On December 21st, 26 Spartan athletes competed in the 16th annual Christmas Invitational Meet held at Canton McKinley’s C.T. Branin Natatorium. Close to 50 teams from all across the state of Ohio attended this championship format with prelims and finals. “This is an incredibly fast meet and brings in state level competition that we can race against. We were very proud with how well all of our kids competed at this meet,” said coach Carlo Cordon. “Our bus left Boardman at 5:30AM with prelims starting at 8:30AM. Our Finals session didn’t begin until 5:30PM so it’s a grueling day. We were impressed by how fast our kids swam while being tired and qualifying many of them for the championship finals at night.”
Freshman Lexi Mihok led the Spartan girls by breaking two freshman records in the 200 freestyle (2:02.00) and the 100 Backstroke (1:02.40) and placing 7th and 13th in those two events. Senior Alyssa DiNapoli placed 10th in the 100 freestyle (56.42) and 22nd in the 100 backstroke (1:06.57). Senior Sarah Varga placed 23rd in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:07.43. The girl’s 200 freestyle relay members of Lexi Mihok, Abby Yocum, Sarah Varga, and Alyssa DiNapoli placed 8th in finals with a time of 1:45.63.
On the boys side, senior Noah Basista placed 4th and rebroke his own record in the 200 IM (1:55.63) and 4th in the 100 butterfly (51.74). Senior Matthew DunLany placed 5th in the 500 free (4:57.25) and 11th in the 100 Fly (52.38). Senior Will Linker placed 14th in the 200 free (1:49.49) and 9th in the 100 free (49.09). Senior Jordan Stackpole placed 24th in the 200 IM (2:08.60) and 16th in the 100 breast (1:06.86). Senior River Flatley placed 12th in the 100 backstroke (55.60). Freshman Ethan DunLany placed 15th in the 500 free (5:09.84). Junior Siman Mascola placed 23rd in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.28). Junior Teddy Anzevino placed 3rd in the 1 meter diving event.
All three of the Spartan boy’s relays placed in finals. The 200 Medley relay swimmers of River Flatley, Noah Basista, Matthew DunLany, and Will Linker placed 4th in finals with a time of 1:37.24 behind St. Xavier, North Canton Hoover, and Mason. The 200 Freestyle relay consisting of River Flatley, Jordan Stackpole, Carter Cailor, and Siman Mascola placed 8th in finals with a time of 1:32.69. To cap the night, the boys 400 free relay placed 4th with a time of 3:14.78 with wimmers Will Linker, Jordan Stackpole, Matthew DunLany, and Noah Basista.