With the Ohio High School State Championship meet on the horizon, scheduled for February 24-27th at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, speculation is already brewing that one or more of the state’s longest-standing records may indeed go down by the time the meet is done and dusted.
St. Xavier of Cincinnati has a storied history of state title-winning stretches dating back to the 1970s, with the latest consecutive championship trophies being brought back to the Bombers from 2009 – 2015. Among the storied athletes to have attended and competed for St. X is two-time Olympic freestyler, Joe Hudepohl.
Before earning 3 Olympic medals across 2 Games as a relay swimmer, Hudepohl was breaking records back in Ohio, 3 of which still stand today. Hudepohl still holds the state’s 50, 100 and 200 freestyle records, with the former two having been set in 1992 and the latter 200m standing since 1991.
| 200 Yard Freestyle | 1:34.96 | Joe Hudepohl, Cincinnati St. Xavier | Canton | 1991 |
| 50 Yard Freestyle | :20.01 | Joe Hudepohl, Cincinnati St. Xavier | Canton | 1992 |
| 100 Yard Freestyle | :43.43 | Joe Hudepohl, Cincinnati St. Xavier | Canton | 1992 |
We were lucky enough to get our hands on the footage of that remarkable 200 freestyle swim from 1991. As interesting as it is to take in what swimming as a sport looked like back in 1991, complete with jammer-less swimmers and wedgeless blocks, it’s also just as remarkable that Hudepohl touched almost four seconds ahead of his competitors in a final time of 1:34.96 – a mark which impressively would have placed within the top 16 at even last year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Championships.
Threatening the Hudepohl 200 crown, however, is St. Xavier junior Grant House, a freestyle specialist who has also seen success in the shorter 100 and 50 distances as well. As a sophomore for the Bombers last year, House already made a name for himself winning both the 200 and 100 freestyle races to claim two state titles in times of 1:35.28 and 44.79, respectively.
House’s name may also sound familiar as the Cincinnati native was the anchor of the Junior World Record-setting U.S. 800m freestyle relay at last summer’s FINA World Junior Championships in Singapore. The relay went on to win a gold medal and give House some valuable international racing experience.
Most recently at the 2016 Southwest Ohio Swimming and Diving Classic last month, House clocked a monster 1:37.91 200 freestyle to crush Hudepohl’s 1992 meet record of 1:39.43, perhaps foreshadowing what may take place in Canton come States.
House needs to drop a very doable .33 of a second to overtake Ohio legend Hudepohl’s record in the 200 to write his name into St. X and the state of Ohio’s history books.
His 50 record was beaten by Erik Risolvato with a 19.62 in 2012.
And by Adam Chaney in ‘19
You can see my grandfather and official, George Schaefer, congratulating Joe at the 3:00 mark.
Joe Hudepohl and Eric Diehl. The “1-2” punch that never materialized at Stanford! Both unbelievable talents and both wrecked by injury and illness.
Joey was part of an amazing group of young swimmers with the Pepsi Marlins, who in 1992 had 6 of them make Olympic Trials, they were a special group who all made each other better every day.
Thanks for linking to the video! That was an amazing swim to watch from the warm-down pool following the Medley Relay that year. Also of note in the video is multiple NAG record holder Jake Harms in lane 5, as well as three other athletes that earned D1 scholarships. A 200 free with all finalists pressing 1:42 was amazing 25 years ago.
I believe Shoults holds nat’l independent from last year
I was lucky enough to swim for St X at these meets in 90, 91, 92. Joey’s 50 and 100 in 1992 were unshaved but slightly rested if I remember correctly, because Trials were pretty close to our state meet that year. He led off our relay with that 20.01. I anchored. He got us such a great lead and smooth water that we all swam fast. His 200 in 1991 was probably the loudest meet I’ve ever heard in terms of cheering.
Remember he ended up winning Trials in the 200m Free in 1992, so I’m sure he could have gone faster than his 1:34.96 given the chance.
It was a great group of guys back then, all… Read more »
Joey is a class act! Amazing athlete! That is an awesome place to swim fast — it gets so loud — the energy is electric. Swam there in ’84 and ’85–great memories!