Findlay swimmer Abbott keeps competing, thriving

Tillie Abbott doesn't take much time off from swimming. Barely five weeks ago, the Findlay High School sophomore competed at the OHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving Championships in Canton, reaching the podium twice. Starting today, Abbott will represent Findlay at the YMCA National Swimming Championships in Greensboro, NC. This is the second consecutive year Abbott is taking part in the event, which draws nearly 1,300 competitors from across the country. For Abbott, swimming doesn't have much of an offseason. "Last year I took one week off in the spring and one week off in the fall," she said. I think this year I'm gonna take a bit more of a break, but it's mostly an all-year thing with winter, summer and spring swim." Findlay YMCA coach Jeff Wobser praised the swimmer's work ethic. "She has developed a desire and ability to compete every time she gets in the pool," Wobser said. "From a coach's perspective that is very exciting. It is the X factor in the development of a great athlete." Abbott has already shown the ability to compete, and improve. She qualified for the OHSAA state meet in 2025 as a freshman in the 100 yard freestyle and the 50 yard freestyle. She placed 30th (54.05) and 32nd (24.85) in those events, respectively. This season, after winning sectional and district championships in those same two events, Abbott returned to Canton in the last week of February for the state meet. She said she had a different approach this season. "With swim, I've just gotten a lot more serious about it," she said. "Last year, when I got 30th and 32nd, I was really upset. So, this year, I came in with the mindset that I was gonna go and do everything I could. If I didn't do as I wanted, the only person I disappointed was myself." The results reflected that. Abbott swam the 50 freestyle in 23.84 and took seventh. In the 100 freestyle, she placed fifth, crossing the finish line in 51.55. "I'm very happy with how I did," Abbott said of her second state appearance But that success didn't cause her to slow down. Less than a week later, Abbott won three individual titles (50 free, 100 free and 200 free) in the Northwest Ohio YMCA Swim League Championships in Bowling Green. Three weeks after that, she took first in the same three events at the Great Lakes Zone YMCA Championship back in Canton. "I enjoy the competition," Abbott said. "I've got a great team, great coaches that really push me to want to do the best I can. That's always really helpful, just having a good support system to go to these meets." Now, Abbott has returned to Greensboro. Last year, she competed in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, taking 72nd and 88th, respectively. This year, she will not only be taking part in those two events, but will also be swimming in the 200 free style. "I'm a bit nervous, just because last year, I didn't do too good," Abbott said. "But, at the same time, I'm feeling excited, because this is kind of the big end to my season. So, I'm just ready to go and show everything I have left." Wobser said he's sure Abbott has some big performances left, not only this week, but in her career. "I know when she gets on the blocks, she will do everything she can to win," he said. "Tillie still has a lot to learn but her desire to compete will fuel her development for a long time." Abbott will swim in the 200 freestyle today, the 50 freestyle Thursday and the 100 freestyle Friday in Greensboro. Abbott said Greensboro will be intense, there's another word for it. "In my opinion, it's a bit more about having fun," she said. "Obviously, it's about the competition, but it's just in a new environment."