Big day for Brooke swimming
Bruins send coach into the pool after winning girls OVAC title
Brooke’s Ella McCullough competes in the 100 breaststroke
Big Red’s Kaylin Sperry competes in the 100 backstroke
Brooke’s Ella McCullough competes in the 100 breaststroke
Big Red’s Kaylin Sperry competes in the 100 backstroke
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WELLSBURG -- Thanks to a winning effort, the last member of the Brooke swimming team to hit the pool Saturday was one of its coaches.
Bruins coach Kelsie Blumette made a deal with her team that if they delivered a strong performance in the OVAC Championships, she would go in the water.
Not only did the Bruins girls team top the OVAC Class 5A field to claim the conference title for the seventh-year coach, but the Brooke boys also tied for fourth and Blumette was named the OVAC female coach of the year prior to her own swim -- assisted by an encouraging shove from celebrating Bruin swimmers.
"It was a great day for Brooke swimming," Blumette said. "Every kid swam out of their minds. We only had two days of practice we were allowed in the pool this past week and the kids showed up in a big way (Saturday)."
The Bruins girls racked up 241 points to beat out perennial contenders Morgantown (203) and Parkersburg South (200) to stand atop the podium inside the Brooke Wellness Center.
That performance was led by an event win from the 200 free relay unit of Ella Dietrich, Ella McCullough, Lyla Horvath and Faith Farrell who turned in a 1:48.22, more than four seconds better than their seed time, while a slew of Bruins -- Farrell second in the 50 free; McCullough third in the 100 free and second in the 100 breaststroke; Lyla Horvath fourth in the 500 free; Dietrich third in the 100 back; Kiersten Harvath fourth in the 100 back; and the second place 400 free relay unit of Lyla Horvath, Kiersten Harvath, Farrell and McCullough -- also finished in the medals.
McCullough tied for an event-high four medals on the day.
"We had a runner-up on the girls side in 2019 and now a title this year … it shows how our program keeps growing," Blumette said. "It's just awesome to see. The boys tying for fourth is big, too. They're a small, but mighty group and they shocked me today. They saw the seed sheet and wanted to be better, and they were."
Blumette's coach of the year award was a new award added this year. It was voted on by the coaches.
"It's pretty cool to be recognized by my peers," she said.
Also on the girls side, John Marshall came in fifth, Wheeling Park sixth and Big Red ninth.
The Patriots' Molly George topped the 100 backstroke in 1:05.10 and was runner-up in the 100 butterfly, while Abby Heilman won the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.25 and finished the day with four medals (third place 200 free relay unit, second in the 200 IM, fifth in the 400 free).
Big Red's Kinsey Tucker finished sixth in the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly to give Steubenville a multi-event medalist.
Parkerburg South's Jordan Claypool was the female swimmer of the year recipient after capturing three golds and a bronze.
BOYS
Parkersburg South, whose coach, Ryan Radcliff, was named the conference's boys coach of the year, racked up 354 points to claim the title, topping Wheeling Park's 254 and Dover's 151.
Brooke tied Morgantown for fourth and JM came home in eighth.
South swimmers were on the podium in a total of nine of 22 events on the way to earning the crown.
Park's runner-up effort was led by Levi Parker winning the 200 free in 1:50.84 on the way to earning four medals (second place 200 medley relay team, second in the 500 free, second place 400 free relay team).
Jackson Kiziminski also had four medals for Park (second place 200 medley relay team, second place 200 IM, fourth place 100 breaststroke, second place 400 free relay team).
The Bruins didn't put anyone atop the podium on the boys side but earned their place as a team with medals in eight different events by 10 individuals/relay teams.
Warren's Mason Francis was named the male swimmer of the year after winning two golds, a bronze and a fourth-place medal on the day.
MORE TO COME
Due to being postponed Friday because of the winter storm that came through the area, the titles in Class 1A-3A and 4A will be decided on Monday, also at the Brooke Wellness Center. The meet is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.