Riversharks complete season with a splash

The Clarion County YMCA sent 32 swimmers to compete at the CENKEY League Championships held Feb. 18 and 19, at Lock Haven University. (Submitted photo)
From staff reports

CLARION – The Clarion County YMCA Riversharks Swim Team completed the regular season at the CENKEY League Championships held Feb. 18 and 19, at Lock Haven University. The Clarion County YMCA sent 32 of their top swimmers to compete at the meet and recorded multiple top finishes.

“I am pleased with the hard work our swimmers have put into the season,” said Emily Ondrizek, coach. We saw several swimmers achieve district times this weekend, and others who have already achieved their times worked hard to finish on top. I was happy with the success we saw.”

Seven swimmers ranked in the top six in their events in a field of over 830 swimmers from 11 teams including State College, Clearfield, Lock Haven, East Lycoming, Bellefonte, DuBois, Ridgway, Juniata Valley, Jersey Shore, Brookville and Clarion.

Kevin Young had an outstanding meet, setting a meet record of 19.46 in the eight and under 25 yard backstroke. Young recorded three individual first place finishes in the 50 yard freestyle and 25 yard backstroke and 100 Individual Medley. Young also qualified for the Pennsylvania West Districts meet in the 50 yard freestyle.

The eight and under relay team of Gabe Anderson, Jonas Wilshire, Joseph Spence and Kevin Young recorded a first place finish in the 100 yard freestyle relay for Clarion.

Maya Wilshire recorded two fourth place finishes in the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle. She also placed fifth in the 200 yard freestyle and sixth in the 50 yard backstroke. She is a district qualifier in all of her events.

Parker Boyden recorded top finishes in the 50 yard freestyle (fourth place) and 50 yard backstroke (third place) for the 11-and-12-year-old girls. She is a Pa. West District qualifier. Brayden Murray earned top finishes in the 100 yard breaststroke (third place) and 50 yard breaststroke (fourth place). Murray is a Pa. West District qualifier.

Owen Shaffer earned a fourth place finish in the 100 yard breaststroke.

For the 13-and-14-year-old girls, Alayna Murray had top finishes in the 100 yard breaststroke (fifth place) and 200 yard breaststroke (third place). She is a Pa. West District qualifier.

The 13-and-14-year-old girls relay team of Lydia Seaton (14), Bethany Cater, Alayna Murray and Brianna Warner earned a fifth place finish in the 200 yard medley relay and a sixth place finish in the 200 yard freestyle relay. They will swim both relays at the Pa. West District meet in March.

For the 13-and-14-year-old boys, Nathaniel Lerch placed fifth in the 200 yard individual medley while also qualifying for the Pa. West Districts meet. He placed fourth in the 50 yard freestyle. Lerch is a Pa. West District qualifier.

Also earning points for the Riversharks at the meet were Gabe Anderson, Jonas Wilshire, Joseph Spence, Collin Hoke, Jocalyn Henry, Issie Texter, Bailee Verdill, Brianna Warner, Lydia Seaton, William Murray, Marshall Powers, Millicent Weinlein, Bethany Cater and Kaine McFarland.

Full meet results can be found by visiting www.clarioncountyymca.org/uploads.

Fifteen Riversharks swimmers have qualified for the Pa. West District swim meet held March 9 to 11, at Penn State’s McCoy Natatorium. The top six swimmers in each districts event will move on to the Pennsylvania State meet on March 24 to 26, also held at Penn State McCoy Natatorium.