Marlin swimmers do well at tournament

ROCKY McVAIGH/independent sports

WAPAKONETA — The Van Wert YMCA Marlins traveled to Wapakoneta on July 15 and 16 to compete in the 30th annual Western Ohio Aquatic League (WOAL) Championships.

Competing were more than 500 swimmers from eight area teams of which the Marlins was the smallest with 32 members. The Marlins may have been small, but they made a very strong showing by finishing in sixth place. It was also noted that they finished third overall in points scored per swimmer.

Winning second place in their age group were the 9-10 Girls’ Katie McVaigh, Risa Pollock, Addison Henkaline and Erin Miller. The Marlins as a team set four new meet records, swam 60 personal best times and won 44 medals (top six finishers).

Addison Henkaline (9-10) and Sam Easley (11-12) dominated their age groups, winning all of their individual events. Henkaline broke a 16-year-old record in the 50-meter butterfly with a time of 37.52 and set a new mark of 39.44 in the 50-meter backstroke. Henkaline also won the 100-meter individual medley. Easley won five events and broke three meet records in the process. He set a new mark of 27.40 in the 5-meter freestyle, 30.61 in 50-meter butterfly and 1:01.73 in the 100-meter freestyle.   He also won the 50-meter backstroke and the 100 IM.

Emma Pollock had a great day, placing first in the 25-meter freestyle, 25-meter butterfly and 50-meter freestyle and second in the 25-meter backstroke.

The top six finishers in each event are presented medals; making the podium in all of their individual events were Katie McVaigh (three) and Aaron Stant (three).

The 9-10 Girls’ relay team (McVaigh, Risa Pollock, Henkaline and Erin Miller) swept the relay competition by winning the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. The 9-10 Boys’ medley relay team (Karter Tow, Andrew Henkaline, Noah Arend and Aaron Stant) finished third.

The Marlins thanked their coaches for the time, energy and effort they put into the summer swim season.  Coaching for the Marlins were Head Coach Kim Clifton, Rylan Yackee, Heather Easley and Brian Easley.

Complete Van Wert meet results (all distances are in meters):

8 & Under Girls – Emma Pollock – 1^st 25 Free, 25 Fly and 50 Free; 2^nd 25 Back.  Rachel Spath – 25^th 25 Free and 23^rd 25 Fly. Kayla Krites – 27^th 25 Free and 8^th 25 Fly.  Abby Buettner – 15^th 25 Breast; 18^th 25 Fly; 23^rd 50 Free and 34^th 25 Free. Alli Schaufelberger – 42^nd 25 Free.  Libby Price 40^th 25 Back.

8 & Under Boys: Daniel Miller – 2^nd 50 Free; 4^th 25 Free; 5^th 25 Back and 9^th 25 Breast. Evan Bowersock – 6^th 25 Breast; 7^th 50 Free; 10^th 25 Free and 16^th 25 Fly. Bobby Spath – 26^th 25 Free.

9-10 Girls: Katie McVaigh – 2^nd 50 Free and 50 Back; 4^th 50 Fly.  Risa Pollock – 3^rd 50 Breast; 4^th 50 Back; 8^th 50 Fly. Addison Henkaline – 1^st 100 IM, 50 Fly and 50 Back.  Erin Miller – 5^th 50 Breast; 7^th 100 IM and 14^th 50 Free.

9-10 Boys: Aaron Stant – 2^nd 50 Fly; 3^rd 50 Back; 6^th 50 Free. Karter Tow – 15^th 50 Free. Andrew Henkaline – 4^th 50 Back; 9^th 50 Fly; 18^th 50 Free. Noah Arend – 14^th 50 Back and 23^rd 50 Free.

11-12 Girls: Bethany Fast – 3^rd 50 Fly and 50 Back; 5^th 50 Breast; 6^th 100 IM and 11^th 100 Free.  Anna Henkaline – 9^th 50 Back; 12^th 50 Fly; 14^th 100 Free; 17^th 100 IM; 18^th 50 Free.

11-12 Boys: Sam Easley – 1^st 50 Free, 100 IM, 50 Fly, 50 Back and 100 Free. Alek Bowersock – 9^th 50 Free; 11^th 50 Fly; 13^th 100 IM and 50 Back.

13-14 Girls: Hannah Stemen – 8th 50 Back; 11th 100 Free; 10th 100 IM; 14th 50 Free and 15th 50 Fly.

15-18 Girls: Taylor Grooms – 11^th 50 Free and 50 Fly; 10^th 100 Free; 15^th 100 IM and 50 Back.  Varsha Sewsankar – 11^th 50 Breast; 16^th 50 Fly; 17^th 50 Back; 22^nd 100IM and 23^rd 50 Free. Rebecca Johnson – 22^nd 50 Fly and 50 Back; 25^th 100 IM; 26^th 100 Free; 36^th 50 Free.

15-18 Boys: Evan Stant – 9^th 50 Fly; 13^th 100 Free; 14^th 50 Free. Jacob Scheidt – 23^rd 100 Free; 28^th 50 Back; 32^nd 50 Free. Eric Easley – 5^th 50 Breast; 6^th 50 Back; 9^th 100 IM.  Trey Stemen – 11^th 50 Breast; 12^th 50 Back; 18^th 100 IM.

Relays: 9-10 Boys 200 Free Karter Tow, Andrew Henkaline, Noah Arend and Aaron Stant) finished 4th.  15 & Over Boys 200 Medley and 200 Free (Trey Stemen, Evan Stant, Eric Easley and Jacob Scheidt) finished 6^th.