SANTA ROSA — Junior Evan Thompson of the combined Clear Lake/Kelseyville swim team won a second-place medal in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.71 seconds Saturday during the Sonoma County League Championships in Santa Rosa.
Clear Lake/Kelsey-ville joined eight other teams for the two-day event, which began with preliminary heats on Friday. The top 12 swimmers in each event advanced to Saturday”s finals and medals were awarded to the top three placers.
Thompson was one of four Clear Lake/Kelseyville swimmers to reach Saturday”s finals, joining senior Matteo Merodio (100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley), sophomore Allison Hanson (500 freestyle) and sophomore Sarah Merodio (500 freestyle).
Thompson won the only medal. He just missed another medal in the 100 freestyle, finishing fourth.
“Evan was really flying today,” coach Agustin Merodio said.
Thompson entered the meet seeded fourth in the 50 freestyle and had the third best qualifying time Friday.
Asked about his second-place finish, Thompson praised his teammate.
“Even though Matteo didn”t medal, he swam better than me. He was up against much tougher competition and his time qualified (him) for North Coast Sectional Championships. I really respect what he has achieved this year.”
Merodio came away with a fourth in the 100 breaststroke and a fifth in the 200 IM. He travels to Concord this Friday and Saturday to compete in the sectionals. Once his high school career ends, he will attend Hartwick College in New York in the fall.
In the 500 freestyle, Hanson placed 11th and Sarah Merodio followed in 12th place in the varsity girls” division.
Nearly every swimmer substantially improved his or her time during the meet, according to Merodio.
“The excitement of attending such a big meet gave them an adrenaline boost,” Merodio said. “For a lot of these kids, it”s the first time they”ve ever competed against more than one or two schools, and they did very well.”
While Clear Lake/Kelseyville experienced plenty off success this season, Merodio said the future of the team is in jeopardy. The Lake County Channel Cats have funded the team for the past three years but are struggling to cover the rising cost of propane to heat the pool.
Jen Hanson, president of the Channel Cats, said, “The community in general has been very supportive with our fundraisers and we want to thank them, but the real solution for us is to obtain solar power for the pool. So far, our quest for grants to convert the pool to solar and for charitable donations have been unsuccessful. We are continuing to search for ways to keep the high school swim team alive, but it”s looking worrisome for next year.”
For more information contact Hanson at 263-3131.
