Photos by John McCabe Members of Wheeling Park High School’s girls swim squad hoist high their team title earned Friday during the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission State Swimming championships. Pictured, front row, from left, are Allison Holmstrand and Victoria White; second row, from left, assistant coach Katie Dicola, Melina McCabe, Alexa Hickman, Kat Donzella, Lillian Bischof and Lydia Bischof. And in back are head coach Pat Durkin, Sydney Moffett, Sarah Heilman and assistant coach Amy Hensler.

MORGANTOWN — Friday evening at West Virginia University’s Natatorium saw a series of firsts for Wheeling Park High School during the finals of the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission State Swimming Championships.

First, the girls 200 medley relay team of Sarah Heilman, Victoria White, Lydia Bischof and Kat Donzella won the school’s first relay state championship. Then, about an hour later, Heilman became the first Park swimmer to win a state championship in the 100 butterfly.

Finally, at meet’s end, Park’s girls squad became the first in school history to capture a team state title.

For the team, it’s all part of a hard day’s work.

The girls team finished with 144 points, holding on to top a hard-charging Fairmont Senior High School squad that finished just behind, at 142. George Washington was third with 134 followed by Morgantown with 112 points.

Park head coach Pat Durkin said his team entered the finals with what amounted to about a 14-point cushion, based on seed times from Thursday’s qualifying round.

“Through the day, we lost 12 of those points, but our girls were able to hang on and swam great races all day. I couldn’t be more proud of them. We even had a couple state championships!” Durkin said.

Assistant coach Amy Hensler noted it was a total team effort that led to the title.

“The kids swam all out, they did what they had to do tonight, and that’s all we can ask for. And the big thing is they did it together,” she said.

Heilman, a sophomore, was one of five swimmers named All Tournament. She won the 100 butterfly with a time of 1 minute flat, defeating Fairmont Senior junior standout Kelsie Drennen by .22 seconds. The two battled again in the 100 backstroke, with Drennen pulling out victory by .26 seconds, 1:00.51 to 1:00.77.

Heilman also was part of the 400 freestyle relay team with White, Bischof and Donzella that finished fifth.

Heilman said following the meet that bringing home a state title — particularly for the team’s senior trio of Kat Donzella, Alexa Hickman and Sydney Moffett — made the effort even more special.

“I’m just so happy for my team, especially the seniors, they swam so hard. I’m so happy we were able to help them have this memory,” she said.

For the seniors, bringing home a state title during their final high school meet proved to be bittersweet.

“I just think it’s great. I’m so happy, we worked so hard all year for this,” Donzella said.

“It’s amazing. It’s just amazing,” Hickman added.

“I wasn’t sure if we were going to be able to do it, but now that the title’s with us I’m just so happy,” Moffett said.

Other top finishers for Wheeling Park were Bischof (fourth in 200 IM, sixth in 100 breast); White (fifth in 500 free and fifth in 200 IM) and the 200 freestyle relay team of Donzella, Moffett, Hickman and Melina McCabe, which finished sixth.

Boy’s State Meet

Eight-tenths of a second. That’s all that separated Wheeling Park sophomore Charles Schellhase from a state championship in the 500 freestyle.

Schellhase set a school record with a blazing 4:59.12 in the event, only to fall just shy of Hedgesville High senior Ricard Marsal-Castan’s 4:58.31.

He also finished fourth in the 200 freestyle, capping a strong season that holds bright promise for the future.

George Washington High School won the overall for the boys, scoring 166 points on their way to victory and avenging a one-point loss last year to Parkersburg High School, which finished second. Weir High finished seventh overall, followed by Park in eighth.

Other top local finishes came from Wheeling Central senior Austin Schramm, who capped his final high school swim with a second-place finish in the 100 backstroke at 56.02.

Weir’s Tyler Virtue claimed a runner-up finish in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:03.95. Wheeling Park’s Michael Butts finished ninth in the event at 1:08.59, followed by Weir’s Michael Miller in ninth.

Virtue also placed 10th in the 100 freestyle.

Weir High junior Wil Visnic, who battled with Schellhase at OVACs and regionals, finished third in the 500 free at 5:04.28. He did best Schellhase in the 200 freestyle, finishing third in the event at 1:51.96.

Weir coach John McGowan praised his two swimmers for their hard work and leadership.

“Tyler has made jumps every year, he’s very deserving, he’s put in the work for this. He’s very selfless, and he’s swam everything we’ve asked him to,” McGowan said. “Wil, he’s just a hard worker, he’s talented, he can do any stroke. His big debate was what (event) to look for … he wanted the challenge of the two freestyles. They work hard, and I think they got what they deserve with their finishes.”

Also for Wheeling Park, sophomore Caleb Lucas served up the smile of the day when he finished fifth in the 200 IM at 2:17.53. Lucas, upon seeing the result, broke into a huge grin and shouted “I’m not sixth!” and was quickly mobbed by teammates and coaches.