by Mike Stirling
Seven members of the Tri-Valley swim team traveled to Canton, Ohio to take part in the Northeast Classic while the balance of the squad were representing the Scotties in the Teays Valley Viking Invitational swim competition last Saturday, January 11.
Seniors Caroline Holmes, Marissa Sees and Mariah Clark were joined by Juniors Larissa Lynch and Claire Waggle as well as Sophomore Seryna Mann from the girls team. The lone representative for the boys was Freshman Hansel Holmes.
This very select meet was a showcase for many of the top swimmers from high schools throughout all of Northeast Ohio. To qualify to participate in this Classic, a swimmer had to have recorded qualifying times in their specific events. All swimmers swam in the Prelims to then qualify to swim later in the meet in the Finals.
Three relay teams represented the Dresden school. Marissa Sees, Mariah Clark, Claire Waggle and Seryna Mann swam the Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay while the foursome of Caroline Holmes, Larissa Lynch, Sees and Waggle swam the Girls 200 Free Relay. A third squad of Lynch, Clark, Waggle and Holmes were the Tri-Valley team for the Girls 400 Free Relay.
In individual events, Caroline Holmes and Larissa Lynch carried the torch for the Scotties. Both Holmes and Lynch swam the Girls 200 Free. In a later event, Holmes swam one of her specialties, the Girls 100 Backstroke while Lynch competed in the Girls 100 Free. For the boys, Hansel Holmes was the Tri-Valley entrant in the Boys 100 Butterfly.
Of special note, Caroline Holmes was the only Scotty to advance to the finals however she was able to post a new Tri-Valley school record in the Girls 200 Free with a time of 1:54.45. For the Dawgs, Hansel Holmes recorded a new Tri-Valley time in the Boys 100 Butterfly as he touched in :56.41.
Coach Christy Holmes was pleased with the effort of all seven of the Scotties. All have shown a great deal of determination as well as dedication and represented Tri-Valley well.
