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Wheeling Park Girls Finish Third

Parkersburg swims away with victory

By John McCabe Wheeling Park freshman Jenna Bopp competes in the 100 breaststroke during Friday’s finals at the state swim championships. Bopp finished second in the event.

MORGANTOWN – Parkersburg High School freshman Jaden Welsh saved her best for last Friday, winning two individual events – and setting a state meet record in the 100-yard breaststroke – as she led her team to a West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission state swim championship.

Defending girls state champion Wheeling Park finished third, behind runner-up Fairmont Senior High School. Fairmont Senior’s 200-yard medley relay team was disqualified in the opening event, and Parkersburg upended top seed Wheeling Park to set the stage for the Big Red victory.

Park coach Pat Durkin knew his swimmers had to turn in top-notch performances Friday at West Virginia University’s Natatorium to be in contention, but the momentum Parkersburg built early was tough to overcome.

“We swam well, and improved in areas where we needed to, but Parkersburg was not to be stopped today,” Durking said.

“I’m proud that we fought for third. All in all, we had a strong season. These girls worked hard.”

Morgantown finished fourth, followed by George Washington.

Park did see some swimmers set personal bests for the season. Freshman Jenna Bopp finished second in the 100 breaststroke at 1:08.64. Welsh won the event with a 1:05.87.

Other finishers for Park were Junior Sarah Heilman, third in the 100 backstroke at 59.18 and fourth in the 100 fly at 1:01.01; freshman Abby Turner, fourth in the 100 freestyle at 55.37 and sixth in the 50 freestyle at 25.06.

Senior Victoria White finished her stellar high school swim career with a third-place finish in the 500 freestyle and an eighth-place finish in the 200 individual medley. Bopp placed 10th in the 200 IM, as well.

In the relays, Park’s 200 medley of Heilman, Bopp, White and Turner finished second; the same group also finished second in the 400 freestyle relay. And the 200 freestyle relay of Melina McCabe, Maggie Kloss, Emma Delk and Allison Holmstrand placed 11th.

Other local finishers

Wheeling Central’s Lauren Garan finished her breakout season with a sixth-place finish in the 100 freestyle at 58.48 and an eighth-place finish in the 50 freestyle at 26.02.

The girls 100 freestyle did see a unique sight at the top of the standings, as Morgantown High’s Riley Pierce and St. Albans High’s Regan Raines tied for first at 53.52. Both were honored as state champions.

Wheeling Central’s 200 medley relay team of Garan, Rachel Drnach, Grace Taylor and Claire Diffenbaugher finished 12th.

Weir High’s Kaitlyn Stumpf also saw her high school career come to a solid close with a fifth-place finish in the 500 free and a seventh-place finish in the 200 free. The school’s 400 free relay of Stumpf, Sarah Burskey, Mickayla Cook and Claire Stewart finished 12th.

Weir coach John McGowan praised Stumpf’s work over the years in helping to grow Weir’s team.

“She’s been a very steady performer for us, and I’m glad to see her finish like she did” Friday, he said.

Brooke’s Mary Ossman finished eighth in the 500 free at 5:51.75, while Emily Donley placed 11th in the 100 back.

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