DeSales and Wellington Swimmers Shine at Ohio State Championships
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division II State Swimming Championships, held February 27, 2026, in Canton, Ohio, saw impressive performances from Central Ohio swimmers. Luke DeFrancisco of DeSales and Jack Mahaffey of Wellington emerged as state champions, highlighting a weekend of competitive swimming.
DeFrancisco Claims Victory in 200 Yard IM
Luke DeFrancisco secured the state title in the boys 200 yard Individual Medley (IM). His powerful breaststroke leg proved crucial in his victory. The Columbus Dispatch reported on his success.
Mahaffey Triumphs in 100 Yard Backstroke
Jack Mahaffey of Wellington dominated the boys 100 yard backstroke, claiming the state championship. Swimcloud details Mahaffey’s achievements, including his performance at the OHSAA Sectionals in Columbus.
Other Notable Performances
Katie Drummond of Bexley also had a strong showing, finishing second in the girls 50 yard freestyle and third in the girls 100 yard butterfly. Bexley’s girls 200 yard medley relay team secured a second-place finish. Hartley freshman Charlotte Galbreath achieved second-place finishes in both the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke paralympic events.
Additional notable results include Reese Reilly of Roger Bacon winning the girls 100-yard breaststroke, with Lily Schneider of Jonathan Alder taking second. Lily Schneider also finished eighth in the 200-yard freestyle, while Granville’s Nolan Schneider placed fourth in the same event. Austin Carpenter of St. Charles achieved a first-place finish in the boys 100 yard freestyle preliminaries.
Division I Results
In the Division I state meet, Kiera Powers of Upper Arlington won the 200-yard individual medley, and Jake Lloyd of St. Charles won the 50 free in a state-record time of 19.39 seconds. Griffin O’Neill of Upper Arlington finished third in the 200-yard freestyle.
These championships showcased the talent and dedication of Ohio’s high school swimmers, with DeFrancisco and Mahaffey leading the charge with their impressive victories.