Tigersharks Begin Defending League Title with Three Wins

By: Terri MullinsCuyahoga Falls, Ohio, November 18, 2009 – The Cuyahoga Falls Riverfront YMCA Tigersharksswim team began their quest for a third consecutive NEO YMCA League championship withdual meet wins over the West Shore and North Canton YMCAs, and at the Copley YMCAInvitational Swim Meet.The Tigersharks beat the West Shore Sea Turtles by a score of 618 to 266 on October 24

. They outswam the North Canton Nemesis on November 7

, with a final score of 530 to400. The Tigersharks also took home the top prize at the Copley YMCA Laps with LizardsInvitational on October 31

, beating nine other YMCA teams.Seven Tigersharks relay teams qualified for the YMCA Great Lakes Zone Championship,a five-state competition to be held at Bowling Green State University, in March 2010.The 9 & 10 year-old boys 200 yard medley relay, including Richie Kurlich, Ryan Riter,Braden Nold and Michael Heller, qualified with a time of 2:33.25.The 11 & 12 year-old girls qualified for the 200 medley relay, with Macy Trattner,Lauren Heller, Allison Hoffman and Kelsey Wenk swimming a time of 2:07.04. The four alsoqualified for the 200 free relay (1:52.36).The 13 & 14 year-old girls qualified both freestyle and medley relays. Lauren Tullis,Kelly Vantrease, Alyssa Heller and Rebecca Hoffman combined for 1:50.16 in the 200 freerelay, and Tullis, Hoffman, Krista Sitler and Ainsley Wilbur swam 2:03.57 in the 200 medley.The 13 & 14 year-old boys also qualified both relays. Andrew Appleby, Kory Braman, RossPalazzo and Cody Vantrease combined for 1:55.21 in the medley relay, and 1:42.54 in the freerelay.