Celina wins boys and girls titles
at host Invitational
By GARY R. RASBERRY
grasberry@dailystandard.com
WAPAKONETA — The goal of the Celina swimming team all
season has been to prepare to win both the boys and girls team
titles at the Western Buckeye League meet.
Saturday, among the slick roads and chilly weather outside,
the Bulldogs got a good jump in making that goal a reality in
winning both divisions of the Celina-Wapa-koneta Swim Invitational
held at the Wapakoneta YMCA.
The girls ran away with the points race, scoring 470 with Shawnee
coming in a distant second with 3511/2 points. St. Marys was
third with 311 points and Coldwater took fifth with 235.
The boys meet was a little closer as Coldwater and Celina went
neck-and-neck all day. In the end, Celina came out ahead with
375 points to the Cavaliers’ 3401/2. St. Marys was fifth
with 245 points. Three area teams, Marion, Minster and New Bremen,
were unable to make it to the event.
The WaterDogs wanted the sweep of this meet badly as part of
their tribute this season to late coach Sue Slavik.
“That was our goal to win the double,” said WaterDog
coach Jane Fleck. “This is our meet. We want to do the
same at the league. We’re doing it for Sue. That was her
goal to have the boys and girls on top.”
Leading the male WaterDogs on the day was Kelly Mallory. The
junior took home wins in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races
and swam legs of the winning medley relay and 400 free relay.
The boys did most of their damage with top finishes, putting
at least one swimmer in the top four in every event.
Coldwater countered with some big wins of its own. Tyler Post
picked up wins in the 100 butterfly, setting a new school record,
and 100 backstroke. Freshman Dustin Schwieterman added a big
win in the 500 freestyle. Coldwater’s 200 free relay also
won to keep the score close.
“I was happy with what we did,” said Coldwater coach
Carla Post. “With what our size of school (Coldwater was
one of the smallest schools in the meet) and who we were up
against, Coldwater did alright.”
The Celina girls used their depth in getting the team title.
The WaterDogs won just two events, Amanda Mallory in the 50
freestyle and the Celina 200 free relay team, but had plenty
of swimmers in the top 10 in all events.
St. Marys stayed close thanks to the swimming of Krista Sanford,
who won the 100 butterfly and Jasmine Craft, who took the title
in the 100 breaststroke. St. Marys also won the medley relay
and 400 free relay.
Coldwater will host the other Midwest Athletic Conference schools
on Saturday in the MAC Invitational at the Celina YMCA. Celina
travels to Defiance on Friday night for a WBL dual match.
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