Pendleton Punches Two Tickets to State; North Divers Keep Their Season Alive

Columbus East swimmer dominates sectional, while Columbus North divers advance to regional

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Columbus East sophomore Josh Pendleton won the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle events at the Columbus North Sectional, punching his ticket to the Boys Swimming & Diving State Finals in both events. Meanwhile, Columbus North divers Dagan Kleffman and Gary Streeval finished first and fourth, respectively, to advance to the Jasper Diving Regional.

Why it matters

Pendleton's dominant performance at the sectional showcases his talent and potential to make a strong showing at the state finals. For North, the success of their divers keeps their season alive as they look to qualify for the state meet.

The details

Pendleton won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:43.05, a personal best and a victory by nearly 3.5 seconds. He then won the 500 freestyle in 4:37.13, lapping the field and winning by more than 37 seconds. East also had strong relay performances, finishing third in the 400 free relay and sixth in the 200 free relay. North's Dagan Kleffman won the sectional diving title with a score of 372.10, and teammate Gary Streeval finished fourth with a score of 311.35. Both divers advance to the Jasper Diving Regional, where a top-eight finish will earn them a trip to the state finals.

  • Pendleton's victories in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle occurred at the Columbus North Sectional on March 2, 2026.
  • Kleffman and Streeval's performances in the diving competition also took place at the Columbus North Sectional on March 2, 2026.

The players

Josh Pendleton

A sophomore swimmer at Columbus East High School who won the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle events at the Columbus North Sectional, punching his ticket to the Boys Swimming & Diving State Finals in both events.

Dagan Kleffman

A diver at Columbus North High School who won the sectional diving title with a score of 372.10, advancing to the Jasper Diving Regional.

Gary Streeval

A diver at Columbus North High School who finished fourth in the sectional diving competition with a score of 311.35, also advancing to the Jasper Diving Regional.

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What’s next

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The takeaway

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