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Sandusky, Ohio-native Charlie Clark has announced his decision to attend The Ohio State University in 2020-21. He is one of six swimmers to have made a verbal commitment to the Buckeyes’ class of 2024. He’ll join Ian Van Gorp, Jean-Pierre Khouzam, Justin Fleagle, Mario McDonald, and Owen Conley in Columbus in the fall of 2020.
“I am very excited to announce my verbal commitment to The Ohio State University! I chose OSU because of the coaching staff, the team atmosphere, and the vision they have for the program! GO BUCKS!!”
Clark is coming off a strong showing at Speedo Junior Nationals where he earned his first 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials cuts in the 800 free and 1500 free. Clark placed third in the 1500 on Tuesday with an 18-second drop, from a seed time of 15:51.42 to 15:33.51. On Saturday he placed seventh in the 800 free with 8:12.20 for a second OT cut. It would have been a best time by 10.8 seconds but he had gone 8:11.56 as a leadoff 800 in the 1500 on Tuesday. Between the two he competed in the 400 free (15th place with a PB of 4:01.13) and the 200 free.
A USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, Clark is a rising senior at Perkins High School. He was runner-up in the 500 free (4:30.80) and placed fourth in the 200 free (1:43.11) at the 2019 OHSAA Division 2 Championships as a junior. That was a big improvement from his 13th place in the 200 (1:44.30) and fifth in the 500 (4:40.70) the previous year.
In club swimming, Clark represents Vacationland Swim Club. He notched a ton of best times at the Lake Erie Senior Championships in March, including the SCY 50/500 free and 100/200 back and LCM 200 free. (The meet format was SCY in prelims, LCM in finals.) He won the 200/400/800/1500 free and was an A-finalist in the 50 free, 100 back, and 200 back.
The Ohio State men’s distance squad hasn’t had the same success as its women’s team. Outgoing senior Nick Hogsed was the top scorer at 2019 B1G Championships with an eighth-place finish in the 500 free and an eleventh in the 1650. Clark will overlap one year with Carson Burt who was 23rd and 16th in those events.
Top SCY times:
- 1650 free – 15:43.60
- 1000 free – 9:24.52
- 500 free – 4:30.74
- 200 free – 1:42.31
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Ok, I have a real problem with this — how is Sandusky, Ohio Vacationland? I mean, I see the roller coasters in the background of the photo, but shouldn’t that name be reserved for a club in Maine??? Its literally the state motto and on the sign when you enter the state. #lobstah 🙂
Is the US so small that we can only have one Vacationland?
The Miss Ohio beauty pageant officially recognized the area as “Vacationland” in 1962, when the area was firist allowed to award “Miss Vacationland” titles. I mean, I don’t know how much more official you can get than that.
(Also, Cedar Point is an insane amusement park, and has been there since 1870.)
It was first printed on the Maine license plates in 1936, so they have you beat by almost 30 years there.
And DMV officialism > Miss Ohio Beauty Pageant officialism. I mean, just try operating a car without all the proper paperwork and see how it goes when you get pulled over . . . . so I’ve heard . . . .
there can be more than one vacationland
This has got to be one of the most obscure bits of trivia I have ever seen! Seriously, whow knew that Sandusky, OH began awarding the “Miss Vacationland” title in 1962? I’m with DIIIER, Maine has done a better job of claiming the title ‘Vacationland”.
Can’t there be more than one Vacationland?
He’s gonna be a great addition to Buckeyes 2024
Congratulations Charlie! You’re going to do big things!