Riversharks Sends 11 Qualified Swimmers To PA Western District Championships At YSU This Weekend (03/05/14)

(By Matt Lerch)

At the culmination of the YMCA swim season comes the time to send the best swimmers from every YMCA team to compete. Eleven Clarion County YMCA Riversharks swimmers have advanced to PA Western District Championships at Youngstown State by beating set league times.

(Photos by Matt Lerch)Tanner Kerle, Mason Burns and Beau Verdill

Alayna Murray, Kristy Juart, Bethany Carter and Lydia Seaton

The top 6 winners at Districts then advance to the 2014 Pennsylvania YMCA State Swimming Championships held at Penn State University March 21st, 22nd and 23rd. Very few swimmers advance to this level of competition, especially for a team in its infancy.

The tenacity and fortitude of these swimmers to rise to be the cream of the crop has been achieved by many hours of swimming laps four days a week from November through March. The Riversharks having 65 swimmers this year complemented by 11 District swimmers is a proud achievement.

The following swimmers will be competing at Youngstown State University this weekend, March 8th and 9th. The first column lists the meet qualifying time; the second column lists the swimmer’s best time, this season; the third column lists their seed.

Girls

Parker Boyden (9)
Clarion Elementary School
Female 10 and under
50 freestyle                                                              35:20                     34:06                 35
50 backstroke                                                          41:10                      40:09                25
100 freestyle                                                         1:19.50                    1:16.49                21

Evelyn Lerch (9)
Clarion Elementary School
Previous District Qualifier
Female 10 and under
50 breaststroke                                                     46:00                       43:40                  7
100 breaststroke                                                1:38.10                     1:37.23                14

Bethany Cater (11)
Keystone Elementary School
Female 11-12
200 freestyle relay A                                        2:10.70                   2:10.66                 26

Kristy Juart (11)
Brookville Elementary School
Female 11-12
200 freestyle                                                     2:31.00                    2:21.40                 21
50 backstroke                                                      37:80                       33:24                  11
100 backstroke                                                 1:17.90                     1:13.77                  12
200 freestyle relay A                                      2:10.70                    2:10.66                  26

Alayna Murray (11)
Clarion-Limestone Elementary School
Previous District Qualifier
Female 11-12
50 breaststroke                                                 40:40                       38:44                  14
100 breaststroke                                            1:26.30                     1:23.61                  14
200 Individual Medley                                 2:47.00                   2:46.48                  21
200 freestyle relay A                                     2:10.70                    2:10.66                  26

Lydia Seaton (11)
AC  Valley Elementary School
Previous District Qualifer
200 freestyle relay A                                    2:10.70                    2:10.66                   26

Boys

Beau Verdill (10)
Clarion Elementary School
50 freestyle                                                       36:80                       34:38                   21
50 breaststroke                                                48:30                       45:03                   13
100 freestyle                                                   1:21.90                     1:18.11                   23

Tanner Kerle (12)
Keystone High School
Previous District Qualifier
50 freestyle                                                      32:30                        28:87                  15
50 breaststroke                                               43:10                        40:59                  21
100 freestyle                                                 1:11.40                      1:09.56                 34

Mason Burns (13)
Keystone High School
Previous District Qualifier
100 breaststroke                                        1:18.50                         1:17.61                15

Marshall Powers (13)
Clarion High School
Previous District Qualifier
50 freestyle                                                    27:50                            27:43             23

Isaac Wilson (15)
North Clarion High School
Previous District Qualifier
Previous State Qualifier
500 freestyle                                              5:40.00                         5:21.52            12
100 backstroke                                           1:05.00                         1:00.42            15
200 Individual Medley                              2:20.00                         2:15.20            17

(Thanks to Matt Lerch for this article and photos. Congratulations to all the Riversharks’ Qualifiers!!!!)

Parker Boyden and Evelyn Lerch

Marshall Powers

Isaac Wilson