Tigersharks smash records at Pittsburgh invitational

CUYAHOGA FALLS: The Cuyahoga Falls Riverfront YMCA Tigersharks smashed

team and meet records at the recent Pittsburgh USA Christmas Invitational.

Tigershark standout Lauren Heller, 12, of Stow won the meet’s high-point trophy while
setting new meet records in her age group in five events: 200-yard freestyle (1:54.16),
100 individual medley (1:00.55), 50 backstroke (28.08), 200 individual medley (2:11.13)
and 100 backstroke (59.42).

Heller captured first place in each of her nine individual events at the University of
Pittsburgh Dec. 17-19 while establishing new Tigershark team records.

Ross Palazzo, 14, of Hudson swam to a first-place finish in the 13-14 boys 100
breaststroke with a time of 1:02.23, a new team record. He also captured third place in
the finals in the 200 breaststroke with a team-record time of 2:16.87 and seventh place in
50 freestyle (23.81).

His sister, Gaby Palazzo, 11, also set a new team record in the 11-12 girls 200
breaststroke during the preliminary round with a time of 2:46.01.

Richie Kurlich, 10, of Kent swam to a seventh-place finish in his age group in the 50
breaststroke with a time of 38.15, a new team record. He also captured third place in 50
freestyle (28.91).

Among the 9-10 girls, Giovanna Cappabianca, 9, of Stow finished second in the 100
breaststroke (1:21.39) and 50 breaststroke (37.33) and Katie Rozsa, 10, of Silver Lake
finished seventh in 50 freestyle (30.15).

That same weekend, the Tigersharks suffered a loss against a tough Youngstown YMCA
team during dual-meet competition.

Nineteen Tigersharks swam to first-place finishes in the meet on Dec. 18 in Youngstown,

many while establishing new personal best times.

Piper Trattner, 10, of Hudson captured first place in her age group in the 100 freestyle
with a time of 1:17.97, a 10.3-second improvement from her previous personal record.
She also swam to a first-place finish in the 50 breaststroke (44.11).

Justin Capriola, 13, of Cuyahoga Falls cut 7.77 seconds from his time in the 200 freestyle
to finish first in the event with a time of 2:15.28. He also captured first place in the 500
freestyle (6:00.19) His brother, Rory Capriola, 13, finished first in the 100 freestyle with
a time of 1:04.32, a 3.87-second improvement from his seed time.

Raymond Riter, 12, of Tallmadge dropped almost nine seconds from his previous best in
the 200 freestyle to capture first place with a time of 2:39.63. Erika Nockengost, 12, of
Cuyahoga Falls cut 7.66 seconds from her personal record in the 200 freestyle to place
first in the event (2:34.07).

Other Tigershark swimmers finishing first in at least one individual event included Gina
DiLullo, 7, of Cuyahoga Falls; Jason Goodman, 8, of Hudson; Kyle Grebb, 9, of
Cuyahoga Falls; Maggie Haas, 11, of Hudson; Kyle Houk, 12, of Stow; Calvin
Kampman, 8 of Hudson; Andrew Kovac, 13, of Cuyahoga Falls; Jack Kramer, 10, of
Cuyahoga Falls; Evie Lewis, 7, of Cuyahoga Falls; Lily Lewis, 10, of Cuyahoga Falls;
Haley Mullins, 16, of Cuyahoga Falls; Marcella Spann, 12, of Cuyahoga Falls; Kelly
Vantrease, 14, of Stow; and Sarah Wolanske, 14, of Hudson.

Several other Tigersharks cut substantial time in their individual events while scoring
points for the team, including Tommy Hillyer, 11, of Silver Lake, who dropped 12.21
seconds to finish third in the 200 freestyle (2:55.63); and Julia Fuller, 11, of Stow, who
cut 5.45 seconds to finish fourth in the 200 freestyle (2:42.29). The biggest improvement
came from Jetta Hobson, 11, of Stow, who cut 17.62 seconds in the 100 freestyle
(1:27.97).

The successes in December followed a strong showing in November at the North Ohio
Seventh and Eighth Grade Invitational at Lakewood High School, where the girls 200-
yard freestyle relay members were among the Tigersharks swimming to first-place
finishes. Members of the winning relay team included Wolanske, Spann, Vantrease and
Allison Hoffman, 13, of Solon.

For more information about the Cuyahoga Falls Riverfront YMCA Tigersharks and to
check out the swim team’s schedule of upcoming meets, visit
http://www.cfyntigersharks.com.
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