STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Fifteen area youth will represent the Clarion County YMCA at the Pennsylvania YMCA West Districts Swim Meet this weekend, March 10-12, at Penn State’s McCoy Natatorium.
(Nathaniel Lerch is pictured above swimming the butterfly. He will represent the Riversharks at YMCA West Districts.)
“Pennsylvania West Districts is considered the most important swim meet of the season for YMCA swimmers,” said head coach Emily Ondrizek.
To attend the meet, swimmers must meet and exceed district time standards for each event in order to swim those events. To top six finishers in each event will then move on to the Pennsylvania YMCA State Meet held March 24-26.
YMCA Districts is the culmination of a season of hard work, rigorous practices four to five nights per week, dedication to the sport and years of training. The swimmers who hope to make the qualifying times must be patient and dedicated.
“All of our swimmers have worked really hard to reach these goals,” said Coach Emily Ondrizek. “Their performance at districts will depend on the training we’ve done this season and their health. They need to stay healthy to do their best.”
(Pictured: the 13-14 girls relay team of Lydia Seaton, Alayna Murray, Brianna Warner, and Bethany Cater)
Fifteen Clarion County YMCA swimmers have qualified for PA West Districts and will represent the Clarion County YMCA in 22 individual events and four relay events.
(Pictured: Kevin Young and Maya Wilshire who will represent the 9-10 age group.)
Kevin Young (7) will represent the Riversharks in the 9-10 boys age group. He will compete in the 50 yard freestyle, 50 yard backstroke and 100 yard backstroke.
Maya Wilshire (10), a freestyle specialist, will represent the Riversharks in the 9-10 girls age group. She will compete in the 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle and 200 yard freestyle.
(Pictured; Bailee Verdill, Patrick Young, Brayden Murray, William Murray, and Kaine McFarland)
Brayden Murray (11) will represent the Riversharks in the 11-12 boys age group. He will compete in the 50 yard freestyle, 50 yard breaststroke, 50 yard backstroke, and 200 medley relay. Murray was a 2016 YMCA State Qualifier.
Patrick Young (11) will represent the Riversharks in the 11-12 boys age group. He will compete in the 50 yard butterfly, 200 yard freestyle, 100 yard butterfly and 200 medley relay. Young was a 2016 YMCA State Qualifier.
Parker Boyden (12) will compete in the 11-12 girls age group for the Riversharks. She will swim the 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle, 50 yard backstroke and the 200 yard freestyle relay. Boyden was a 2015 YMCA State Qualifier.
Alayna Murray (14) will compete in the 13-14 girls age group for the Riversharks. She will swim the 200 yard breaststroke, 100 yard breaststroke, 200 yard medley relay and 200 yard freestyle relay. Murray was a 2016 State Qualifier.
Lydia Seaton (14) will represent the Riversharks in the girls 13-14 age group. She will compete in the 500 yard freestyle, 200 yard medley relay and 200 yard freestyle relay.
Nathaniel Lerch (14) will compete in the 13-14 boys age group for the Riversharks. Lerch will swim the 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard butterfly, and 200 yard Individual Medley.
(Pictured Jocalyn Henry, Natali Kahle, Kayte Beinhaur, and Issie Texter)
Four Relay teams will compete at the District Meet for the Riversharks.
A boys 11-12 200 yard medley relay team of William Murray (backstroke), Brayden Murray (breaststroke), Patrick Young (butterfly) and Bailee Verdill (freestyle) will represent the Riversharks. Kaine McFarland will attend the meet as a relay alternate.
A girls 11-12 200 yard freestyle relay team of Jocalyn Henry, Natali Kahle, Parker Boyden, and Issie Texter will represent the Riversharks. Kayte Beinhaur will attend the meet as an alternate.
The relay team of Bethany Cater, Alayna Murray, Lydia Seaton and Brianna Warner will swim two relays, the 13-14 girls 200 yard freestyle relay and the 13-14 girls 200 yard medley relay.
The Clarion County YMCA Riversharks are in their fourth season under the direction of the Clarion County YMCA. The team of 87 consists of swimmers ages 5-18. The Riversharks compete in the CENKEY league throughout the regular season.
About the YMCA
For more information about the Clarion County YMCA and Y programs, please visit the YMCA website at www.clarioncountyymca.org, call 814-764-3400 and follow the Y on Facebook.
Hours
The Clarion County YMCA hours are: Weekdays 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The Clarion County YMCA is a branch of the Scenic Rivers Association, which includes the Oil City YMCA, Clarion County YMCA, Younger Days Child Care and Camp Coffman.
(Article submitted by Michelle Murray, Marketing & Membership Director, Clarion County YMCA, Oil City YMCA, and YMCA Camp Coffman)
Clarion County YMCA and exploreClarion.com have partnered to provide the community with YMCA News. This is an exclusive article only found on exploreClarion.com.
