Easley brothers do well at swim meet

ROCKY McVAIGH/for the Van Wert independent

FREMONT — On March 9-10, the Van Wert Marlins swam at Northwest Ohio YMCA championships at Fremont Ross High School.

As a team, Van Wert finished third out of the seven teams in Division III, while Eric Easley and his brother, Sam, collected the only first place finishes on rhe day. Eric Easley claimed a first place finish in both the 50- and 100-yard backstrokes, while Sam Easley staked his claim to first place in the 100-yard backstroke.

Both Easley brothers were the only Marlin qualifiers for the next level of competition at the Great Lakes Regional zone competition at Bowling Green State University this past weekend. Eric Easley qualified in five events: 200-yard IM, 50-yard breaststroke, 50-backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard backstroke. Sam Easley qualified in three events: 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard butterfly and 50-yard freestyle.

YMCA Marlins at Northwest Ohio YMCA Championships (all distances in yards)

8&Under Girls: Gracie Mull – 17^th 100 IM.  Tyra McClain – 16^th 25 Back and 25 Breast; 17^th 25 Fly; 18^th 50 Free; 19^th 25 Free.

8&Under Boys: Luke Miller – 19^th 25 Back; 20^th 25 Free.

9-10 Girls: Emma Pollock –  4^th 100 IM; 6^th 50 Free and 50 Fly; 8^th 50 Breast; 9^th 100 Free. Jamie Burenga – 5^th 50 Back; 7^th 100 IM; 13^th 100 Free; 15^th 50 Breast; 8^th 50 Breast.

9-10 Boys: Daniel Miller – 7^th 100 IM; 10^th 50 Free and 100 Free; 13^th 50 Back; 15^th 50 Breast.

11-12 Girls: Risa Pollock – 7^th 500 Free; 15^th 200 Free and 0 Breast.  Erin Miller –13^th 500 Free.  Katie McVaigh – 12^th 100 IM; 14^th 100 Free; 15^th 50 Free; 16^th 50 Back; 17^th 50 Fly.

11-12 Boys: Aaron Stant– 13^th 500 Free; 16^th 200 Free; 18^th 50 Fly.

13-14 Girls: Bethany Fast – 14^th 100 Breast; 22^nd 100 Back; 23^rd 100 Free; 26^th Free; 32^nd 200 Free. Madison Pauquette – 32^nd 100 Breast; 39^th 100 Free; 40^th 100 Back; 44^th 200 Free; 49^th 50 Free. Skylar Lehman – 31^st 100 Fly; 37^th 100 Free; 39^th 100 Back; 46^th 200 Free; 54^th 50 Free.

13-14 Boys: Sam Easley – 1^st 100 Back; 2^nd 50 Free and 100 Fly; 3^rd 100 Free; 5th 200 Free. Colton Deschner – 11^th 500 Free; 13^th 200 Free and 50 Free; 19^th 100 Free.

15 & Over Boys:  Eric Easley – 1^st 50 Back and 100 Back; 2^nd 200 IM and 50 Breast; 3^rd 100 Breast; 6^th 50 Fly; 8^th 50 Free.