YSL championship Saturday at Poland Swim Club

July 27, 2017 at 12:09a.m.

YSL championship

Saturday at PSC

POLAND

The Youngstown Swim League’s annual championship is set for Saturday and for the first time since 2011, Poland Swim Club will serve as event host.

The club is expected to attract more than 500 swimmers for both individual and relay events with Firestone Area Swim Team from Columbiana County the favorite to defend its crown.

“This is an exciting time and a huge fundraiser for our club. We’ve held bi-weekly meetings since November with every swim family and club member working diligently, volunteering their time to make sure that this will be one of the best events around,” meet director Anthony Lattanzio said.

The head swim coach for both Ursuline and Valley Christian high schools, and his club’s assistant, Lattanzio is a junior at Youngstown State University majoring in pre-med, biology.

He notes that funds raised will benefit both his team and club.

“We have over 65 sponsorships from area businesses, along with political signs and various other sponsorships so you can see that club members have worked very hard to ensure success in that area,” he added. “There’s been a lot more attention in that area than even I had hoped for.”

In addition to Poland and FAST, the other six YSL club members hail from Boardman, Applewood, Canfield, Logan, Country Clubs and Warren Olympic Club.

Top swimmers from each club will compete in individual and relay events, looking to score points on their club’s behalf.

Individual events include freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly while relay events consist of a medley (four swimmers competing with four different strokes) and free relay where all four swimmers perform free style.

The eight clubs will be divided into two divisions based on team size and teams with the most accumulated points from both divisions will be crowned champion.

Stav Diamandis is Poland swim club president and also co-meet director.

“This is a great way for us to showcase our club as we host other swim clubs, their swimmers and the many others who will be in attendance,” he said. “A lot of time and preparation has gone into this so I hope that everyone appreciates our effort and will enjoy the day’s event and our club.”

All events will be streamed live with a 50-50 drawing, item raffles, big ticket 55” television and tickets to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame up for bid.

“We’ll also have championship apparel for sale, a giant photo booth complete with championship logo for those wishing to capture the moment and a top-notch concession stand available that will provide both breakfast and lunch,” noted Stephanie Markey, publicity chair. “We will serve everything from donuts, bagels and fruit to pulled pork sandwiches, meatball splashes, walking tacos and much, much more.”

The event begins at 7 a.m. and will run until 1 p.m. with more than 5,000 expected to attend.

Further information can be obtained by calling 330-757-3755.