Sneak Peek: The Exciting 2025 Southwest Ohio Classic Unveiled!

This weekend marks the 41st annual Southwest Ohio Swimming and Diving Classic.

The competition is among the largest in the nation and serves as a significant benchmark for teams approximately one month before the state championships. Since its inception by Dave Gordon, Patrick Lunsford, Val Lyons, and Claudia Multer in 1984, it has drawn some of the finest talent from across the state.

Here’s what you need to know regarding this weekend’s event.

Ohio’s elite swimmers and divers arrive in Southwest Ohio this weekend

Meet co-directors Multer, Jeff Campbell, and Tim Schoborg expect 2,450 swimmers and 165 divers representing 124 schools to compete in the pool this weekend.

Diving preliminary contests will occur at four different venues on Saturday, Jan. 18, with the finals being held at West Clermont on Sunday, Jan. 19.

Swimming preliminaries and finals will take place across both days. Prelims will be hosted at 11 separate locations, while all finals will occur at St. Xavier’s Keating Natatorium.

The Bombers have claimed victory in every boys team championship since the event began. The Mason Comets are the reigning champions in the girls division, looking to secure a third consecutive title after finishing as runners-up at the 2024 state championships.

Which past state champions are set to participate in the 2025 Southwest Ohio Swimming and Diving Classic?

St. Xavier graduated a remarkable senior class in 2024, yet this won’t deter the Bombers from aiming for their 45th team state championship. Chase Grisi played a role in the state championship 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays last year, while Jaeger Ellerman participated in the previous year’s 400-yard freestyle relay, in addition to the victorious 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay in 2023.

Kings junior Maya Schweikert was among the two individual state champions for the Knights last season. She led the 100-yard back at the halfway point and maintained her lead to secure her first state title.

Stanford signee Addie Robillard clinched three state titles while competing for St. Ursula Academy. She achieved back-to-back wins in the 100-yard breaststroke in 2022 and 2023, while also claiming the 200-yard individual medley title in 2023. She is concluding her high school career at Sycamore and is likely to accumulate additional medals.

Arjun Velayutham was instrumental in Indian Hill securing victory in both the 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay in 2023. He achieved two individual podium finishes last year and participated in two top-eight relays.

Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy has made a significant impact at the girls Division II state championships over the last three years, largely due to Taylor Bacher and Julia Shafer. Bacher is the back-to-back state champion in the 200-yard freestyle and has been the back-to-back runner-up in the 500-yard freestyle. She also assisted her relay teams in achieving podium finishes in 2024. Shafer claimed the 200-yard individual medley title in 2023 and has been part of numerous top-eight relay squads.

In February of last year, Reese Reilly secured Roger Bacon’s first girls swimming state title since 1985 when she triumphed in the 100-yard backstroke. She also placed fifth in the 200-yard individual medley.