John Marshall girls, Wheeling Park boys capture Northern Panhandle First Splash
The John Marshall High School girls and Wheeling Park High School boys captured their respective divisions at Saturday’s Northern Panhandle First Splash at Bethany College. The meet showcased a handful of West Virginia’s top returning swimmers from the 2023-24 season, and they didn’t disappoint.
Brooke High School, Wheeling Central Catholic High School and Oak Glen High School also participated.
Girls
Led by senior Maitlyn Miller, who captured individual events Saturday in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle, John Marshall’s girls posted 429 points, topping Wheeling Park’s girls at 395 and Brooke at 266. Wheeling Central finished fourth with 188 points and Oak Glen had 47.
Miller, a returning state finalist in both events, touched the wall at 26.22 in the 50 and 58.08 in the 100. She also anchored JM’s 200 freestyle relay (Ella Finley, Sarah Hess, Adah Aubrey) that finished first in 1:55.2, and the 400 freestyle relay that finished second to Brooke. John Marshall also got an individual event win in the 100 breaststroke from Hess (1:28.11).
Returning state finalist Molly George from Wheeling Park High School also had a strong meet. She finished first in the 100 backstroke (1:08.3) and second in the 100 fly (1:12.42). Brooke High’s Kiersten Harvath out-touched George in the 100 fly (1:12.15) while Lyla Horvath won the 500 free in 6:39.97. Wheeling Central freshman Gracee Humpe also finished first in the 200 freestyle at 2:29.19.
Boys
Park has a potential powerhouse team this year. Led by senior Levi Parker, a returning state finalist in the 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke, the squad amassed 589 points, nearly doubling-up second place John Marshall. Oak Glen finished third, followed by Brooke and Wheeling Central.
Parker captured the 200 freestyle on Saturday (2:00.84) and the 100 fly (59.56). He also led off Park’s winning 200 medley relay squad (Parker, Brady Beihl, Malachi Smith and Brady Bowie, 1:47.86) and anchored the winning 400 freestyle relay (Smith, Ronan Maxwell, Bowie, 3:43.19.)
Other strong performances for the Patriots came from Smith (first in the 50 free, 22.81 and first in the 100 free at 51.61) and Beihl (first in the 200 IM, 2:32.25 and second in the 100 breast, 1:11.29).
John Marshall’s Wyatt Jefferson, another returning state finalist, won the 100 breast at 1:05.84 and finished second in the 100 fly.