Michael Meldon Making A Big Splash His Senior Season

Strongsville Patch caught up with Strongsville High senior swimmer Michael Meldon during the recent Division I sectional championship meet at Lakewood High School (Feb. 11-12). Nearly 20 schools participated in the sectionals, with the top swimmers advancing to this weekend's Division I district meet held at Cleveland State.

Meldon will be one of them.

Meldon was a state qualifier in the 50-yard free and 100-yard free last year, placing fifth in the 100 free with a time of 46.46 seconds.

The winner of the 100 free and 200 free at this year's Northeast Ohio Conference (NOC) championship meet at CSU, Meldon is again competing in the 50 free and 100 free in the post season.

Strongsville Patch: As a senior you have to be thinking about college. With your success in the pool, does your choice include swimming?

Michael Meldon: Yes. I have applied to Ohio State, Stanford and Auburn to swim. I have been accepted to Ohio State and I am waiting to see if I am accepted at Stanford and Auburn.

Strongsville Patch: Where are you leaning?

Meldon:  I really like Ohio State. Stanford and Auburn also have solid academics. I will make my visits very soon and make a decision by sometime in March or April.

Strongsville Patch: What factors into your choice?

Meldon: I would say Ohio State is in the lead right now because both Stanford and Auburn are a long way away from home. But I will wait to see if I am accepted at Stanford and Auburn and take my visits.

Strongsville Patch: How long have you been competing in swimming?

Meldon:  I began swimming when I was 2 years old. My mother swam in high school and got me involved in lessons and began swimming when I was 4.

Strongsville Patch: What other sports were you involved with and what have you had to give up?

Meldon: I was a snowboarder. I haven't been on a board in about three years. That's what I'm going to do over spring break. Ski resorts will still be open and I want to get back on a board.

Strongsville Patch: What do you think gives you any edge in the water against other swimmers?

Meldon:  I'm not very big or tall but I think my weight training and dry land training and work ethic help me a lot.

Strongsville Patch: Has it been all swimming?

Meldon: No. I gave up swimming a few years ago and didn't get back until early in high school. In fact, I wasn't very serious about it until later in high school.

Strongsville Patch: What are you looking forward to in the next two weeks?

Meldon:  I want to return to the state meet and I would like to lower the records in my events along the way. I think I have a chance at doing that.

Strongsville Patch: Your senior class started its freshman season at the same time Tom Stacy became the Strongsville coach. Can you talk about  that relationship?

Meldon: When we started out, our boys program was average. Today, we are among the best teams in the state and we are very proud of that.

Strongsville Patch: You are also a part of both freestyle relays for Strongsville. Tell us about those units.

Meldon: We have all trained together for much of the time we have been in high school. We have three seniors in that group that have trained together for a long time and we know what we do is very important to the success of the team.

Strongsville Patch: What don't your classmates not know about you?

Meldon: Not much. They know that I am a hard worker and whatever I do in the water is because of the work I have put into it.

HOW MELDON FARED AT LAKEWOOD DIVISION I SECTIONAL

50 Free: Won.

Time: 21.60 (sectional record: 21.57, Zach Turk, St. Edward, 2008).

100 Free: Won.

Time: 47.66 (sectional record: 47.34, Todd Minnier, St. Ignatius, 2000).

200 Free Relay: Won (team of Meldon, Colin Lyon, Chris Hoffman and Alex Wedel).

Time: 1:28.75, sectional record (old record:  1:28.85, Elyria Catholic, 2008).

400 Free Relay: Won (team of Kyle Shepherd, Hoffman, Meldon and Ian Simpson).

Time: 3:18.68 (sectional record:  3:18.51, St. Edward, 2008).

Reporter's Note: The versatile Meldon earlier in the season won the 200 individual medley and the 100 fly at the Viking Invitational at Cleveland State. He returns to that same Robert Busbey Natatorium at CSU, having advanced to Saturday's Division I district meet in the 50 free and 100 free with a solid shot at reaching the state meet in both events.