Strongsville's Michael Meldon Shines at Meet

Michael Meldon led the Strongsville swim team to a successful day at the 36th annual Viking Invitational at Cleveland State University's Busbey Natatorium with a pair of individual wins in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard fly.

While it's nice to have an outstanding individual to count on, it's depth that carries the Mustangs.

"The difference is we have 38 boys on the team compared to just 11 when I took the job four years ago," said Mustangs coach Tom Stacy during a break in the day-long event that featured 69 schools including Canisius from near Buffalo, N.Y. on Dec. 18.

"And there is competition. They push each other so we are deep at all events. This is my fourth year, so the kids on this team know me and I know them. Everyone on the team now has had only me as their head coach."

Meldon grabbed the IM in a time of 1 minute 56.02 seconds where he held off Derek Hren of St. Ignatius by 1.02 seconds. The Mustangs also had two in the consolation finals with Kyle Shepherd 14th in 2:04.83 and Mitchell Delventhal 16th at 2:05.49. Just short of the consolation finals for Strongsville was Alex Strawser, who was 21st at 2:09.32.

A second Meldon win came in the fly in a time of 51.18 with Nicholas Crane of University School second at 51.46. Again the Mustangs had swimmers in the consolation finals with Danny Nemeth 11th at 54.56 and Shepherd 12th at 55.52.

Also making the championship finals for the Mustang boys was Joey Ferrante, who was sixth in the 50 free in 22.76 where the title fell to meet MVP Andrew Malone of University School at 20.96. Colin Lyon of the Mustangs was 11th in the consolations at 22.62.

Two Mustang boys relays also were in finals. The 200 medley relay including Ian Simpson, Craig Barrus, Nemeth and Ferrante swam a 1:42.18 for sixth as University School won in 1:35.09.

The Strongsville 400 free relay took third behind University (record 3:08.71) and Canicius (NY) (3:15.45) with a 3:16.77 using Meldon, Delventhal, Shepherd and Lyon.

Also in consolations for the Mustangs were Lyon (12th) and Ferrante (19th) in the 100 free, Delventhal (10th) in the 500 free, and the trio of Strawser (13th), Nemeth (14th) and Barrus (17th) in the 100 breast.

The best individual finish for the Strongsville girls belonged to Jenna Barrus, who was tied for fourth in the 50 free at 25.18 with Megan Auzenbergs of Rocky River where Macie McNichols of Gilmour won in 24.09. Ninth went to Strongsville's Molly Washko at 25.72.

"We have very young talent," said Stacy of the girls side. "We have outstanding seniors, but we have impressive young swimmers too."

In consolations for the 50 free, the Mustangs had Caroline Granger 17th in 26.41.

The 200 free found Sammi Hargis seventh at 2:01.41 with Morgan Cohara of Hawken first at 1:53.90. The Mustangs had Gabi D'Abato 14th in 2:03.57.

Two Mustangs made the 100 fly finals with Maddy Kawiecki sixth at 1:00.42 and D'Abato ninth in 1:02.58 with the winner being meet MVP Sarah Koucheki of Hawken in 56.46.

The 100 free featured Barrus taking eighth in 55.35 with Macie McNichols of Gilmour first in 52.57. Consolations included Mustangs Hargis 11th in 56.25 and Caroline Granger 20th in 57.75.

Tia Simpson fell just short in the 100 back serving as an alternate with a 21st place finish in 1:05.01 where 1:04.76 advanced in the final spot for consolations.

Strongsville took a second, third and sixth in relays. In the 200 free relay, the Mustangs used Washko, D'Abato, Barrus and Granger for a 1:41.57 to trail only record setting Hawken which had a 1:37.71.

The 200 medley relay for Strongsville was third in 1:54.25 using Briana Schrage, Washko, Maddy Kawiecki and Barrus as Hawken won in another record time of 1:47.90.

To close the meet, the Mutangs were sixth in the 400 free relay in 3:45.85 using Hargis, D'Abato, Grace D'Amico and Granger as Hawken swept the relays with a 3:36.31.