Marlins compete at WOAL championships

VW independent sports

BLUFFTON — The Van Wert Marlins finished seventh out of eight teams on the boys’ side and eighth on the girls’ side at the Western Ohio Aquatics League (WOAL) Championships, which were held Friday and Saturday at the Bluffton Village Pool. Host Bluffton won both the boys’ and girls’ titles.

Van Wert’s highest placers were Isaiah Stoller, who placed third in the boys 6 & under 25 SC meter freestyle (27.07) and second in the 25 meter backstroke (34.49); Eden Stoller, who finished fourth in the girls 9-10 50 SC meter freestyle (39.32), fourth in the 100 meter freestyle (1:43.83), and fourth in the 50 meter breaststroke, 52.16); Wes Holliday, who placed fourth in the boys 11-12 50 SC meter freestyle (34.05), third in the 50 meter butterfly (42.59) and third 50 meter backstroke (39.93); Sam Houg, who finished third in the boys 15 & over 100 meter individual medley (1:07.01), fourth in the 50 meter butterfly (28.86) and second in the 50 meter breaststroke (33.54); Ruby Dicke, who finished fourth in the girls 13-14 50 SC meter butterfly (36.33); the girls 15 & over 200 meter medley relay team (Brynleigh Moody, Ruby Dicke, Olivia Ashbaugh and Whitney Holliday, third, 2:27.20), and Owen Holliday, who placed second in the boys 9-10 100 SC meter freestyle (1:47.09).

The WOAL is for swimmers aged 5-18 who are members of one of the league’s teams. Teams have been competing against each other since early June. Though many of the swimmers compete year-round with their local YMCA team, some participants also swim for local USA swimming teams and have qualified for other competitions through this program.