After setting a state record in the 50-yard freestyle (19.39 seconds), a meet record in the 100 breaststroke (53.06) and helping the 200 free (1:19.41) and 200 medley (1:27.2) relays to state records on the way to a team championship repeat Feb. 28 atBranin Natatorium, Lloyd was ready for a break.
Jack Mahaffey of Wellington swims the boys 100 yard backstroke in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Luke DeFrancisco swims out the breaststroke leg of the boys 200 yard IM for DeSales in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Katie Drummond swims the girls 100 yard butterfly for Bexley in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Luke DeFrancisco is on the podium as state champion for DeSales, having taken the title in the boys 200 yard IM in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Katie Drummond swims the butterfly leg of the girls 200 yard medley relay for Bexley in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Genevieve Bennett touches the wall for a second place finish for Bexley in the girls 200 yard medley relay in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
The ladies of Bexley are your second place medalists in the girls 200 yard medley relayin the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Powering throught the backstroke helped Luke DeFrancisco take home the state championship for DeSales in the boys 200 yard IM in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Luke DeFrancisco of DeSales touches the wall to claim the state title in the boys 200 yard IM in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Katie Drummond of Bexley makes it to the wall for a second place finish in the girls 50 yard freestyle in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Maddie Esposito saw a sixth place finish for Columbus Acsdemy in the girls 50 yard freestyle in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Katie Drummond of Bexley is on the podium with her second place medal from the girls 50 yard freestyle in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Bexley's Kattie Drummond touch the wall and takes third place in the girls 100 yard butterfly in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Katie Drummond of Bexley shows off her third place medal from the girls 100 yard butterfly in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Jack Mahaffey of Wellington made it to the wall fist to claim the state championship in the boys 100 yard backstroke in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Jack Mahaffey of Wellington is atop the podium with his first place medal from the boys 100 yard backstroke in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
Hartley freshman Charlotte Galbreath finished second in both paralympic events at state Feb. 27, the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
Reese Reilly of Roger Bacon placed first with Lily Schneider of Jonathan Alder taking second in the girls 100-yard breaststroke in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, Feb. 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)
Jonathan Alder's Lily Schneider finished eighth in the 200-yard freestyle at the Division II state meet Feb. 27 at Branin Natatorium in Canton.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
Jonathan Alder's Lily Schneider finished eighth in the 200-yard freestyle at the Division II state meet Feb. 27 at Branin Natatorium in Canton.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
Granville's Nolan Schneider finished fourth in the 200-yard freestyle at the Division II state meet Feb. 27 at Branin Natatorium in Canton.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
Austin Carpenter of St. Charles scored a first place finish in the boys 100 yard freestyle preliminaries at the OHSAA State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)
Upper Arlington's Griffin O'Neill finished third in the 200-yard freestyle at the Division I state meet.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
Upper Arlington's Kiera Powers celebrates her Division I state championship in the 200-yard individual medley.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
Upper Arlington's Kiera Powers celebrates her Division I state championship in the 200-yard individual medley.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
St. Charles senior Jake Lloyd celebrates his 50 free state championship, which he earned in a state-record time of 19.32 seconds.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
1/26
Best photos from 2025-26 central Ohio high school winter sports
Jack Mahaffey of Wellington swims the boys 100 yard backstroke in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
1/26
Best photos from 2025-26 central Ohio high school winter sports
Jack Mahaffey of Wellington swims the boys 100 yard backstroke in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
2/26
Best photos from 2025-26 central Ohio high school winter sports
Luke DeFrancisco swims out the breaststroke leg of the boys 200 yard IM for DeSales in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
3/26
Best photos from 2025-26 central Ohio high school winter sports
Katie Drummond swims the girls 100 yard butterfly for Bexley in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
4/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Luke DeFrancisco is on the podium as state champion for DeSales, having taken the title in the boys 200 yard IM in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
5/26
Best photos from 2025-26 central Ohio high school winter sports
Katie Drummond swims the butterfly leg of the girls 200 yard medley relay for Bexley in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
6/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Genevieve Bennett touches the wall for a second place finish for Bexley in the girls 200 yard medley relay in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
7/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
The ladies of Bexley are your second place medalists in the girls 200 yard medley relayin the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
8/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Powering throught the backstroke helped Luke DeFrancisco take home the state championship for DeSales in the boys 200 yard IM in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
9/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Luke DeFrancisco of DeSales touches the wall to claim the state title in the boys 200 yard IM in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
10/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Katie Drummond of Bexley makes it to the wall for a second place finish in the girls 50 yard freestyle in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
11/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Maddie Esposito saw a sixth place finish for Columbus Acsdemy in the girls 50 yard freestyle in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
12/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Katie Drummond of Bexley is on the podium with her second place medal from the girls 50 yard freestyle in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
13/26
Best photos from 2025-26 central Ohio high school winter sports
Bexley's Kattie Drummond touch the wall and takes third place in the girls 100 yard butterfly in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
14/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Katie Drummond of Bexley shows off her third place medal from the girls 100 yard butterfly in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
15/26
Best photos from 2025-26 central Ohio high school winter sports
Jack Mahaffey of Wellington made it to the wall fist to claim the state championship in the boys 100 yard backstroke in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
16/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Jack Mahaffey of Wellington is atop the podium with his first place medal from the boys 100 yard backstroke in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Dispatch)
17/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Hartley freshman Charlotte Galbreath finished second in both paralympic events at state Feb. 27, the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
18/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Reese Reilly of Roger Bacon placed first with Lily Schneider of Jonathan Alder taking second in the girls 100-yard breaststroke in the finals at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, Feb. 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)
19/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Jonathan Alder's Lily Schneider finished eighth in the 200-yard freestyle at the Division II state meet Feb. 27 at Branin Natatorium in Canton.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
20/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Jonathan Alder's Lily Schneider finished eighth in the 200-yard freestyle at the Division II state meet Feb. 27 at Branin Natatorium in Canton.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
21/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Granville's Nolan Schneider finished fourth in the 200-yard freestyle at the Division II state meet Feb. 27 at Branin Natatorium in Canton.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
22/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Austin Carpenter of St. Charles scored a first place finish in the boys 100 yard freestyle preliminaries at the OHSAA State Swimming Championships, Canton, Ohio, February 27, 2026.
(Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)
23/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Upper Arlington's Griffin O'Neill finished third in the 200-yard freestyle at the Division I state meet.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
24/26
Best photos from 2025-26 central Ohio high school winter sports
Upper Arlington's Kiera Powers celebrates her Division I state championship in the 200-yard individual medley.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
25/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
Upper Arlington's Kiera Powers celebrates her Division I state championship in the 200-yard individual medley.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
26/26
Highlights from Ohio high school swimming OHSAA state championships
St. Charles senior Jake Lloyd celebrates his 50 free state championship, which he earned in a state-record time of 19.32 seconds.
(Dave Purpura/Columbus Dispatch)
"I don't think I have enough energy for that," Lloyd said, laughingly, when asked if he wanted to compete in the evening's final event, the 400 free relay. "I'm pretty gassed. Everything worked in my favor. I am super grateful for that."
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Swimmers are limited to two individual and two relay events in a meet.
Those wins and a championship repeat for senior Austin Carpenter in the 100 free (43.06) powered the Cardinals to 348.5 points and first place for the second year in a row, 37.5 points ahead of runner-up Cincinnati St. Xavier.
St. Charles' Jake Lloyd swims to the Division I state championship in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Lloyd's 50 free record eclipsed Olentangy Liberty graduate Hudson Williams' 3-year-old mark of 19.55. The Arizona State signee's 100 breast time was 0.09 of a second off the state record Carpenter set seven days earlier in the district meet at Ohio University.
Carpenter was third in the 100 breast (53.38).
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"I came in having high expectations and I would say I did pretty good with what I was expecting," Lloyd said. "Just all the training that got us here, the team of guys we have pushing me every day got me higher.
"After last year and missing what I wanted to do [finishing second in the 100 free after winning in 2024], I worked [hard] over the summer and the season. I just wanted to deliver this meet and prove I was a guy who could do that."
Jake Lloyd and Austin Carpenter of St. Charles placed first and third in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Division I state meet. Jude Banks of Cleveland St. Ignatius was second.
St. Charles won last year's team title, its first since 2008, with a victory in the 400 free relay to eclipse St. Xavier by a point.
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This meet was less stressful, at least while it was happening.
"We carried the stress throughout the entire season because we were hoping this would be the result, but it's still a lot of pressure," coach Kyle Goodrich said. "We also had the pressure of chasing state records and maybe some nationals. We've been feeling that, whereas last year the state championships themselves were more stressful and they were such a battle."
St. Charles also got a runner-up finish from senior Alex Wu – who was battling the flu, according to Goodrich – in the 200 individual medley (1:49.23) and fourth-place finishes from junior Caden Mahl in the 50 free (20.29) and 100 butterfly (48.89) and junior Caleb Moore in the 100 free (45.44).
"We were doing everything we needed to do," Carpenter said. "The team is really happy, but it might be a little more underwhelming than last year. Knowing we had a really strong team and this was an expectation, versus last year which was more like a chance."
Upper Arlington's Griffin O'Neill stands on the podium after finishing third in the 200-yard freestyle at the Division I state meet.
DaJusta, O'Neill lead Upper Arlington to fourth
Powered by senior Griffin O'Neill's finishes of second in the 100 free (44.46) and third in the 200 free (1:38.17) and second place in both the 200 free relay (1:22.33) and 400 free relay (3:01.47), UA was fourth as a team (209).
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Junior Sammy DaJusta was fourth in the 200 free (1:38.64) and fifth in the 100 free (45.57).
Senior Oliver Hulse was fourth in the 100 breast (55.14).
"This group set themselves up to have a special day," coach Eric Limkemann said. "The guts and effort were incredible. We had high expectations and sometimes when you have those, achievements get overlooked. We took the time to celebrate all of our swims today."
Dublin Coffman (sixth, 137) and Thomas Worthington (eighth, 65) also earned top-10 finishes in the team standings.
Other central Ohio swimmers who reached OHSAA Division I state podium (top-eight finish)
200 medley relay:Upper Arlington (fourth, 1:30.72); Thomas Worthington (sixth, 1:33.79); Pickerington North (eighth, 1:35.2)
