Eagles Fly to 13 District Qualifying Swims, Sparked by Relay Upset at Lakewood Sectionals
St. Edward Men’s Swimming & Diving turned the 2026 Lakewood Sectional into a statement meet, racing to 13 Northwest District qualifying swims and delivering one of the day’s biggest upsets in the relays. Behind a powerful core of veterans and emerging underclassmen, the Eagles not only advanced a deep group to next week’s NW District meet at Bowling Green State University on Feb. 21, but also set themselves up as true contenders to punch tickets to the OHSAA Division I state meet.
The headline performance came in the boys 200-yard freestyle relay, where the Eagles stunned the field—and longtime rival St. Ignatius—with a first-place finish. The quartet of Luke Potts, KC LaRue, Sam Gibson and Julian Wolke stopped the clock in 1:28.76, earning the No. 1 seed in the NW District rankings. That same foursome kept the momentum rolling in the 400 free relay, racing to a 3:17.61 and locking down the No. 2 seed for districts, putting St. Edward squarely in the hunt for state relay berths in both events.
Senior Sam Gibson led the charge individually, turning in a dominant performance that echoed across the district. Gibson won the 200 free at Lakewood Sectionals in 1:47.98, a time that not only took first at the meet but also earned the top overall seed for next week’s NW District competition. He added a 48.89 in the 100 freestyle, good for a top finish at sectionals and the No. 3 district seed, giving the Eagles a true dual-threat sprinter and mid-distance ace heading into the postseason.
Junior Luke Potts and senior Julian Wolke joined Gibson in leading a deep Eagles attack on the individual side. Potts delivered a standout sprint showing, taking second at Lakewood Sectionals in the 50 free with a 21.60, which ranks him tied for third in the NW District. He doubled back in the 100 breaststroke, placing fourth at sectionals in 1:00.85 and earning the No. 5 district seed, while also sharing the stage in the event with his younger brother, freshman James Potts. Wolke, meanwhile, showcased his versatility with a 53.71 in the 100 butterfly and a 2:00.24 in the 200 individual medley, securing No. 3 seeds in both events for districts and adding critical points of strength in the championship lineup.
St. Edward’s depth shone in the medley and butterfly events as well. The 200 medley relay team of senior Noah Stachnik, sophomores Sam Belenki and Beney Budiman, and senior KC LaRue raced to a 1:45.93, good for 10th at Lakewood Sectionals and the No. 12 seed for districts. Coaches and teammates are optimistic that the group can climb the rankings next week as the squad gets back to full health. Belenki delivered one of the most eye-catching drops of the meet, cutting more than two seconds from his 100 butterfly to post a 55.88, placing 10th at sectionals and earning the No. 12 district seed. Rising contender Belenki also did a phenomenal job on his 50 Free with a big drop of over a second to another qualifying time of 23.37, which seeds him at No. 24. LaRue added an additional Eagles qualifier in the 100 fly with a 57.33, which placed him 14th at sectionals and 20th in the district.
Budiman capped his breakout season by qualifying for districts in the 100 breaststroke, earning the No. 30 seed with a 1:07.57 and continuing his steady improvement. Beyond the qualifiers, several varsity Eagles made meaningful strides that underscored the program’s growth. Arthur Cuiskelly in the 200 IM and 100 fly, Landon Hayba who dropped time in both his 100 free and back, Finn Matos who dropped time in both his 50 and 100 free, Cleyton Meredith dropping time in his 50 free, and James Potts who found time drops in his 200 free and 100 breast. Senior Merrick Tarver closed his high school career in style, slicing more than 11 seconds from his 500 and nearly three seconds from his 200 free for season bests in both of his individual performance. Their efforts, though not all reflected in district seeds, were a vital part of the team’s sectional success and momentum.
With 13 NW District qualifying swims, two relays seeded in the top three and multiple individuals ranked among the district’s best, the Eagles have put themselves in position to do exactly that. As they head to Bowling Green, the message is clear—St. Edward is ready to compete, ready to finish, and ready to fly. Leave no doubt.
