LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The combined Clear Lake and Kelseyville High School Swim Team made another strong showing at their second high school swim meet on March 19 in Calistoga.

The girls placed first in every single race and the boys won nine of 11 races.

New league rules this year are requiring the two schools to swim as separate teams if they want to compete for an overall team score.

In protest of this new rule, the combined swim team will forfeit as a team and swim as one entity.

According to Agustin Merodio, head coach for both teams, “We are making this stand because it is in the best interest of the swimmers. They practice together, travel together, and celebrate together – we will not split them up. Our relay teams will continue to be made up of swimmers from both schools and they will be able to say they won or lost by the times they achieve in the water. We have struggled too hard to get this team into the water to let the competitive nature of other schools dictate how we run our races.”

Individual victories will still be recognized with first place finishes for the boys going to Max Madrzyk in the 200 Free and 100 Butterfly, Diego Tejeda in the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Breaststroke, Alberto Sturr in the 500 Free and 100 Back and Alberto Sturr, Diego Tejeda, Max Madrzyk and Ethan Smith in the 200 Medley Relay and the 200 Free Relay.

In the girls’ meet, first place honors go to Liz Fricker in the 100 Breaststroke, 200 Medley Relay and 400 Free Relay, Paige LaVrar in the 100 Free, 100 Backstroke and 200 Free Relay, Lauren Rudnick in the 500 Free, 200 Individual Medley, 200 Medley Relay and 400 Free Relay, Shannon Fronsman in the 100 Butterfly, 50 Free, 200 Medley Relay and 400 Free Relay, Nikki Hanson in the 200 Free and 200 Free Relay, Tasia Jardstrom in the 200 Medley Relay, and Hallie Holmes in the 200 Free Relay.