CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There are different ways to bring home championships. The Hudson girls used strength in numbers, while the Strongsville boys went for first-place finishes to get their respective jobs done at the Division I Northeast District swimming meet on Saturday at Cleveland State's Busbey Natatorium.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There are different ways to bring home championships.
The Hudson girls used strength in numbers, while the Strongsville boys went for first-place finishes to get their respective jobs done at the Division I Northeast District swimming meet on Saturday at Cleveland State's Busbey Natatorium.
Winning their first district title since 1996, the Explorers under coach Matt Davis won the girls side with 288.5 points, and they did it without an individual champion.
"This has been our goal and it's truly a team championship," said Davis, whose 400-yard relay squad closed out the meet with a second-place finish in a school-record time. "We had a lot of people step up."
The Explorers, with five fourth-place finishes, needed all the points they could muster because they ran into a red-hot Mayfield club. The Wildcats won all three relays and had an individual champion in senior Alana Arnold, who won the 100 breaststroke.
"We really didn't expect to go that fast," said Arnold, who was on all three relays to help her team finish second with 221 points. "Today we blew ourselves away with those swims."
Strongsville finished third at 169.5 to edge Firestone at 162.
The Strongsville boys had a tussle with Hudson on their side, but came through as senior standout Michael Meldon continued his attack in the freestyle sprints. The top state contender won the 50 free in 20.56 and the 100 free in 44.70, the latter bettering the 1982 district time of 45.34.
He also helped the Mustangs win both the 200- and 400-yard free relays.
"I think next week I can go faster," said Meldon, who cited some difficulty with his turns and hitting a lane divider. "I think next week [at the state championships in Canton] I can go faster. I really was concerned with the relays."
The Mustangs had enough going for them to hold off Hudson at 252, Solon at 246 and St. Ignatius at 202.
There were three double-winners on the girls side.
Firestone sophomore Katie Miller proved her versatility by winning both the 200 individual medley and the 500 free, besting Riverside junior Jodi Turk by eight seconds. "It's easier to have the experience," said Miller, who has put together a solid season in numerous events. "At this meet last year I was freaking out. I'm just more prepared."
Firestone coach Cindy Virdo said Miller should be even more prepared next week in Canton.
"She did not shave and was not in a fast suit," said Virdo, who also coaches the Firestone boys team. "State meet is what it's all about. You want to swim your fastest against the best of the best."
Junior Addy Ferguson, Cloverleaf's lone girl swimmer, did not disappoint in winning both the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. She will go to Canton with expectations of improving on last year's fifth- and seventh-place finishes, respectively.
"I won here last year, so the pressure was to win again," said Ferguson. "My teammates were here supporting me to do my best. My turns were horrible, so I knew I had to push it.
"I'm really looking forward to next week to cut time and see what I can do. I want to get into the top three."
Senior Elaina Lanson from Wadsworth and Massillon Jackson sophomore Chase Kinney continued their season-long rivalry in the 50 and 100 frees.
Both beat the district record in the 50 free, with Lanson winning in 23.33 and Kinney second in 23.54. The 23.55 clocking had stood since 1982. Lanson came back to hold off Kinney in the 100 as well, covering the distance in 51.42 to Kinney's runner-up 52.11.
Meanwhile, the boys produced six different individual winners.
Hudson junior Jimmy Dagley won the 200 free, Canfield senior Gavin Trebilcock took the 200 IM, senior Joe Craven from Westlake the 100 butterfly, Solon senior Jamie Gallagher the 500 freestyle, Amherst senior Dominic Pecze the 100 backstroke and Firestone's defending state champion Andrew Bartley triumphed in the 100 breaststroke.
The top five finishers in each event qualified for the state championships.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168
Source: http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/-8470889456894158416
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