Three Cincinnati Hills swimmers win DII state championships
CINCINNATI — Three Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy swimmers overcame nerves and let their physical gifts carry them to Division II state championships last month at the Ohio High School Athletic Association meet in Canton.
For senior Logan Ottke, his second consecutive 100-yard breaststroke title was the culmination of years of practice and sacrifice. Sophomores Taylor Bacher (200-yard freestyle) and Julia Schafer (200-yard individual medley) have the opportunity for multiple appearances atop the podium.
Ottke, 18, lives in Morrow. He trailed at the final turn of his race before pulling ahead in the last couple of strokes to successfully defend his 2022 title. He described his emotions as 鈥渞elief.鈥�
鈥淚 was just happy to come out on top in the last race of my senior year. I would say it is much more stressful to have everyone鈥檚 expectations that you will repeat as a state champion, instead of just winning it for the first time,鈥� Ottke, who started swimming competitively at 6-years-old, said.
鈥淧ut the physical aspects with his general attitude of just doing everything to a high level, and it just fits for him to be successful. He always listens to constructive criticisms and always works hard do make himself better,鈥� CHCA coach Don Rielag said.
Most breaststrokers are bigger than other swimmers because of the power and strength required for the stroke. 鈥淎t the same time, the patience you have to have for this stroke is really impressive and is something not a lot of swimmers can do,鈥� Ottke said.
Shafer, 15, a Maineville resident, also expressed relief at winning. 鈥淚 was happy, and I knew that all of my hard work had paid off. It still feels so surreal, and I remember it like it was a dream,鈥� she said.
Both Ottke and Shafer admitted to some nerves before their races.
鈥淚t was hard to stay confident even though I knew I had it in me to win this event,鈥� Ottke said. 鈥淢y biggest concern was that I would get in my head which would raise my nerves, and when that happens it鈥檚 hard to gain control again.鈥�
Shafer first competed on a club team at the age of 5. She said she had to 鈥減sych herself up鈥� before the finals.
鈥淟eading up to the meet, I knew that I had put in the work in the pool, my only holdback was mentally. I was nervous before the race because I knew people were expecting big things from me. Behind the blocks I kept saying to myself, 鈥業鈥檓 doing this for me,鈥� and 鈥榊ou got this,鈥欌�� she said.
Rielag, who has been at CHCA for seven years and coached nine state champions, said both Ottke and Shafer are 鈥減owerful swimmers.鈥�
鈥�(Logan) puts his heart unto everything he does. He is physically powerful in the water, and combine that with him putting all his heart into his swimming, it is very difficult to stop him,鈥� Rielag said. 鈥淗e swims fast because he wants to swim fast. Logan is just one of those people who can command his body to just get the job done.鈥�
鈥淛ulia Shafer has incredible strength. When I put up my fist to give her the rock, she hits back very hard. Most people just kind of give you the rock back. She gives it back with something extra. That translates into her swims.
鈥淪he swims fast, and then she hits back with something extra to get ahead. She out-powers other swimmers. She can just flat out get after it when she swims. It is so much fun to watch.鈥�
Bacher is a 鈥渢orpedo,鈥� according to Rielag.
鈥淧ut her in the water and she is so fast at so many things. Her versatility allows her to train in so many ways. It is rare to see someone be able to perform at that high a level in so many different ways,鈥� he said.
Getting swimmers to believe in themselves and prepare mentally is the hard part, Rielag, a Mason resident, said. He and assistants Tim Frazer and Billy Pohl show them videos, and help analyze their performance. Nerves are common for coaches as well.
鈥淚 am always a nervous wreck the day of the meet. I was confident they would do well. They have prepared well, eaten well, rested well. They did everything they were supposed to,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y biggest worry is that if the championship doesn鈥檛 happen, they will focus more on that than who they are as a person. These kids have such a heart for others and are so talented, they will be remembered for the impact they have in the world. The impact they will have on others will go well past whether or not they win.鈥�
Ottke been named a USA Swimming Scholastic All American for the past two years, is a U.S. Winter Junior National and Summer Junior National qualifier and earned a US Open cut in his best event, the 100 breaststroke. Shafer is a multi-event Futures qualifier and has placed in the top eight in many local and national meets. She is ranked ninth in Ohio in the class of 2025.
Both swim in the summer for the Mason Manta Rays. Each credited their coaches as a big part of their success.
鈥淚鈥檓 lucky to attend CHCA and my teachers and coaches (Mr. Rielag and Mr. Frazer and Dr. Pohl) have been very supportive during my high school career,鈥� Ottke said, adding that Pohl has been his biggest influence, both in the pool and in the classroom.
Shafer shares that view.
鈥淭he person who has most influenced me in my high school career is my coach/teacher, Dr. Pohl. He has always supported me, and I can always count on him to advocate for me. He is the person I know that I can go to whenever I need to talk, and he is the person who got me out of my own head right before I had to swim the 200 IM.鈥�
CHCA鈥檚 boys placed 15th overall as a team; the girls were ninth. Rielag said that emphasizes the team nature of the sport.
鈥淭his team is successful because there are no egos. They all worked so hard to do their part for everyone else. The swimmers do a great job of staying positive and lifting each other up. They cheer for each other, they help each other,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are so many friends on the team. It is just like the Musketeers, 鈥楢ll for one, and one for all.鈥� They have so much fun together. Even in the toughest practices, they are there for each other. I love coaching this team. I love these swimmers. I would not ask for another situation.鈥�
Ottke has committed to the University of Missouri, where he will swim and major in accounting. Shafer also hopes to compete at the Division I level.
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