Leila Hawk made history this year as the first Maysville High School student to make it to the OHSAA State Swimming Championship where she competed in the 500 Freestyle after placing third in the 500 at district. She also placed seventh in the 200 at the district meet. During her freshman and sophomore swim seasons, she has racked up quite a list of achievements. Leila has been named MVL champion four times in the 200 Meter and 400 Meter collectively. Hawk also won the County Meet Champion position four times as well in the 200 and 500 yards. She was a three-time Sectional Champion, a four-time District Qualifier, and a three-time District Medalist. Leila’s coaches are Starr Jinkens and Theresa Baughman.
“I started swimming when I was around 8 (my first race was at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati) and I won a heat ribbon. Lance Lynch was the first person that really helped me with swimming and Jen Dillehay (YMCA team) made it fun and helped me make it to Zones. Christy Holmes (Dresden Dorados/TV) has also helped me over the years and of course, Theresa Baughman and Starr Jinkins have helped during my high school seasons.” stated Hawk.
Leila likes to run and lift weights with her friends and teammates, she is also a lifeguard at the YMCA. When asked what got her started with swimming she said “Watching my brother swim got me interested and having Lance (Lynch) ask me to get in the pool.”
Tillman Hawk, Leila’s older brother is a Freshman at Malone University where he swims in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, Division 2. Tillman recently competed in the GMAC-Mountain East Conference Championship where he finished 12th in the 1650 Freestyle, 13th in the 1000-yard Freestyle, and 15th in the 500-yard Freestyle and he had the second highest point total in Malone U’s men’s swimmers. His coach at Malone is Nick Wertz.
“I just always grew up swimming and I grew to love it, especially in my later years. I started around age 8 with the Muskingum Valley Power, so around 11 years. My first race was at the Freelander in Wooster. My number one influence would be Lance Lynch. He was always there to correct me when I was messing up. He was always supportive even when he was struggling with cancer when I was in high school. I plan on doing competitive swimming during college. After that, I’m sure that I will always just swim for fun. My goals are to set the school (Malone U.) record in the 1000 and 1650 which are currently held by coach Wertz. Also, I would like to get a sub 5 min 500.” said Tillman.
Tillman is currently studying wildlife biology at Malone and talks about the expectations of college competition “I have to get up much earlier, around 4:50 for swim practice each day. Also, we have a second practice or lifting in the afternoon. Lifting as a team is different. Before I just lifted on my own but now we lift during the season and off-season together. Swimming has got me used to doing things even when I’m extremely tired. I have a full load of classes along with the swim schedule and the physical exhaustion really kicks in around the first class. It also allowed me to connect with a new group of friends. “
Leila wants to follow in her brother’s footsteps “I want to get back to state the next two years and get to swim at a college like Ohio University. Swimming is a sport in which everyone is nice and everyone is respectful of each other. It’s a sport that is great for everyone because it’s a good way to try for other sports. Unlike most sports, you can swim for the rest of your life “
