Bridgeport High School earned the girls’ title at the Harrison County Swim Championships held Friday night at the YMCA of Harrison County. Finishing second for the girls, Notre Dame won the boys’ title and tallied up 202 combined points for the overall championship. BHS claimed the No. 2 spot in the boys’ competition with 79 points and was overall runner-up with a combined 184 points.

 

The Lady Indians scored 105 points over Notre Dame’s 78.

 

As she has consistently throughout the season, BHS junior Bella Malone excelled Friday night.

 

"She won the 50-free and got second place in the 100-free, but it was a really close race,” said Coach Jan Grisso. “It was her best personal time, so we consider that a win in itself.”

 

Malone captured the 50-yard freestyle event with a time of 25.41, followed closely by Avery Thrush of Robert C. Byrd High School, who recorded a time of 25.66.

 

In the 100-yard freestyle, Malone recorded 56.79, being out touched at the wall by Notre Dame’s Maya Dalton with a time of 56.35. Both girls broke the event record, of 59.96, set by Bridgeport’s Michele Csonka in 2011.

 

In the girls’ 200-yard freestyle relay, the BHS team of Malone, juniors Becka Crandall Malia Howard and sophomore Haley Fiber won with a time of 1:50.14

 

Malone, Crandall, Fiber and freshman Jenna Soltesz combined forces to earn second place in the 200-yard medley relay. Their time of 2:03.31 was edged by Notre Dame for the win.

 

Other notable BHS girls performances were Fiber’s second place 100-yard backstroke (36.23) and 200-yard individual medley (37.44) finishes. She also swam a best personal best, Grisso said.

 

Crandall swam the 500-yard freestyle race in 6:06.20, earning second place. Notre Dame’s Cassie Oltman won the event with a time of 5:36.47, breaking Crandall’s 2011 record of 5:44.17. She also earned second place in the 200-yard freestyle race with a time of 2:14.96. The BHS junior also holds that record –  2:09.05 set in 2013.

 

On the boys’ side, junior Sean Rohde wound up in the No. 2 spot for the 100-yard backstroke event. His time of 1:04.05 was beat by Notre Dame’s Grant Cunningham who swam the event in 1:03.23.

 

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Rohde, juniors Jack Funk and Titus Smith and senior Tristan Knapp teamed up for second place with a time of 1:42.98. In the 200-yard medley relay, Rohde, Funk, Knapp and sophomore Devin McIntyre wound up in the No. 2 spot with a time of 1:58.91. First place in both events was captured by Notre Dame.

 

Notre Dame’s Jake Preaskorn, who lives in Bridgeport, was on the latter relay team. Preaskorn also won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:50.51, coming up short for the record – 1:47.24 set by Frank Csonka in 2013. He was also the 100-yard freestyle county champion with a time of 49.74, beating his own 2014 record of 50.11.

 

Also participating in the county meet were Robert C. Byrd, Liberty and Lincoln high schools.

 

“I was pleased with what my kids did,” Grisso said. “I look forward to the Big 10 this week (Jan. 31 at Elkins) and I think we’ll have another strong showing. Then it’s on to regionals (Feb. 7 at WVWC) and states.”

 

Grisso said she commends Notre Dame for its performances Friday night. She also commends BHS Assistant Coach Jack Merinar, who coached the Indian swimmers to their victories Friday night while she was out with illness.

 

“He did a great job with the kids,” she said. “I really appreciate him texting me after every event.” 

 

Editor's Note: Photos by Tyler Maxwell of Ben Queen Photography. See more images of Friday night's county swim event HERE.