LAKEPORT — Eighteen swim teams from throughout Northern California recently gathered at the Westshore Pool in Lakeport for the third annual Channel Cat Challenge swim meet.
Twenty-seven members of the Lake County Channel Cats competed at the meet, marking the team”s largest showing this year.
“The great thing about a home meet is that it allows many more of our swimmers to experience competition,” Channel Cat coach Agustin Merodio said while acknowledging that many families are unable to travel to swim meets. “Kids who have been practicing all summer finally get to see their time and effort pay off.”
Twelve year-old Nick Dobusch led the way, earning five new PC-A times in the 50-yard and 100 freestyle, 50 and 100 backstroke and 100 individual medley. In addition to placing first in those events, he also won the 500 freestyle.
Another Channel Cats standout was 13-year-old Nicole Hanson, who placed first in five events — the 50, 100, 200, and 500 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. She also swam to a PC-B time in the 50 freestyle.
“Nicole improved her times in all of her events by huge margins at this meet,” Merodio said. “She”s tall, strong and motivated. She has a lot of potential.”
Channel Cat veterans Lauren Rudnick, Owen Lawler, Allison Hanson and Evan Thompson won all of their events. Rudnick added a new PC-A time in the 100 butterfly.
Other notable performances:
— In the 8-and-under age group, Alondra Aguilar placed first in the 50 freestyle and second in the 25 and 50 backstroke and 25 freestyle. She earned PC-B times in the 25 freestyle and 25 backstroke.
— In the 9-10 age group, Maria Tinoco won the 100 freestyle and the 50 and 100 backstroke. She added seconds in the 50 freestyle and 50 butterfly and had PC-B times in the 50 and 100 backstroke; Kyra Ott earned fourths in the 50 and 100 backstroke; Tanya Vasquez had a second in the 100 freestyle. She added a new PC-B time and a second in the 50 breaststroke; Jonny Rixen placed first in the 50 freestyle, 50 backstroke, and 50 and 100 breaststroke. He earned new PC-B times in the 50 freestyle and 50 and 100 backstroke; Liam Wayment won the 100 and 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 100 individual medley. He set PC-B times in the 50, 100 and 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 100 individual medley; and Gary White placed fifth in the 50 backstroke.
— In the 11-12 age group, Isis Martinez won the 50, 100 and 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. She earned new PC-B times in the 50 and 100 freestyle; Danielle Erickson earned seconds in the 100 and 500 freestyle; Sydney Lawler took second in the 50 breaststroke; and Jenna Williams placed second in the 50 freestyle.
— In the 13-14 age group, Shannon Fronsman won the 100 breaststroke; Catherine Braider won the 200 breaststroke; Merin Rixen took a second in the 200 freestyle; Diego Tejeda won the 50 and 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley. He earned a new PC-A time in the 200 freestyle.
— In the 15-16 age group, Sarah Merodio won the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle and the 200 breaststroke; Paige Lavrar won the 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley. She also earned new PC-B times in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke; Melissa Thibeau placed first in the 50 and 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke; Amelia Tejeda earned seconds in the 100 and 200 breaststroke; Iris Vasquez placed third in the 100 freestyle; Andres Tejeda won the 100 and 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley. He earned new PC-B times in the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.
Near the close of the meet, Evan Thompson, a 2013 Clear Lake High School graduate, was given special recognition for his accomplishments with the team. Teammate Allison Hanson spoke highly of Thompson, noting his great leadership ability and his inspirational team pep talks. A 13-year veteran of the Channel Cats, Thompson earned countless swimming honors, including two first-place medals at the Sonoma County League Championships as a high school swimmer. Opting to forego a swimming scholarship, Thompson will instead head to Oregon State University this fall to study microbiology.
“Evan is the type of person who just gets in and works hard without complaining. I know he”ll be successful in anything he chooses to do,” Merodio said.
