Buckeye swimmers cap strong season with time drops at District meet
Buckeye High School closed its boys and girls swimming season on a high note at the District meet in Cleveland on Friday, Feb. 20, as five Bucks athletes turned in time drops, solid finishes across Division II and a strong showing in the girls 4x100-yard freestyle relay.
Leading the way for Buckeye was Noah Parrott, who qualified for two individual events and converted the opportunity into measurable improvement. Parrott posted time drops in both the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke, showcasing his progress on one of the season’s biggest stages. Competing against the top swimmers in all of Division II, he finished 36th overall in the 100 backstroke and 51st in the 100 butterfly.
On the girls side, Abby Parrott also doubled up individually and contributed to relay success. She placed 72nd in the 200-yard freestyle and 51st in the 100-yard backstroke in Division II, adding valuable big-meet experience to her resume. Her versatility across mid-distance freestyle and backstroke gave Buckeye a presence in multiple event groups at districts.
The Bucks’ top collective swim of the evening came in the girls 4x100-yard freestyle relay, where the team of Maddie Kreeger, Maddie Dahlquist, Tessa Schell and Abby Parrott cut two seconds from its sectional time. In a meet where time improvements often separate teams, the drop signaled a strong taper and a well-executed race plan from start to finish. Each leg contributed to the overall gain, allowing the relay to close the season with its best performance.
Buckeye’s district lineup reflected the growth of a small but competitive group that advanced beyond sectionals and handled a higher level of competition. For swimmers like Noah and Abby Parrott, qualifying in multiple events and then delivering time drops under pressure underscored the work put in throughout the season. The presence of four girls in the relay also highlighted the depth developing within the program.
While the Bucks did not contend for top places in the final standings, the meet served as an important benchmark and confidence boost for the athletes and the program. With multiple personal improvements, a faster relay and valuable District-level experience, Buckeye’s swimmers closed the year having represented the school well and laid a foundation for continued progress in future seasons.
