Zhu, the Warriors focused on making Peterfish’s last season special
Last year, Sam Zhu, a junior for the Worthington Christian varsity boys swim team, got a front-row seat to see how far swimming can take an athlete. Zhu placed 32nd in the 500-yard freestyle in 5 minutes, 1.77 seconds at the Division II state meet last year.
While he was taking his first steps on the state stage, Zhu watched 2025 graduate Austin Hickok climb to near the top of the awards podium, finishing as the state runner-up in both the 200 freestyle (1:38.74) and the 50 free (20.45).
“Watching him compete inspires me to work harder,” said Zhu, one of three swimmers for the Warriors this year. “His improvement trajectory was pretty rapid. It’d be nice if I could do that too. My goal is to make it back there, place in the top eight, and break our school record (in the 500 free).”
Reaching the state meet has become a program standard under coach Jim Peterfish. During his 23-year tenure, Worthington Christian has sent at least one athlete to the state meet in 17 of those seasons — including the last 13 in a row. Hickok; Lena Morgan (2019 Division II diving champion); Justin Peterfish (seventh in the 100 breaststroke in 2005); and Becca Knapper (sixth in the 500 free and fifth in the 100 fly in 2016) have all earned spots on the podium.
This season will be Peterfish’s last with the Warriors. After recently retiring as the head swimming coach of the Westerville Aquatics Club, he agreed to stay on for one more season as the school looks for his successor.
Peterfish said watching Hickok’s climb was particularly gratifying. After failing to advance to the state meet his freshman year, the current Ohio State swimmer placed 15th in the butterfly and 28th in the 100 back as a sophomore and then took second in the 50 free and fourth in the 100 fly as a junior.
“It’s unique when you have someone with his ability,” Peterfish said. “His improvement from his freshman year to his senior year is a testimony to his preparation and dedication to the sport.”
Peterfish believes Zhu’s experience can pay off a similar dividend this year.
“The environment of the state meet is pretty intense, and just going through that experience of being there is a big benefit,” Peterfish said. “Last year, he qualified, but he didn’t have any expectation of doing well.
“He’s made a lot of improvement in the summer. I told him, let’s see if we can get him qualified for a second swim and get him on the podium.”
Zhu said he learned a lot from his first state meet.
“The trip to Canton was a little overwhelming,” Zhu said. “There were a lot of things happening all at once, and a lot of people in the pool during warm-ups. But it was also really fun.”
Worthington Christian will compete with just three swimmers this year. Sophomore Josiah Doyel, who placed 13th in the 200 free and ninth in the 100 back at the Division II Central District meet last season, returns this season. Freshman Lucas Kourie, who will be competing in the 100 breaststroke, is the team’s lone newcomer.
“Josiah could be knocking on the door of qualifying for the state meet this year,” Peterfish said. “It’d be wonderful for him to have that kind of year. Hopefully, we can get Lucas to the district meet. That would be a great, great season for us.”
Competing with a smaller team has its benefits, according to Peterfish.
“As a small team, you go into meets without worrying about a team score,” he said. “Each week, we’re focused on our individual goals.”
“One of the good things that happens with a small team is you can connect better with each other since there are only three of you,” Zhu said. “There’s a stronger bond between us.”
If there is a disappointment for Peterfish, it is that the Warriors will not be able to have a relay team for his final season. Worthington Christian originally had six boys show interest in competing this year, but only three showed up once practices began.
“We do not have a school record for the 400 free relay,” said Peterfish, who only had one squad with more than four swimmers, which set school records in the 200 medley and 200 free relays but didn’t compete in the 400 free. “We were excited by the fact that we would have a group that could set a school record in the 400 in my final year, but when push came to shove, we only had the three.”
Regardless of how many swimmers the team has, Zhu said he’s determined to make Peterfish’s last season with the Warriors one he will never forget.
“Honestly, I’m going to be swimming my heart out for Coach Jim because it’s his last season,” Zhu said. I want to give him something to remember.”