Nineteen Swimmers to Represent Clarion County YMCA At District Meet (03/04/16)
(By Michelle Murray)
Nineteen Clarion County YMCA swimmers are headed to the highly competitive Pennsylvania West Districts Meet March 11-13 at Penn State University’s McCoy Natatorium.
Parker Boyden, Mason Burns, Alayna Murray and Brayden Murray will compete in individual events at the PA West Districts Meet.
Swimmers attending this meet have achieved times in events that met or surpassed the fast time standards set by the state of Pennsylvania.
The Clarion County YMCA Riversharks, coached by Derek Nelson, have been practicing since October to prepare for the meet. Swimmers have attended up to 12 meets in the pre-season and regular seasons combined.
Six relay teams will compete at the PA West Districts Meet.
9-10 Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay – Natali Kahle, Isabella Texter, Jocalyn Henry, and Maya Wilshire
9-10 Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay – Patrick Young, Brayden Murray, Jake Nowaczyk, Bailee Verdill
13-14 Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay – Brianna Warner, Lydia Seaton, Alayna Murray, Bethany Cater
13-14 Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay – Bethany Cater, Alayna Murray, Lydia Seaton, Brianna Warner
15-18 Boys 200 Medley Yard Relay – Marshall Powers, Adam Bettwy, Kyle Bettwy, Mason Burns
15-18 Boys 200 Freestyle Yard Relay – Marshall Powers, Adam Bettwy, Kyle Bettwy, Mason Burns
Several swimmers have qualified for districts in individual events,
Patrick Young will compete in the 200 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle and 50 yard freestyle, in addition to the 200 yard freestyle relay.
Nathaniel Lerch and Mason Burns have qualified in individual events.
Brayden Murray will compete in the 50 yard backstroke, 50 yard breaststroke, and 100 yard breaststroke and is also part of the 200 yard freestyle relay team.
Bailee Verdill will compete in the 200 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle and 50 yard freestyle in addition to the 200 yard freestyle relay.
Maya Wilshire will compete in the 50 yard freestyle in addition to the 200 yard freestyle relay. Natali Kahle will compete in the 50 yard freestyle and 50 yard butterfly in addition to the 200 yard freestyle relay. Parker Boyden will swim the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle. Boyden is a 2015 State Qualifier.
Natali Kahle, Isabella Texter, Jocalyn Henry and Maya Wilshire make up the 200 yard girls freestyle relay team.
Beau Verdill will compete in the 200 yard freestyle, 50 yard freestyle, and 50 yard breaststroke. Nathaniel Lerch will swim two events, the 50 yard freestyle and 200 yard individual medley (IM). Alayna Murray will compete in the 100 yard breaststroke and 200 yard breaststroke events in addition to the 200 yard medley relay and 200 yard freestyle relay.
Mason Burns will swim two individual events, the 100 yard breaststroke and 200 yard breaststroke, in addition to the 200 yard medley relay and 200 yard freestyle relay. Beau and Bailee Verdill are individual district qualifiers.
The top six swimmers from each event will move on to the Pennsylvania State Meet held at Penn State on March 19-20.
Beau and Bailee Verdill are individual district qualifiers.
The Clarion County YMCA Riversharks are in their third season of competitive swimming. This season, 70 children, ages 5-18 were part of the competitive team. Swim practices and home meets were held at CUP’s Tippin Natatorium.
To find out more about the Riversharks swim team, visit www.clarioncountyymca.org/river-sharks-home.
Article and images provided by Michelle Murray, Marketing & Membership Director, Clarion County YMCA.
(Thanks to Michelle Murray for this article and photos. CONGRATULATIONS AND HAVE A GREAT DISTRICT MEET, RIVERSHARKS!!!!)