Madison Messenger - June 27th, 2021

PAGE 16 - MADISON MESSENGER - June 27 2021
www.madisonmessengernews.com
Back from Olympic Trials
By Kristy Zurbrick
Madison Editor
Eli Stoll has his first Olympic Trials experience
under his belt, and he’s hoping for
a second when the Summer Olympics roll
around again in three years.
The 17-year-old swimmer from Plain
City qualified for this year’s Olympic Trials
in the 100-meter backstroke. He traveled to
Omaha, Neb., for his shot at making the
U.S. Olympic swim team. On June 4, he
swam in the Wave 1 meet. He finished 24th
out of 60 with a time of 56.63, the seventh
fastest time among swimmers age 18 and
younger.
While he didn’t make the team—they only
take two athletes per event—Stoll said he
enjoyed and learned a lot from his first go
in the Olympic spotlight.
“It definitely was nerve-racking but it
was an awesome experience. The pool was
huge; it was like no other place I’ve ever
swam,” he said. “To be on the deck of the
Olympic Trials pool and know you’re swimming
there, it was awesome.”
Stoll appreciated the special treatment Earlier this month, Eli Stoll of Plain City
he and his fellow competitors received. For competed in the 100-meter backstroke at
example, everyone who competed in the trials
received a kick board and a water bottle is now focusing on more immediate pur-
the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb.
with their name on it. He also walked away suits.
with something intangible but valuable just “I just want to train hard, get back into
the same.
it,” he said. “I have colleges I’m looking at
“It was more like experience for next now. I’m focusing on getting good times for
time. That’s what I got out of it,” he said. them.”
“Having one down will prepare me better Stoll is a member of the Greater Columbus
Swim Team of Ohio. He also competes
for next time. There was a lot of pressure on
this one, being the first one. I think there on the swim team at Jonathan Alder High
will be less stress the second time since I School where he will be a junior this fall. He
will have already been there.”
is the son of Dawn and Gary Stoll.
With the goal of returning to the The 2021 Summer Olympics are scheduled
for July 23-Aug. 8 in Tokyo, Japan.
Olympic Trials in the back of his mind, Stoll
Quartet performs June 27
Music Men & Jen—a barbershop quartet—
is scheduled to perform at the Cowling Park
gazebo in London on June 27 at 2 p.m. The
concert is free. It is the group’s first performance
in the park since 2014.
The group, formerly Music Men of London
from 2005 to 2019—has undergone some
changes in recent years, kick-starting the
name change. The current members are:
• Jen Vilardi became the new tenor just in
time for Christmas 2019. She also sings with
Capriccio Columbus. She is the group’s first
woman and member with no London ties.
• Steve Lind became the new lead singer
just in time for Christmas 2020. He also
performs with the Singing Buckeyes barbershop
chorus. Like Vilardi, he has no London
ties, hence the group’s name change.
• Craig Chadwell has been a member
since 1998. He began as tenor and is now
baritone/bass. He met Vilardi through a mutual
friend and asked her to audition.
• Paul Oswalt has been a member since
2005, brought in by founder John Ewart.
Oswalt met Lind during a three-year stint
with the Singing Buckeyes who achieved
15th place in a 2019 international competition.
Oswalt began as a baritone and is now
a bass/baritone.
Visit www.musicmenohio.com and
www.facebook.com/musicmenohio for more
information about the group.
Music Men & Jen
includes: (from
left) Jen Vilardi,
Steve Lind, Paul
Oswalt, and
Craig Chadwell.
The group will
perform at Cowling
Park in London
on June 27.