Mark Davis and the RedHawks will add two Greater Cincinnati swimmers next fall. Both Casey Frazier and Maureen Sullivan of the Mason Manta Rays have give their verbal commitments (with early signing happening today) to stay in Ohio and swim at Miami (OH) in Oxford, Ohio.
Casey Frazier is an upcoming breaststroke and individual medley swimmer. Casey has been on the Mason Manta Rays since its establishment 10 years ago under Head Coach Ken Heis. Outside the club season, she represents Lakota West during the high school season in Ohio.
“I chose Miami because I really liked the team atmosphere and the coaching staff. And any day of the year, the campus is absolutely beautiful. Plus, I plan on majoring in business and their program has a great reputation, which is just another bonus to everything else.” Frazier said about her college choice.
Frazier has a lot of potential still in front of her, with a great foundation is each of her strokes. At Districts last year, she finished 5th in the 200 IM and 2nd in the 100 breaststroke. Plus, her Lakota West 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays were top 8 and earned a berth to the State Championships. At State, Frazier finished 15th in the 200 IM and 16th in the 100 breaststroke individually.
Miami is also gaining a very strong academically athlete out of Frazier. Even if Frazier wasn’t a swimmer, her grades and test scores could alone earn her a full scholarship to Miami – which is ranked very highly academically in the nation. She has been a USA Swimming Scholastic All American, in her high school’s National Honor Society, and will be Lakota West’s Salutatorian for the Class of 2014.
Her best times include 1:05.57/2:23.44 100/200 breaststrokes and 2:05.41/4:29.52 200/400IM – all are NCSA Junior time standards.
Mauren Sullivan is another Manta Ray making her way to Oxford, Ohio next season. Sullivan has primarily been coached by her father, Mark Sullivan – who is the Head Water Polo & Swim Coach at Mason High School, plus the Varsity Group coach at the Manta Rays.
Sullivan told us that, “Miami was the only place where I felt comfortable. It felt like I already knew the girls since they were so welcoming to me on my trip. What was also very important was that I knew Miami could be the next home for me. The coaches were awesome and made me feel very comfortable; which was a big part in my decision, since my dad has been my coach for the past four years.”
Sullivan is extremely athletic; she’s been a star water polo player throughout high school. Just recently in her senior captain year, Mason High School Water Polo won their first State Title and Sullivan has garnered many awards in her career including All Ohio First Team, All Ohio Player of the Year (Jr. and Sr. year), and First Team All American (Jr.).
Like Frazier, Sullivan has a lot more swimming and improvement in her future. Sullivan is more on the “raw” side in our sport, she’s always balanced other sports, plus swam year round for the first time this past summer. While being mainly a winter swimmer, Sullivan is a three-time state qualifier, and last year at Districts she finished 6th in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
Unfortunately, Sullivan ran into a bout of strep throat at State last season, but was able to step up and swim big for the Comet relays. The 200 medley relay finished 10th, while the 200 freestyle relay was 5th. Plus, Sullivan has played a big role at the conference meet, where Mason High School has won every GMC Championships since 2007 on the women’s side.
Sullivan is a sprint freestyle and backstroke specialist. Her best time are 24.26 (23.79r) 50 freestyle, 26.61/56.92/2:07.90 50/100/200 backstroke.