MORGANTOWN — The 2024 WVSSAC state swimming championships got underway Thursday inside the WVU swimming and diving complex at Mylan Aquatic Center with day one of the two-day meet.
The morning session saw teams compete in preliminary races with hopes of qualifying for the championship finals later in the evening session.
Out of 12 preliminary events, one of either Morgantown or University High Schools was represented by a boy or a girl in the pool in 10 of those races.
The Mohigans began the day with the girls’ 200-yard medley relay team of seniors Delaney Householder and Lillian Linscheid, sophomore Avery Householder and freshman Samantha Lindquist qualifying third in prelims with a time of 1:58.90. They improved on that time in the championship final and finished as the state runner-up with a final time of 1:58.31.
“We were pretty pleased with our effort as a team today,” MHS coach Eric Householder said. “We had some girls who just missed the threshold of top-12 in their races, Avery qualified tenth in the 200 free and finished in fifth in the final which was incredible and Lillian was strong in third.”
Linscheid and Avery Householder each qualified for the championship final in the 200-yard freestyle event. Linscheid finished third overall with a time of 2:00.04, while the younger Householder took fifth at 2:08.56.
The older Householder, senior Delaney, dominated the 200-yard individual medley out of the gate and finished as the state champion with a final time of 2:08.05. She left zero doubt from the moment the race began on her way to her first individual state title victory.
“Super proud of Laney for her effort today and I’m glad she can finally get over that hump and get her first one,” coach and father Eric Householder said, “She was always behind some great older swimmers and has finally been able to break through.”
Daniel and Christian Hammer were the lone swimmers from the boys’ side to qualify for the finals, with each doing so in the 100-yard butterfly event.
Daniel Hammer, a senior, raced in the consolation final and finished first in the race with a time of 54.30. His younger brother Christian Hammer, just a sophomore, took home fourth overall in the championship final with a time of 51.57.
“Super pleased with the Hammer boys today, obviously,” Eric Householder said. “Our relay didn’t finish how we wanted but I’m still proud of the effort and we will be back for day two tomorrow.”
For the Hawks, three of the four swimmers who entered prelims qualified for the final heats in the evening session.
Junior Nate Lindsay competed in the consolation heat of the 200-yard medley, finishing first in the race with a time of 2:05.62, good enough for seventh overall in the state. He also finished sixth overall in the championship finals of the 100-yard freestyle race.
Senior Maddie McCoy qualified for the consolation finals of the 50-yard freestyle, taking third in the heat at 26.51. They would also qualify for the championship heat of the 100-yard freestyle race and finish sixth overall posting a 57.72.
Senior Haley Kramer took home 12th overall in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:13.58.
“This morning we came in and were hoping to get everyone into the finals of their event, and we did so for everybody but one swimmer,” UHS coach Nicolle Davis said. “Even the one that didn’t qualify swam very well in his first state meet. He will be back tomorrow to make the finals again. Our seniors are going out well and they both made finals in their senior year at states. I couldn’t be more proud. We want them to rest tonight and be ready to come out and do what they aimed to do today, which is leaving everything in the water.”
Day two of the 2024 WVSSAC state swim meet will begin with warmups at 8:30 a.m. with the first event being scheduled for 9:45.
