January 22, 1999
Polar Bears ice TC swimmers
CASTALLIA -- Dan Picciuto placed first in two events for the Columbian boys and Katie Decker won two events for the girls, but both teams lost to Margaretta, 110-56 on the boys side and 104-79 in the girls meet.
The girls 200 medley relay team of Katrina Culver, Maggie Bergstrom, Decker and Jackie Comer won the event in 2:12.06, and Decker was a winner by herself in the 200 free (2:13.89) and the 500 free (5:45.43), both season best times for Decker.
Comer won the 100 fly in 1:09.65, a personal best, Kati Fraley swam the 100 back in 1:13.93 to win the event and Bergstrom was a winner in the 100 breast (1:22.15).
Culver came through with a pair of seconds (2:34.53 in the 200 individual medley and 1:01.95 in the 100 free), and Comer placed third in the 500 free. Bergstrom, Cline, Fraley and Katie Zeyen came together to finish second in the 200 free relay in 2:04.53.
''Katie (Decker) does not get to swim with a lot of competition because of the distance of her races,'' Columbian coach Ben Lusk said. ''This meet was good for her because she had someone to push her in the 500 and she got a season best time because of it. Katrina has been working hard and attending extra practices, and Jackie dropping a lot of time in the 100 fly was great.
''I'm also happy with the progress the boys are making this year. The North Central Ohio Swimming meet this weekend will be an opportunity to for us to swim against some tough competition.''
Picciuto was a winner in the 100 back (1:10.74) and the 200 individual medley (2:38.38) and was also part of a 200 medley relay team that placed first in 2:07.22. Other members of that team were Joe Swartz, Andrew Greene and Brad Carper.
Greene swam a season best time of 1:10.23 in the 100 fly to win, and Brad Carper (6:26.78) took home the big prize in the 500 free.
Picciuto and Swartz joined Ben Lindsey and Tomo Yokoi on a 200 free relay team that placed second in 2:01.29. Individual seconds went to Swartz (1:20.99 in the 100 breast) and Lindsey in the 200 free (2:37.54). Yokoi (100 free) and Greene (100 breast) had thirds.