SwimSwam welcomes reader submissions about all topics aquatic, and if it’s well-written and well-thought, we might just post it under our “Shouts from the Stands” series. We don’t necessarily endorse the content of the Shouts from the Stands posts, and the opinions remain those of their authors. If you have thoughts to share, please [email protected].
The following piece comes to us from Dylan Warren, a high school senior swimmer for Gahanna Columbus Academy, and touches on the issue of incorporating video replay into swimming, starting at the sport’s highest levels and then trickling down from there, similar to what volleyball has done recently with the inclusion of video replay for Olympic and NCAA competition.
The air in C.T. Branin Natatorium at Canton McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio was alive. As the swimmers stepped up to the blocks, the noise of the crowd died down from loud conversation, to a soft murmur, and then to total silence. Teammates gathered behind the lanes of their respective team, preparing to cheer their hearts out for what was sure to start the night with insane suspense. The top eight teams of the 200 Medley Relay walked out of the ready room and lined up behind their lanes. Top seed in the event, Columbus Academy, stood behind the blocks of lane four. “Take your mark…” the starter said into the microphone. The crowd and the teammates collectively held their breath, ready to scream in an instant, on the verge of their seats: tense.
The buzzer sounded and the swimmers flew off the starting blocks. The crowd erupted into a deafening roar. Teammates stood at the end of the lanes screaming and jumping up and down. Columbus Academy finished first with a 1:33, dropping over an entire second from prelims the day before. Hawkens finished second.
What’s it like having a state champion title ripped from you? Why don’t you ask Junior Backstroker Max Driesbach, Senior Breaststroker Nate Goldfarb, Sophomore Butterflier Jack Campbell, and Sophomore Freestyler Jacob Eismann. They know all too well…
The order of the 200 Medley Relay goes: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Freestyle. Jack Campbell, swimming butterfly, came charging into the wall as Jacob timed the exchange and flew off the blocks with a purpose. When Jacob finished, we stood behind lane four going absolutely nuts. As a senior and captain on the team, I was so proud of my boys and what they had just accomplished. Not only had they just won Columbus Academy’s first ever state title in that event, they had also broken the school record by over a second.
And then it all changed. A collective gasp went up from the crowd, and as my teammates and I looked up to the scoreboard we saw the infamous “D” next to Columbus Academy’s time, in place of where there should have been a “1” for finishing first. It meant the most damning thing possible at the state competition level: we had been disqualified.
As the realization set in, fans yelled in anger and outrage, others cheered with joy. As for my teammates and myself, we stood in shock. Of course, the Hawkens fans were ecstatic. We walked away in silence, heads hung low.
My fellow Vikings and I quietly returned to our team area in the gym, meeting our assistant coach along the way. Usually an extremely positive guy, even he held his head low, the usual smile that filled his eyes noticeably absent.
One by one, members of the Columbus Academy relay team entered the gym. We silently hugged them all. Their moods varied considerably. Jack entered first in total silence, scowling, and with a far away look in his eyes. Nate stomped in, threw his clothes at his bag, and stormed out, heading for the warm down pool. Jacob, charged with the disqualification for false starting, entered the gym sobbing. He crashed down into his seat and buried his face into his hands, body shaking as he heaved. Finally, Max walked in fast, pointing at Jacob from across the gym. “Don’t you do this Jacob,” Max yelled, “Don’t you dare do this.” We all looked up. “That wasn’t on you,” Max said angrily, now right next to Jacob. “That wasn’t on you. That was on all of us, all four of us. We are a team, we did that together. Understand?” Max now held Jacob’s head to his chest. Jacob nodded. Max crouched so that he was eye level with Jacob. “Now, lets go warm down, okay? We’ve got more racing to do.” Slowly, they got up and walked toward the warm down pool.
And so the Columbus Academy Vikings rallied. Max went on to finish 5th in the 200 IM and 4th in the 100 fly. Nate went on to finish 7th in the 200 IM and 2nd in the 100 breast. Jacob finished 6th in the 50 free and 4th in the 100 back.
Watching the scene quietly from the center of the gym stood the the head coach of another team. Upon the exit of Max and Jacob, he walked over and expressed his condolences. “What happened?” he asked us. ‘We don’t know,’ we answered. We explained that we guessed it was a false start on our freestyler during the final relay exchange. “Really?” the coach asked, irritated. “That’s total bullshit: there was nothing wrong with that start.” He shook each of our hands and wished us luck for the rest of the meet, urging us to keep our heads held high.
30 minutes later, we had video and photographic proof that there was nothing even slightly illegal about the relay. As the picture in this article shows, Jacob’s feet had not yet left the blocks before Jack’s hands had touched the wall. As a matter of fact, it was a perfect start: as a team we could not have asked Jacob to do more. And we told him so, showing him the picture to help ease his guilt.
The night ended with the announcement of the final scores. The Columbus Academy Boys finished third with 146 points. Cincinnati Seven Hills finished second with 171 points. Hawken finished first with 230 points. Third place is the highest the boys team has ever finished at the state meet. The disqualification cost the Columbus Academy Boys their first ever State Runner-Up finish in the history of the school. However, they rallied valiantly. They swam best times throughout the night, refusing to be deterred from standing on the podium. They finished with a 2nd place finished in the 400 free relay.
OHSAA rules dictate that all decisions regarding disqualifications are final, and are not subject to further review, even when considering photographic proof as evidence contradicting the call. This article has been a recounting of the event from the observer’s perspective, and a retelling of the emotions and brutal reality of the situation, in an effort to help others realize the flaw in the OHSAA officiating system. Disqualifying a state champion on simple human error is the most controversial call one could make as an official. To not even reconsider the call after there is proof the call should be reversed, is the true injustice of the system. On top of it all, the official standing over Columbus Academy’s lane dropped the disqualification paper into the water. OHSAA is behind on the technological curve, and it’s about time they modernized.
Editors Note: While the video and photo do shed light on the exchange in question, it’s also worth noting that officials are not allowed by OHSAA rules to overturn a decision after reviewing photographic or video evidence.
The video in question:
The still photograph, courtesy of Ron Eismann:
It should be noted that it takes 2 officials agreeing on the call. One in the middle looking out and one on the side looking in.
I am an Official and the way the State of Tenn Championship meet approached relays this year was as follows. A Special group consisting of very senior Level officials (N-3 Deck Referee ) were assigned to the relay takeoff crews. There were no disputed calls. From the looks of the official and the way he was standing to judge this take off I would question his background and qualifications. Only the most Senior Officials should do relay takeoffs. One of the commenters was correct. The electronic system is not fool proof. In fact the SEC championships petitioned the NCAA this year to shut off the electronic system during the meet and only go with human observation.
Same thing happens to St. Charles 400 Free relay at 2016 Districts. DQ’d for false start. Pictures showed start was good. Old fart official wasn’t even standing over the pool with good line of sight. It standing back a couple of feet. Officials left pool quickly and offered no explanation. Not having our 400 Free relay at States cost SC runner up to Brecksville.
These wrongs should be righted by tecnology. Period!
I feel for the officials. thankless jobs.
At a State Championship the State Association should provide electronic judging. Then this problem becomes moot.
Most people on this thread commenting are not officials. Judging relay take-offs takes practice. I’ve been an official for 5 years and still need more experience. When you get to the higher level meets, such as Jr Nats, there are kids crowding the blocks, water flying, and just general chaos. It is difficult to tell sometimes whether a kid leaves early- you’re often looking at a split second decision. We’re taught to look at hand on wall then feet on the block. If you are responsible for watching 4 lanes as these officials were, there is definitely room for human error. That being said, relying on block pads is not always accurate. Look at the women’s SEC meet this year… Read more »
At the OHSAA State meet officials, much like at Nats and JNats, are only responsible for one lane. There is a lane judge and a side judge for each lane and dual confirmation is required for a disqualification. It provides a level of accuracy not available at any other high school meet in the state. Actually we should and are be looking at the feet leaving the block and then the hand touching the wall. That gives the swimmer coming in a split second of benefit as the eyes shift. As a lane judge with your eyes 6 inches from the feet watching for the toes to leave the block and then shifting your eyes to the water to see… Read more »
Honestly, the lack of RJPs at a meet like this is inexcusable. The officials called what they saw, but in this day and age, they should be there for when electronics fail when there is proven, widely accepted technology available. You can buy RJPs for almost any block set-up, Canton is no exception. The example of SECs is perfect; typically, the RJPs are reliable and work without issue, however, they failed and went back to officials as a fail safe. What happens when a touch pad misfires? A: We have back-up times and watches as a fail safe. Do you think the NCAA is not going to use RJPs at Championships? A: Uh, No.
OHSAA adopted the fin on… Read more »
I have been a swimming official for over 35 years and am a former state qualifier. NFHS does not recognize RJP,s yet. Ohio only adopted the wedges on the rear of the block once NFHS did in the rule book. Those that noticed the jump prior to the swimmer leaving the block are correct, that alone is a reason for a DQ. Unfortunately no one noticed this foul.
NHFS does have a protocol for RJP’s
NFHS has protocols for RJPs…
Page 29
https://nfhs-swimming-diving.arbitersports.com/Groups/105415/Library/files/2014-15%20Swimming%20Officials'%20Manual%20FINAL.pdf
I could not care less how long you have been an official, much like it doesn’t matter how long I have been involved in competitive swimming, it’s not pertinent to the discussion.
What is pertinent is that there is electronic timing available for relay take offs that has been used at elite levels of competitions for a decade. Why does NFHS have to recognize something for it to be used at OHSAA meets, or meets in any state for that matter?
Just because NFHS does not have protocol for, or recognize RJPs is not a valid reason for not using them. How about OHSAA leads the way and does what is in the best interest of the kids, right… Read more »
From this video, it looks like the official is focused on the incoming swimmer instead of looking at the feet on the blocks. What’s up with that?
Perhaps he already saw the kid leap
So bottom line is people trust pictures/videos taken from smartphones at bad angles and 75 feet away compared to the official who is standing right next to the block to watch the start. Makes complete sense to me.