Marlins do well at WOAC championships

ROCKY McVAIGH/for the Van Wert independent

KENTON — This past weekend, the Van Wert Marlins traveled to Kenton to swim in the Western Ohio Aquatic League (WOAL) Championships.  The WOAL is made of eight teams from Ada, Bluffton, Shawnee Country Club, Lima Westside, Lima Sherwood, Wapakoneta, Kenton and Van Wert.

Van Wert was the smallest team, with 26 swimmers, while Wapakoneta was the Largest at 125. In total there were 540 swimmers competing. Van Wert held its own, claiming sixth place overall and winning the Achievement Award for the highest average points per swimmer. The Marlins also achieved 69 personal best times out of their total 89 entries.

The top six finishers in each event are awarded a medal in a presentation similar to that in the Olympics.  Two Van Wert swimmers claimed a first place finish: Katie McVaigh in the 11-12 Girls 50-meter backstroke, and Eric Easley in the 15 & Over Boys’ 50-meter backstroke. McVaigh also received a medal for all four of her individual events (also fourth in the 50-meter butterfly and fifth in the 100-meter individual medley and the 100-meter freestyle races).

Other swimmers winning medals:  9-10 Girls — Tyra McClain (fifth, 100 freestyle and 50 butterfly; sixth, 100 IM); 9-10 Boys — Ian Rex (sixth 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle) and Jayden Welker (fifth, 100 IM); 11-12 Girls — Jamie Burenga (third 50 backstroke; fourth 50 breaststroke) and Emma Pollock (fifth 50 breaststroke; sixth 50 butterfly); 13-14 Girls — Risa Pollock (third 50 breaststroke). 15 & Over Boys — Eric Easley (first 50 backstroke; second 50 breaststroke; third 100 IM; sixth 100 freestyle) and Sam Easley (second 50 backstroke; fourth 50 butterfly; fifth 100 freestyle).

Relay medals: The 13-14 Boys’ 200-meter medley finished third (Rickie Welker, Daniel Miller, Aaron Stant, Noah Arend).  The Boys’ 9-10 200-meter freestyle medley team came in second (Ian Rex, Marcus Freewalt, Luke Miller, Jayden Welker).  The 13-14 Girls’ (Noelle Heffner, Skyler Lehman, Erin Miller, Risa Pollock) took third place.

The Marlins would like to express thanks to Head Coach Lee Schumm and Assistant Coaches Angie Stemen, Trey Stemen and Evan Stant for their hard work and leadership.