Back row, left to right, Floranne Ellington, Sarah Merodio and Head Coach Agustin Merodio. Front row, left to right, Lauren Rudnick, Robin Adams and Charlie Adams. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY NEWS – The Lake County Channel Cats were sizzling at the latest invitational swim meet held in Ukiah on Saturday, June 26.

This was the third in a series of four progressive meets hosted by the Rohnert Park Piranha Swim Club.

The competition also included members from the Willits Otters and the Ukiah Dolphins swim teams.

The Channel Cats, coached by Agustin Merodio, proved a formidable force of five, scooping up 13 first place wins, three individual A-time medals and improved times for all participants.

Ranging in ages from 5 to 15, the Channel Cat swimmers are a tight, supportive team that cheerfully encourage each other’s best effort and demonstrate the fun of competition.

Sarah Merodio, 12, took the lead with four first place wins in freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke events. She swam a personal best in the 100 yard breaststroke, achieved A-time standards in the girls 11-12 year old division and earned a distinctive A-medal for this accomplishment.

Floranne Ellington, 12, raced to first place in the 100 yard backstroke and took home three second place ribbons for 50 yard freestyle, backstroke and 100 yard freestyle. In addition, she marked a new B-time in the 50 yad backstroke and collected a fourth place ribbon in the 50 yard breaststroke.

Lauren Rudnick, 9, set a speedy pace securing four 1st place wins in both the 25 yard and 50 yard freestyle and breaststroke events, plus finished second with a new B time in the 50 yard backstroke among 9- to 10-year-old girls.

Charlie Adams, 8, added two more medals to his collection by exceeding A-time standards in the boys 8 and under division for both 25 yard freestyle and 50 yard backstroke. He surged ahead of the competition, achieving four first place wins in freestyle and backstroke events and finished second place with a new B time in the 25 yard breaststroke.

Youngest competitor, Robin Adams, 5, showed eager determination on her leap from the diving block, besting her previous freestyle efforts by 16 seconds. She finished as high as seventh and eighth among the 8 and under girls in the 25 and 50 yard freestyle and the 25 yard backstroke events.

The Channel Cats practice four evenings a week at the Westshore Pool in Lakeport.

For more information on the team, swim lessons, or Channel Cat events, contact team President Jennifer Hanson at 707-263-3131.