Swimmers Eye Eighth Consecutive State Title

The Hawken School girls swimming team has won seven straight state championships, including the past six in Division II. The Hawks have claimed titles in 15 of the past 22 years, all with Jerry Holtrey as their coach. Barring a major surprise, by 10 p.m. on Saturday, the record books will show Hawken with eight straight state titles, including seven in Division II, and 16 championships beginning with the 1983-84 season. The state meet begins today with the diving competition, and continues with the swimming on Friday and Saturday in Canton`s Branin Natatorium. Hawken, boasting one of its deepest teams, could rival its effort of last season, when it tallied 390 points to 201 for runner-up Cincinnati Indian Hill. \"It`s not an added burden,\" Hawken`s eight-time state champion, senior Sarah Dorenkott, said of the team`s expectations. \"It`s motivation to try to live up to what everybody expects and to what we expect of ourselves. \"It`s great to walk away with a state title. It`s not just about winning a state title, though. It`s to improve individually, too. But we don`t take anything for granted.\" This is a portion of the article which appeared in the Plain Dealer Thursday, February 23, by Mike Peticca. Read the complete story here. Also, tune in to Fox 8 tonight at 6:00 pm, for an appearance by Coach Jerry Holtrey and Plain Dealer player of the Week Brittany Strumbel.