Defined by dedication

Meghan Linnelli, a Canfield High junior, placed in the top 10 in two events at this year's state meet.
At 10 a.m. on March 25, while many students in Canfield were enjoying an unexpected snow day, the area's best female swimmer was seated at a computer working on a school project.
Not that it was a surprise. Canfield junior Meghan Linnelli is defined by her dedication.
Linnelli, The Vindicator female swimmer of the year, finished in the top 10 in two events at this year's state meet at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton -- placing seventh in the 50-yard freestyle and fourth in the 100 freestyle.
Linnelli also advanced to state in 2001, finishing eighth in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 freestyle.
"Next year, I want to finish in the top two at state," she said.
She's focused on her studies -- Linnelli wants to eventually get her master's degree in education -- and has already started training for next year's swimming season.
Linnelli has taken a month off from the pool to do cross-training, running and spinning and will start Penguin Swimming, a USA swimming club at YSU, in April.
A family affair: She also gets plenty of support at home. Prowess in the pool runs in the family.
Her mother, Andrea, started swimming when she was 11 and was the only female swimmer at Westminster College. She started coaching the Canfield swim team three years ago.
"If she didn't coach our team, I wouldn't be as good," Meghan said.
Her younger sister, Ashley, a sophomore at Canfield, is also on the team and has been Meghan's biggest supporter. At this year's state meet, Ashley -- whose nickname is "Cubbey" -- was seen cheering in the stands with red and white pompoms.
"I don't know what I'd do without her," Meghan said of Ashley. "She knows all about swimming and encourages me. We're competitive and we push each other to do better."
Meghan's favorite moment from this season came at a Northeast Aquatics Conference meet when Canfield's relay team of the Linnelli sisters and sophomores Vanessa Gestosani and Jen Nentwick took an unexpected first place in the 400 freestyle.
Since Meghan has been swimming since she was 6, she knows plenty about the sport and is eager to share that knowledge -- she coached an 8-and-under swim team last year.
"I want to be a teacher when I grow up," she said. "I like little kids and it makes you feel good when you see them learn and improve their times. It's fun to teach."