Noelle Griffith may not realize it yet, but a tale such as this is the prototype for why swim coaches should never be shy in searching their campus far and wide to infuse new blood into the sport. This campaign marks the Perry’s junior second as a competitive swimmer — against the grain of the “usual” journey in the pool that encompasses significant refinement by, say, 8 or 9 years old. So far, so very good. Griffith recorded what must be classified as a breakout performance Jan. 18 during the Chagrin Valley Conference meet at Hawken. In girls 50 free, the Pirates’ emerging standout had the fastest time across all divisions with a time of 26.10 seconds. Griffith also had the second-fastest 100 free with a 56.63, both sprint free times comfortably cracking News-Herald coverage area leaders. Along the way, Perry also captured its sixth straight CVC Valley girls team crown with 364 points. Many of the competitors in the pool for CVC are likely a decade or even more into the craft. Laudably, though, not Griffith. “Honestly, from last year, this is only my second year,” Griffith said. “So I’m pushing myself a lot more to go faster, and it’s nice to be able to have people to race with. “My siblings did (swimming), and I was a gymnast. So I wanted to try something new. I think last year, at the end of the season, it got a lot better. And then I swam over the offseason, too. So that helped a lot.” PHOTOS: CVC swimming, Jan. 18, 2025 Such competitive sprint free work was also impressive because of the depth of the field, featuring longtime Hawken standout Addy Pruce. In 50 free, Griffith rallied with a smooth last-15 stroke to prevail with that 26.10. 🏊‍♂ CVC girls 50 free final heat, won by Perry's Noelle Griffith with a 26.10 pic.twitter.com/QQXBO4Isvj — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 "I think I saw that I was kind of in front," Griffith said. "And I just kept pushing and kept going, even though I was tired." Griffith attempted to give Pruce a battle on the back end of 100 free, but the Hawks' senior had the final say with a 56.30 to Griffith's 56.63, which is the sixth-fastest coverage area performance in the event this winter to date. That 56.63 marks a 1.46 drop from 2024 district pace. CVC girls 100 free final heat, won by Hawken's Addy Pruce with a 56.30 pic.twitter.com/ob5SFqCnHb — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 Being able to hang with a performer the caliber of Pruce meant a great deal. "I think it's both my starts and my turns," Griffith said of what has ultimately clicked technically in order to improve to this extent. "My starts have gotten a lot better. My dive last year wasn't great. Just the turns and all the underwater kicks, it's been a lot better. "A lot of people my first year were like very surprised by how fast I was going. So it was a nice change of being able to go very fast very quickly." The Pirates handled their team business in addition, signifying the occasion with a postmeet picture holding six fingers aloft. Converted gymnast. Still in a sense a novice. But so far, so very good. "It's very nice," Griffith said of the team crown. "Six years now. I don't know about next year, but we're going to try." Chagrin Falls' Gracie Ryan prepares to depart the blocks Jan. 18 during the Chagrin Valley Conference meet at Hawken. (Brian Fisher - for The News-Herald) Heats are combined for CVC, then results are split by division for scoring sake. Other News-Herald coverage area individual-event top placers, with the fastest time regardless of division, were Beachwood's Colin Elwell (100 and 200 free), Derek Fan (200 IM) and Benjamin Keyerleber (100 breaststroke), Perry's Brody Hicks (50 free and 100 butterfly), Madison's Caydence Deaton (500 free) and Chagrin Falls' Nicholas Tropf (100 backstroke) and Claire Simon (100 breast). On the boys side, Beachwood (Valley; 565 points), Chagrin Falls (Chagrin; 534) and Geneva (Lake; 411) were the team champions at CVC. In addition to the aforementioned Pirates, Chagrin Falls (Chagrin; 407) took home top team honors as well. Here are NH area top-3s from CVC todayNot going to add it to leaders until later, but some impactful qualifying stuff here pic.twitter.com/LXOaT6n3Ji — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 Coming soon For more from this meet, as Elwell discusses the Bison's outstanding 200 free relay work thus far, check back in the coming days on News-Herald.com and in our print edition. CVC girls 200MR final heat, won by Hawken with a 2:02.44 pic.twitter.com/hziUkE5Ryo — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 CVC girls 200FR final heatHighest NH area placer: Chagrin in 2nd, 1:50.54 pic.twitter.com/2GP5OdCEBy — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 CVC girls 100 breast final heat, won by Chagrin's Claire Simon with a 1:15.35 pic.twitter.com/jIuSqSo8WY — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 CVC boys 200MR final heat, won by Beachwood with a 1:39.57 pic.twitter.com/pdW2TNL5OP — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 CVC boys 200FR final heat, won by Beachwood with a 1:30.20 pic.twitter.com/4eEbR2nrTc — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 CVC boys 200 IM final heat, won by Beachwood's Derek Fan with a 1:59.65 pic.twitter.com/2CYpxeDXhh — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 CVC boys 100 free final heat, won by Beachwood's Colin Elwell with a 49.13 pic.twitter.com/XL1Ec8Kvok — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 CVC boys 100 fly final heat, won by Perry's Brody Hicks with a 51.71 pic.twitter.com/9uWSi4YPUm — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 CVC boys 100 breast final heat, won by Beachwood's Benjamin Keyerleber with a 1:05.26 pic.twitter.com/diCwRH0D9E — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 CVC boys 100 back final heat, won by Chagrin's Nicholas Tropf with a 56.86 pic.twitter.com/NeiMVoYKsx — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025 CVC boys 50 free final heat, won by Perry's Brody Hicks with a 21.81 pic.twitter.com/SklYkIlgzW — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 18, 2025