Avon Lake's Srail Takes Second At States

Avon Lake may be the home of Morgan Srail, but the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, is a place she will always remember.

 That's because four years of diving for the Shoregals ended just a few points shy of being Ohio's best, as Srail scored 473.75 points to take home second at the OHSAA state swimming and diving championships. Cuyahoga Falls Haleigh Bartlett took home first with her score of 482.35.

 "It was a very competitive meet. Haley is a great diver and so is Morgan Mullins, so I knew it would be tough going in," Srail said. "But it was definitely the most relaxed I had been going into a meet, which is so important. I did what I had to do and it was great."

Srail’s efforts were a testament to the fact that hard work and practice do pay off. Although she had been to states in Canton all four years of high school, last year’s 17th place finish was  disappointing to her.

"After last year I was really disappointed, so I practiced a bunch and worked really hard to come back strong this year," Srail said. "Probably the best lesson I learned was you have to move on, and I feel I did that and dived my best."

Admittedly, Srail said that things got a little tense for her during during the seventh round. Not that it was the pressure of being in a state finale --she was also 14th as a freshman and tenth as a sophomore – it was Solon's Sivan Mills hitting her arm on the board and going underwater without surfacing right away.

A lifeguard had to be dispatched, and although Mills was able to finish the meet, it got Srail’s blood moving.

"She had hit the board probably 10 divers before, and it was really nerve racking," Srail said. " But I ended up doing alright on that one, and then I had a gainer dive which was great. I dove the best I could and pretty much didn't miss anything, so I was happy with my performance."

Srail had a 212 in the prelims and a 332.75 in the semi-finals. She trailed Bartlett by 15.8 points, with one dive left, yet despite hitting the water with no splash on her final set, came up just short.

"I pretty much averaged 7; It was much better then the other three times I was there," Srail said. " So I was just happy to be there, and to have my friends and family cheering me on. It feels great, I'm not upset at all, I'm really happy to come back from 17th last year and get second this year."

D-I State Diving Championship Results

1. Haleigh Bartlett, Cuyahoga Falls 482.35, 2. Morgan Srail, Avon Lake 473.75, 3. Morgan Mullins, Centerville 466.85, Taryn McLaughlin, Hudson 450.05, 5. Madeline Swell, Mason 449.95, 6. Emily Mosher, St. Ursula 436.20, 7. Margaret Craycraft, Guilford 436.2, 8. Rachel Speakman, Hudson 420.75,