's EventsPREP HOCKEYBOWLING GREEN TOURNAMENTTeam Ohio at Findlay, 7 p.m. BOYS BASKETBALLTol. Emmanuel Christian at Ottawa-GlandorfArcadia at Lakota (BVC)Fort Jennings at ArlingtonHardin Northern at Pandora-Gilboa