×

Klem, Robb off to Canton

CANTON — Crestview junior Rebekah Klem and West Branch freshman Jamyson Robb won’t have to look far to see a familiar face during Thursday’s Division II state swimming meet.

The two training partners will both be vying for podium spots in the 100-yard breaststroke when action gets under way at 5 p.m. Thursday at C.T. Branin Natatorium at Canton McKinley High School.

“I’ve raced against her (Robb) before this year, but I’ve gotten to know her more this year and we’ve become pretty good friends,” Klem said. “I had no doubt she was going to make it to state this year with how well she swims. It’s been nice having somebody push me in practice.”

Robb, who placed fourth at the Cleveland State district meet, is seeded 10th out of 24 swimmers with a time of 1:06.28. Klem, who placed fifth at the Cleveland State district, is seeded 18th with a time of 1:08.08. Klem will be in the first heat, with Robb racing in the third.

“It will be great to race against someone that I know this week,” Robb said. “We’ve pushed each other hard all season. This is a great way to end it.”

This is Klem’s second straight trip to state after finishing 20th in the 100-yard breaststroke last season. She began training in Canton this year under longtime Canton McKinley coach Sam Seiple (who recently coached Green High School graduate Laura Lindsay to the 2016 Olympic trials in the 100 breaststroke) and has seen her times improve across the board.

“He’s been coaching for 25 years and he really knows what he is doing,” Klem said. “Since I started training in Canton, I’ve been practicing six days a week instead of five and I’ve added extra yardage to my practice sessions.”

Both Klem and Robb competed with Canton McKinley’s swimming team this season. The constant competition against bigger schools came in handy for the Division II postseason competition.

“It was a real challenge competing against all of the Federal League schools, I think it definitely helped a lot,” Robb said. “Division II is a lot different than Division I.”

Robb had the goal of making state in the back of her mind since the beginning of the season, but first just tried to focus on getting better. Now that she has made it, she has designs on the podium.

“I really wasn’t sure at the beginning of the year if I was going to be in this position,” Robb said. “I was really just focused on trying to make it districts first and see what happened. But I’d love to make it to the podium. I’m going to have to swim very well, but I feel confident.”

Ditto for Klem, who came away from last year’s state meet feeling she could have done better.

“Last year, I didn’t do as well as I could have, I think I can do a lot better this year,” Klem said. “I’m confident with the work I put in this season.”

Notes

• Robb has been swimming competitively for five years after her father — who swam in high school at Alliance–got her started in the sport.

“I really liked it right away and I wanted to stick with it,” Robb said.

• The top 16 swimmers after Thursday’s preliminaries advance to Friday’s finals at 5 p.m.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today