Marlins do well at sectional swim meet

ROCKY McVAIGH/for the Van Wert independent

DEFIANCE — The Van Wert Marlins’ age 12 and under swimmers traveled to Defiance on Saturday to compete with eight other northwest Ohio YMCAs and a total of 280 swimmers for the Northwest Ohio Sectional Championships. All 12 and under swimmers must qualify at sectionals to compete in the Northwest Ohio YMCA Championships at Fremont on March 10.

In order to qualify in individual events, the top five swimmers from the two sectionals automatically qualify, and then the next 10 at-large by time qualify, for a total of 20 swimmers per event. The 13 and Over automatically advance to the championships and are seeded by their fastest times from league play.

On Saturday, Van Wert’s Sam Easley easily stole the show. Easley qualified as a first seed in all six events he competed in and, along the way, established five new sectional records.

Emma Pollock and Jamie Burenga led the way in the 8 & Under Girls Division. Pollock won all of her individual events and will be the top seed at the Fremont championships. Burenga will be seeded right behind Pollock, as she had three second places, a third and fifth.

Andrew Miller, Katie McVaigh and Addison Henkaline also qualified in all five of their individual events. McVaigh brought home three second-place finishes and two third-place finishes.  Also qualifying for individual events at championships were Risa Pollock (4), Andrew Henkaline (4) and Aaron Stant (2).

In total, the Marlins qualified nine swimmers out of 12 in 45 events.

Van Wert at NW Sectionals (all distances are yards)

• 8 & Under Girls: Emma Pollock – 1^st 100 IM, 25 Freestyle, 25 Butterfly, 50 Freestyle and 25 Backstroke.  Jamie Burenga – 2^nd 25 Freestyle, 50 Freestyle and 50 Breaststroke; 3^rd 25 Butterfly; 5^th 25 Backstroke.
• 8 & Under Boys: Daniel Miller – 3^rd 100 IM and 25 Freestyle; 5^th 50 Freestyle and 50 Breaststroke; 7^th 25 Backstroke.  Luke Miller – 21 25 Freestyle; 22^nd 50 Freestyle and 25^th 25 Backstroke.
• 10 & Under Girls: Risa Pollock – 3^rd 50 Breaststroke; 5^th 200 Backstroke; 6^th 100 IM; 9^th 50 Freestyle; 13^th 50 Backstroke.  Katie McVaigh – 2^nd 100 IM, 100 Freestyle and 50 Backstroke; 3^rd 50 Freestyle and 50 Butterfly. Noelle Heffner – 8^th 100 Freestyle; 10^th 100 IM, 50 Freestyle and 50 Backstroke; 14^th 50 Breaststroke.
• 10 & Under Boys: Andrew Henkaline – 9^th 100 Freestyle and 200 Freestyle, 10^th 50 Butterfly and 50 Backstroke; 14^th 50 Freestyle.
• 11-12 Girls: Addison Henkaline – 1^st 200 IM; 2^nd 50 Breaststroke; 3^rd 100 IM and 50 Freestyle; 6^th 50 Butterfly and 50 Backstroke.  Erin Miller – 8^th 50 Breaststroke; 12^th 100 IM; 20^th 100 Freestyle; 23^rd 50 Backstroke; 25^th 50 Freestyle.
• 11-12 Boys: Aaron Stant – 4^th 500 Freestyle; 9^th 50 Butterfly; 11^th 200 Freestyle; 14^th 50 Breaststroke; 16^th 50 Freestyle.  Sam Easley – 1^st 200 Freestyle, 50 Freestyle, 50 Butterfly, 100 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle and 50 Backstroke