WVSSAC Region 1 Swimming Championship

The WVSSAC Region 1 Swimming Championship, aka Regionals, comes after many swimmers just completed their conference championships.  The goal for swimmers at Regionals is to finish in the top 3 individual events and top 2 in relay events to become an automatic qualifier for the WVSSAC State Swimming Championship.  The next goal is to post a time in an event that would make the swimmers finish as one of the times at large.  There are four regions in West Virginia that allow 12 automatic qualifiers, the next top 12 times in the state per event get to continue to States.  This is the start of a journey for a few swimmers, and is the end of the season for most.  How a swimmer makes it to States is different for each swimmer.  Some need to wear a tech suit and swim at their best.  Some wear a normal swimsuit, swim a good race and hope that the next race at States with a tech suit works to their advantage.  This is the mental part of swimming, making sure that a swimmer is at their best when they need to be.

It is always interesting to see what swimmers and coaches select for individual races.  They are deciding on where a swimmer can place on the state level, but making that decision for a regional race. Initial reaction to seeing the heat sheet earlier in the day was telling.  It was very quick to see that the ladies 100 Back race was going to be the race of the day.  Three swimmers that college coaches would all love to have on their team had Victoria Kidney from John Marshall swimming against Jordan Claypoole of Parkersburg South and Delaney Householder from Morgantown.  It should be noted that these three will finish in the top three in the 100 Back at States.  They are that good.  At the end of the race, Victoria Kidney broke a pool and Region 1 meet record.  Counterpoint to the 100 Back was the ladies 50 Free that had new swimmers that have yet to make their mark on the State level.  A freshman from Booke, Faith Farrel, out touched her competition to seal an amazing day for the newcomer.  Neither the 100 Back nor the 50 Free disappoint.

For the boys races the 100 Back once again stood out.  Quade Harris from Parkersburg South racing Carter Redelman from Morgantown and Anthony Ott from Parkersburg South.  Quade out touch Carter by .29 seconds to take the gold at regionals.  Both Carter and Anthony formed another good race in the 100 Fly.  Carter bested Anthony by tenths of seconds to win the Fly.

The afternoon finishes with the announcement of the Region 1 All-Tournament Team which are the swimmers that scored the most individual points throughout the day.  There were known names like Victoria Kidney & Caroline Riggs that continue to break records and swim at the top level.  Lacie Langmyer, Delaney Householder, and Jordan Claypoole who are known names and excelled at their events on the day.  Then there were the fresh faces to the All Region 1 team with Faith Ferrel and Abby Heilman who stood out through the day.  In the same regards, there were known names for the boys All Region 1 Tournament Team with the likes of Quade Harris, Carter Redelman, and Lake Embrey.  They included newcomers Levi Parker and Christian Hammer into their group.

With Regionals in the rear-view mirror, all swimmers and coaches turned to the phones waiting for the other 3 Regions to report results.  As the results come in, there will be some swimmers that realize their season has finished, there will be swimmers that smile knowing they did what they needed to do to make it to States, and then there will be the swimmers hungry to finish the season with a medal around their neck or for the very select a 2023 West Virginia State Championship to their name!

WVSSAC Swimming Championship Automatic Qualifiers:

For women’s races

200 Medley Relay – Wheeling Park & Parkersburg South

200 Free – Caroline Riggs, Morgantown; Lacie Langmyer, Wheeling Park; Lily Linsheid, Morgantown

200 IM – Delaney Householder, Morgantown; Abby Heilman, Wheeling Park; JulieAnne Humpee, Wheeling Central

50 Free – Faith Farrell, Brooke; Maddie McCoy, University; Adelaide Vann, Parkersburg

100 Fly – Victoria Kidney, John Marshall, Izzy Farinash, Parkersburg, Lilith Crichton, Parkersburg

100 Free – Jordan Claypoole, Parkersburg South; Ella McCullough, Brooke; Maddie McCoy, University

500 Free – Lacie Langmyer, Wheeling Park; Lily Linshceid, Morgantown; Avery Householder, Morgantown

200 Free Relay – Morgantown & John Marshall

100 Back – Victoria Kidney, John Marshall; Jordan Claypoole, Parkersburg South, Delaney Householder, Morgantown

100 Breast – Caroline Riggs, Morgantown; Abby Heilman, Wheeling Park; Abie Riedel, Wheeling Central

400 Free Relay – Morgantown & Parkersburg

For Men’s Races:

200 Medley Relay – Parkersburg South & Morgantown

200 Free – Levi Parker, Wheeling Park; Lake Embrey, Morgantown; Ethan Metz, Parkersburg

200 IM – Christian Hammer, Morgantown; Carly Ramsay, Parkersburg; Ian Sasyn, Parkersburg

50 Free – Ethan Metz, Parkersburg; Ryan Richardson, Parkersburg South; Dameon Rea, Brooke

100 Fly – Carter Redelman, Morgantown; Anthony Ott, Parkersburg South; Christian Hammer, Morgantown

100 Free – Quade Harris, Parkersburg South; Conner Roberts, Parkersburg South; Braden Williwms, Parkersburg

500 Free – Lake Embrey, Morgantown; Levi Parker, Wheeling Park; Carty Ramsay, Parkersburg

200 Free Relay – Parkersburg & Parkersburg South

100 Back – Quade Harris, Parkersburg South, Carter Redelman, Morgantown; Anthony Ott, Parkersburg South

100 Breast – Ian Sasyn, Parkersburg; Andrew Kirk, Parkersburg South; Maddox Rader, Parkersburg South

400 Free Relay – Parkersburg South & Morgantown

Article compliments of Kevin Heilman