By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

As the OHSAA winter sports season continues, with many athletes ending up in Columbus to crown state champions, the swimming and diving championships are this week in Canton.

The C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton is one of the premier swimming facilities in the Midwest and will host four Portage County athletes, along with the rest of the swimmers and divers from across the state advancing from the District tournaments.

Divers Ella Houk and Aubrey Kennedy, freestyle competitor Trinity Heath and 100-yard butterfly swimmer Carson Letchworth are all headed to the natatorium.

Senior Ella Houk makes a return trip to the tournament this season representing Kent Roosevelt. Houk qualified in the girls 1-meter dive competition and will make her first dive today as the seventh girl to compete.

Aubrey Kennedy, an Aurora junior, follows Houk, diving 21st out of 32 girls.

Joining the athletes from Portage County is Trinity Heath, a sophomore representing Kent Roosevelt, swims in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle on Saturday.

The Kent Roosevelt and Aurora athletes are competing in Division-I competitions.

Finally, Carson Letchworth of Southeast competes in the 100 butterfly. Letchworth, a senior, is the first athlete to compete at the state tournament in the sport of swimming for the Pirates.

Watch for results in Portage Sports and profiles on each of the athletes as they finish their competition.