WHEELING — Winning the state team championship in prep sports is the ultimate.

That is something never achieved by the Wheeling Park girls’ swim team. That is until last Friday.

The Patriots, packed with relentless resolve, grabbed the brass ring for the initial time in school annals by a razor-thin margin. Coach Pat Durkin’s mermaids edged out Fairmont Senior by a mere two points (144-142).

“It takes an unbelievable effort to win a state title. The effort the swimmers put out is amazing. I give them most of the credit for the win. But also coach Amy Hensler and coach Katie DiCola are fantastic in every aspect of getting the team there,” Durkin said. “We had to overcome a few hurdles this year when our pool went down, moving meets elsewhere and finding a place to practice. A big thank you goes out to Coach Bill Brubaker and to West Liberty and Wheeling Jesuit for the use of their pools.

“I thank our swimmers for dealing with not knowing where we were practicing and getting in to the cold water with little or no complaints. I appreciate all their dedication and commitment,” he added. “I am just thankful to be associated with the coaches and swimmers — the best group of people I know. This is a special group of young ladies. They are the best — and not just in pool.”

Making that coveted championship even sweeter was a pair of event state titles for the Patriots.

The quartet of Sarah Heilman, Victoria White, Lydia Bischof and Kate Donzella pooled their talents to pocket Park’s first-ever state relay championship. Heilman followed by winning the 100 butterfly.

“Every swim counts. It was a team effort from start to finish. Every swimmer did what they had to do, we took nine girls to states and seven scored,” Durkin noted. “With state champion Sarah Heilman in the 100 fly and runner-up in the 100 back, Victoria White taking fifth in both the IM and 500 and Lydia Bischof finishing fourth in the IM and sixth in the breast leading the way.

“Those three teamed with Kat Donzella to win the medley relay for first place and a state championship in that event. The four also took a fifth place in the 400 free relay,” he continued. “Kat Donzella, Syd Moffett, Melina McCabe and Alexa Hickman took sixth place in the 200 free relay. Alexa added a ninth place finish in the breast and Kat finished 12th in the 50 free to round out the scoring. It was a total team effort. Our girls really rose to the occasion.”

Durkin has been at the Park pool helm for nine years now. His Patriot girls have captured four OVAC banners while finishing runnerup on five other occasions. His boys’ teams have won one OVAC title to go with three runnerup finishes.

Durkin is confident that his Patriots will continue to be successful in the water.

“The future is bright. We have great swimmers returning next year,” Durkin said. “Add in a few new faces and who knows what will come. Good things I hope.”

LEWICKI HONORED

KRISTIN LEWICKI continues to reap in the accolades. The John Marshall High product, now a senior star with the Adrian (Mich.) College women’s hockey team, has been named the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Year.

Lewicki leads NCAA Division III women’s hockey in scoring. The talented skater has netted 25 goals and delivered 32 assists in leading the Bulldogs to a 23-2 record. Lewicki is the leading active career scorer (170 points) in D-III and 10th overall.

The Moundsville native also ranks first in the nation in game-winning goals (8), power play goals (11) and assists (32).

“She’s the most humble, quiet player I think I’ve ever coached, In terms of her skill set, she’s just so fast,” Adrian head coach Chad Davis said. “And she’s a dynamic player, too, matching finesse with the ability to still get to the net and get things done out front.”

In nine games against teams that made the NCHA playoffs, Lewicki contributed 23 points – 2.56 points per game.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling and honor,” said Lewicki. “After my freshman year, seeing how well I did and how much I could improve, it’s a great thing to get better every year, to represent my team and myself, and have it end with an award like this.”

The 44 points Lewicki tallied in conference play are the most ever in one season by an individual; her 2.44 points per game also rank first.

REESE MAKES SPLASH

SAMM REESE enjoyed a banner Big Ten Diving Championship last week. The Purdue junior — who boasts Ohio Valley roots — finished seventh in the 3-meter dive. She posted a personal best score.

Reese is the daughter of Don and Janie (Patrone) Reese, both Martins Ferry High grads, now residing in Granger, Ind. Don’s parents still live in Martins Ferry. Janie is the daughter of legendary Bellaire High and WVU hoopster Lee Patrone.

Samm is the Purdue women’s team captain this season. The men’s captain is Olympian Steele Johnson.

Reese enjoyed a banner sophomore season for the Boilermakers. She totaled 26 team points at the Big Ten Championships, finishing seventh in championship final of 1-meter and 22nd overall in the prelims of 3-meter. Reese garnered the Boilermakers’ most improved award as a freshman.

Reese scripted a stellar prep career at St. Joseph High School in South Bend, Ind. She was a two-time sectional and regional diving champion while taking eighth at the state meet as a junior and ninth as a senior.

BUBBA’S BITS

THE ANNUAL MAC/BMAC Wheeling Coaches Caravan will be held Monday, May 1 at the River City Restaurant, featuring WVU head coaches, administrators and The Mountaineer — Troy Clemons. WVU Athletic Director Shayne Lyons and Tony Caridi, the voice of the Mountaineers — will also be in attendance.

NOW THAT Magic Johnson is in charge of the Los Angeles Lakers it won’t be long before they become an NBA force again. Magic brings instant credibility to a franchise in dire need of it.

JOHN MARSHALL honored its only two boys 1,000-point scorers at halftime of the Monarchs’ game with Weir Tuesday. They are 1989 grad Evan Saunders (1,030 points) and 1991 grad Scott Yanke (1,341 points). The high-scoring pair only played three seasons as frosh were not allowed to play varsity hoops at JM during that time frame.

THE MARSHALL University men’s basketball is 15-13 on the season. Freshman Phillip Bledsoe has seen action in 15 of those contests. The former Wheeling Park standout is averaging 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

KUDOS GO out to Martins Ferry High swimming sensation Alyssa Kalinski. The Purple Rider senior capped a brilliant prep pool career with a 21st place finish in the OHSAA State Swim Championships. She posted her best time of 5:21.07 in the 500 freestyle. Alyssa’s wonderful water work help Ferry girls win the overall OVAC title this winter.

FORMER LINSLY hoop standout Anthony Wallace exploded for 28 points in leading Marietta College to a 94-80 win over Heidelberg in the quarterfinals of the Ohio Athletic Conference basketball tournament Tuesday. The sophomore guard is averaging 14 points a game for the 23-4 Pioneers.