Strumbel, Aronoff, Holtrey all best of the best

Two Hawken girls swimming standouts and the longtime girls swimming coach landed a place in The Plain Dealer`s \"Best of the Best\" for winter sports. Junior Brittany Strumbel received the highest acclaim in the girls swimming category and was named Swimmer of the Year. This season she won her second consecutive Division II state title in the 200-yard freestyle and also the 500 freestyle. She`s won three individiual title and six relay races in the three seasons she`s competed on the girls swimming team. Junior Jennifer Aronoff was also among the roll of area swimmers that were named Best of the Best. She swam on the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays at the championship, which helped Hawken win its eighth straight state title. Aronoff also placed second in the 100 freestyle and the 200 individual medley. Coach Jerry Holtrey has led the girls swimming team to 17 state championships in the past 24 years. This year the team won all three championship relay races, two individual titles and three individual second-place finishes. Holtrey has been with Hawken as a physical education teacher for the past 38 years.