Tigersharks swim past Ridgewood for undefeated regular season

By: Terri Mullins

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, January 27, 2010 – The Cuyahoga Falls Riverfront YMCA Tigersharks held
back division rival Parma Ridgewood YMCA on January 23rd, out-swimming the Dolphins 410 – 348
in the last dual meet of the season. The Tigersharks finish the 2009-2010 regular season undefeated in
YMCA dual meets.
Ridgewood edged out the Tigersharks in individual events, winning 32 of 58 individual races.
The Tigersharks dominated the relays, however, winning 12 of 16 events.
The meet began with a tight race that would typify the day, with the Tigersharks 13-14 year-old
girls medley relay edging out Ridgewood. Krista Sitler, 13, of Hudson, Jenna Kassinger, 13, of Silver
Lake, Jenni Heid, 14, of Stow, and Ainsley Wilbur, 14, of Stow finished .51 seconds ahead of the
Dolphins (2:09.27 to 2:09.78).
Other notable performances included Braden Nold, 8, of Cuyahoga Falls, who won the 200 free
(2:32.22), and Cody Vantrease, 14, of Stow, who won the 50 free (24.36). Both qualified for the
YMCA Great Lakes Zone Championship, a five-state competition that will be held at Bowling Green
State University in March.
The 11-12 year old girls 200 free relay set a Tigersharks team record against Ridgewood. Macy
Trattner, 11, of Hudson, Marcella Spann, 12, of North Royalton, Kelsey Wenk, 12, of Stow, and Lauren
Heller, 11, of Stow, swam for the win and the record with a time of 1:49.34. Heller also set a team
record in the 100 individual medley (1:02.58).
Tigersharks swimmers also fared well at the CCS 11& Over USA Invitational meet at C.T.
Branin Natatorium in Canton on January 24th. Five team records were set at the event, and four
swimmers qualified for individual events at YMCA Zones.
Tigersharks records breakers included Spann, who dropped 9.79 seconds to establish the new
team mark for the 200 back (2:38.60). She also set the record in the 200 breast (3:07.82). Heller broke
team records in the 100 back (1:05.13) and 100 fly (1:03.37). Ross Palazzo, 13, of Hudson, set the
record for the 100 breast (1:07.05).
Zone qualifiers included Heller in the 100 fly (1:03.37) and the 100 back (1:05.13), Palazzo in
the 200 individual medley (2:16.00), Sitler in the 100 back (1:05.62), and Trattner in the 50 free (26.83)
and the 100 free (1:00.20).
Tigersharks head coach Dale Craddock said that he is pleased with the team’s performance as
they head into upcoming championship meets.
“Obviously, we’re very happy to go undefeated in our dual meets this year,” Craddock said.
“We face excellent competition throughout the season, so this is a real accomplishment.
“All of our coaches are pleased with the way our athletes are swimming going into the championship
meets,” Craddock continued. “With Divisionals, Leagues, Zones and Nationals still ahead of us over
the next two and a half months, our kids are in good shape, but we have a lot of swimming left to do.”
The Tigersharks will host the YMCA Northwest Division 2 Championship meet at the
University of Akron Ocasek Natatorium on February 6th. For more information on the meet, and
Tigersharks Swim Team, visit www.tsharkswimming.com.