Sports@DominionPost.com
WELLSBURG, W.Va. — Wheeling Park and Parkersburg split the Region I swim meets, as the Patriots boys’ and Big Reds girls’ teams came out on top.
In the boys’ competition, Park had 96 points in the victory, followed by Parkersburg South (86), Brooke (85), Morgantown (75) and Parkersburg (53) the close out the top 5. On the girls’ side, Parkersburg’s 112 points edged second-place finisher Morgantown (103). Wheeling Park (99), John Marshall (48) and University (43) closed out the top 5.
Although neither Morgantown or University claimed a regional team title, there were still a total of nine individual state qualifiers, eight of which are Mohigans. Three Morgantown relay teams also qualified for the state meet.
First, MHS freshman Caroline Riggs qualified in two individual races and two relays. She first took 1st in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:57.11. Riggs followed her first-place finish in the 200 free with another top-finish, hitting the back wall in the 500 free (5:10.56). The freshman is also part of the 200 and 400 free relay teams that each took 1st place with times of 1:45.42 and 3:47.58, respectively. The relay teams are the same and include Irina Stenescu, Katelyn Blosser and McKenna Moore.
Moore, Stenescu and Blosser all qualified for states in individual races as well. Moore placed 3rd in the 200 IM (2:17.32) and 2nd in the 100 backstroke (1:03.82), Blosser placed 3rd in the 500 free (5:46.41) and 100 butterfly (1:06.23) and Stanescu finished 3rd in the 50 free (26.56).
The lone state qualifier from UHS was junior Mia Rice, placing 2nd in the 200 free with a time of 2:01.95 — just on Riggs’ heels. Rice also qualified for a second individual race, placing 3rd in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.64).
For the Morgantown boys’ team, Lake Embrey, Preston Householder, Spencer Redelman and Carson Gresak will compete in the 400 free relay after placing 3rd with a time of 3:41.59. Each will also compete in individual competitions. Householder and Embrey each qualified in two races, as Householder took 1st in the 500 free (5:13.06) and 2nd in the 200 IM (2:10.33) and Embrey placed 3rd in the 200 free (2:00.19) and the 500 free (5:21.38). Gresak and Redelman each placed in one race, with Gresak taking 2nd in the 50 free with a speedy 23.55, and Redelman placing 3rd in the 100 back at 1:01.97.
Boys’ basketball
Robert C. Byrd 70, Preston High 56
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Preston was unable to stand Robert C. Byrd’s explosive offense Saturday afternoon, falling to the sixth-ranked Class AA Flying Eagles, 70-56.
RCB (12-2) picked up steam almost immediately, outscoring PHS 16-4 in the first quarter before ending the half up 35-19. Preston (7-9) snapped back out of the break, outscoring the Eagles 19-13 to cut the deficit to 10 points, ending the third quarter down 48-38. But the Eagles managed to stay ahead of the Preston resurgence, dropping 22 points in the final stanza to the Knights’ 18.
Khori Miles and Gavin Kennedy led the Flying Eagles with 15 points each, while Bryson Lucas (14) and Jeremiah King (12) combined for another 26 to make up for all of Preston’s points.
The Knights were paced by Austin Metheny with 16 points and Nick Smith and Jaden Fultz with 13 each.
Preston returns to action on Monday, hosting Grafton.
PRESTON (7-9)
Metheny 16; Smith 13; Fultz 13; Brandt 4; Harris 4; Shannon 2; Long 2; Allen 2. Total: 56
ROBERT C. BYRD (12-2)
Kennedy 15; Miles 15; Lucas 14; King 12; Magan 9; Hawkins 5. Total: 70.
