LAKEPORT — The last meet of the regular season didn”t end well for the combined Clear Lake/Kelseyville swim team on Thursday at the Westshore Pool in Lakeport as Sonoma High School prevailed 83-37 in the varsity boys” division and 94-61 in the varsity girls” divisions.
“We were missing several of our key swimmers today and it really hurt us,” Clear Lake/Kelseyville coach Agustin Merodio said.
Evan Thompson, Nathan Powers, Chelo Lundquist-Krag and Shao-jia Chang were attending a three-day jazz band competition in Reno and were unable to compete, according to Merodio.
Sophomore Allison Hanson did her best to make up for her missing teammates, winning both of her individual events (500-yard freestyle, 100 backstroke).
“She really stepped up for us today,” Merodio said.
Liz Fricker also earned a first place in the 100 freestyle, along with smiles from her coach.
“She surprised me with that win,” Merodio said. “It was her first win of the season and a personal-best time for her. She had a lot of competition in that event and she owned it.”
Second-place finishes went to Sarah Merodio (200 IM, 100 butterfly) and Lily Rae (50 freestyle).
Three of the girls” relay teams also placed second, including Fricker, Rae, Sarah Merodio and Lisa Kurth in the 200 IM relay; Fricker, Rae, Merodio and Soraya Turner in the 200 freestyle relay; and Kali Powell, Kara Gaylor, Angela Tompkins and Argelia Hernandez in the 400 freestyle relay.
Varsity boys
Matteo Merodio was in familiar territory in the varsity boys” division, touching the wall first in both of his events (200 IM and 100 breaststroke).
Merodio closed out the season with eight wins in nine tries in the 100 breaststroke.
“We”re really looking forward to the league championship meet in May,” Agustin Merodio said. “Hopefully he”ll do pretty well.”
Aaron Copsey took second place in the 100 backstroke. Copsey, Merodio, Pedro Hernandez and Andres Tejeda also placed second in the 200 medley and freestyle relays.
Despite the loss to Sonoma, Merodio said he was happy with the team”s overall performance.
“Nine of our swimmers set personal-best times at this meet. That, to me, is success. Watching these kids improve over the course of the season is what I like to see.”
Clear Lake/Kelsey-ville swimmers will continue to train for the upcoming Sonoma Coast League Championships (May 11-12) and the North Coast Sectional Championships (May 17-19).
