From the first event, it was obvious that the meet was going to be hard fought. Depth of team was going to be the determining factor. Unfortunately for Stow, the Medina team was able to place in some crucial contests and snare a 174-131 win.
The team of Alex Wentz, senior co-captain, Greg Oneacre, junior, and seniors Travis Wolfe and Alex Yeh placed a strong second in the opening 200 medley relay. Stow teams also finished third and fifth. It didnt take long for the Medina team to show its talents. In the 200 yard freestyle, Medina finished 3 of the top four spots, while sophomore Jeremy Wentz and Oneacre finished third and fifth. Mason Gabriel, freshman, was able to contribute a point by placing seventh.
Once again the top two spots of the 200 individual medley were taken by Medina, seniors Dylan Fox, Alex Wentz placed third and fourth. And, sophomore Joe Freudeman and freshman Cameron Potter added points for their effort.
In an effort that brought the crowd to their feet, senior co-captain Logan Gabriel raced to a narrow second-place finish to Medina. Gabriel was followed by Yeh, junior Jeff Swenson and freshman Willy Donahue. Logan, not satisfied with a second, took first-place in the 100 yard butterfly His one-tenth of a second win over Medina was one of the trilling moments of the evening. Freudeman, Wolfe, and freshman Parker Gabriel also added points for Stow.
Seniors Nick Brenner and Alex Yeh led the team effort in the 100 yard free. Medina took the top spots again, but Stow was able to secure points for third, fourth, fifth, and seventh places, with Greg Dyer, sophomore, and Gallen Marchotti, junior, contributing. Brenner swam his specialty, the 500 free, to a second-place finish ahead of Travis Wolfe, Parker Gabriel, and Potter.
A gutsy performance by all four of the 200 yard relay team delivered a second-place. Oneacre, Dyer, junior Jacob Marzec, and senior Dylan Fox swam with a lot of heart to earn their reward.
Dylan Fox and Alex Wentz swam their expected challenge against each other in the 100 yard backstroke. Each having taken the better of the other on many occasions, Wentz was able to hold off a fast closing Fox for second, Jacob Earle and Chris Blohm, freshmen, added points in the event.
Another thrilling finish occurred in the 100 yard breaststroke, as Jeremy Wentz was touched out by Medina by 3 tenths. And Oneacre showed that his best swimming is yet to come, finishing third.
The 400 yard free relay finished the meet much as it started, the Stow team of Logan Gabriel, Brenner, Wentz, and Wentz was able to place second to the superior Medina team.
