“Wheeling Park Boys and John Marshall Girls Splash to Victory at the Bill Brubaker OVAC Swimming Championships!”

In addition to clinching the team championship, Park’s fifth-year coach, Michael Cook, was honored as the 2024-25 boys 5A Swimming Coach of the Year.

As for the girls, John Marshall High School maintained its 2024-25 supremacy, leading the competition with an impressive performance from several swimmers.

Boys

The Park boys had pursued the 200 medley relay record all season. In the first event on Saturday, the quartet of Levi Parker, Brady Beihl, Brady Bowie, and Malachi Smith achieved an incredible 1:41.63, exceeding the previous record set in 2019 by 2 seconds.

Parker, a senior, dominated the 200 freestyle in the following event, claiming the individual title with a time of 1:49.96, which was 10 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.

Additionally, Parker placed second in the 100 backstroke at 55.19.

Smith of Park came in second in the 100 free (50.87) and third in the 50 free (23.43). Bowie secured third in the 100 butterfly (58.73), while Beihl took third in the 100 breast (1:08.82). The Park 200 free relay team of Smith, Beihl, Bowie, and Parker also clinched first place.

Cook commended the dedication and effort put in by his swimmers this year.

“I’m incredibly proud of our guys; they understood that if they performed well and reached their potential, they could secure the OVAC title. They did exactly that and came through when needed,” Cook stated.

For John Marshall, junior Wyatt Jefferson claimed the 100 breaststroke with a significant lead at 1:03.74 and also finished third in the 200 Individual Medley at 2:12.95. Jefferson’s teammate, Evan Harrison, finished third in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:04.5.

Girls

Senior sprinter Maitlyn Miller continues to excel in the water for John Marshall. On Saturday, she achieved two individual victories alongside a relay win, enabling the Lady Monarchs to distance themselves from second-place Morgantown High.

John Marshall commenced with a victory in the 200 medley relay, with the team comprised of Adah Aubrey, Sarah Hess, Zoe Zervos, and Savannah Potts achieving a time of 2:02.20 for first place.

Miller then started strong in the 50 free, recording a winning time of 25.14. She followed with victory in the 100 free at 55.92. Subsequently, she teamed up with Ella Finsley, Aubrey, and Zervos in the 200 freestyle relay, finishing first with a time of 1:46.57.

Significant individual performances for John Marshall also included Zervos in the 50 free (third, 26.62) and Aubrey (third in the 100 back, 1:08.63).

“I’m overjoyed; they haven’t accomplished this since the 1990s,” remarked John Marshall coach Timmi Snider about her girls winning an OVAC title. “I’m feeling overwhelmed at the moment.

“We had 24 out of our 28 swimmers here today. I cannot express enough gratitude for all the kids; our relays truly rose to the occasion. Some of our B relays ranked in the top six. They have been working tirelessly. We invested considerably more time in the water this year than we ever have, and it’s yielding results. We look forward to regionals.”

Molly George from Wheeling Park demonstrated strong individual performances. The junior won the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:03.53 and secured second in the 100 fly (1:07.02).

For Brooke, Faith Farrell finished second to Miller in the 50 freestyle at 25.78 and also in the 100 free (58.14). Kiersten Harvath placed third in the 100 fly at 1:08.38; Harvath came in second in the 100 back (1:06.55); the 200 freestyle relay team of Harvath, Lyla Horvath, Lindsey Kettler, and Farrell finished second, and the same quartet finished second in the 400 freestyle relay.

Two OVAC meet and pool records were also shattered on Saturday by Vincent Warren standout sprinter Mason Francis. In the 50 free, Francis, who is headed to swim at Ohio State next year, recorded a time of 20.7, and in the 100 free, he achieved a time of 45.95.