MARTINS FERRY –The Martins Ferry Aquatic Club Invitation has been growing, as more and more teams are included each year. However, the Martins Ferry Aquatic Club swim team has also been growing and improving at a steady pace.

Martins Ferry collected its third consecutive title in the 7th Annual Martins Ferry Aquatic Club Invite on Saturday at the William Grammer Pool, while also recording its fifth championship in the seven year event.

Ferry turned in 820.5 total points, followed by New Castle Community YMCA with 678 and St. Clairsville with 386.

The Martins Ferry girls won by a landslide, as they delivered 556.5 points, well ahead of runner-up New Castle’s 232 points. The St. Clairsville girls were third with 213.

The New Castle boys provided a great showing by winning with 446 points, followed by Ferry’s 264 and St. Clairsville’s 173.

Ferry’s own Jarrett Bolinger tied with Wil Visnic of the Marlin Youth Swim Team for the high score in the boys 15-18 age group, while Sarah Heilman won the girls 15-18 group and Abby Heilman claimed the 11-12 division for the Ferry girls.

“This is a long day but our kids persevered,” Ferry coach Nicholas Levi said. “These kids swim a lot of events. Some of the events they might be uncomfortable with like the 100 but a lot of kids got to swim the 100 that have never had the chance to do it before to see how they could do.”

Other high point victories were turned in by St. Clairsville’s Kylie McKeegan of the 13-14 age group and the Marlins’ Gabby Boyuk brought home high point honors for the girls’ 8 and under division.

A total of 46 meet records were shattered on Saturday and 24 were broken by New Castle swimmers, while Sarah Heilman set new meet records in four events, including the 100 IM (1:14.83), the 100 butterfly (1:13.27), the 50 backstroke (34.59) and the 100 backstroke (1:13.74).

Bolinger set new records in the 100 (57.53) and the 50 breaststroke (33.29), Visnic broke records in the 100 butterfly (1:05.78) and the 400 (4:43.37) and Kylie McKeegan set the new pace in the 50 butterfly (32.33) and the 100 butterfly (1:15.65).

St. Clairsville’s Caleb McKeegan of the 11-12 division set the new mark in three events, including the 200 IM (2:58.05), 400 (5:53.29) and 100 backstroke (1:28.19).

“A lot of these kids swam their events last summer and have dropped 10 seconds on their times,” Levi said.

“Chuckie Schellhase dropped about 18 seconds in the 500 and one boy dropped 20 seconds in the 100 breaststroke. It is exciting to see them drop times as we go through the season. They just keep building and improving.”

Other records set on the day for Martins Ferry were turned in by the 200 medley relay team of Sarah Heilman, Alyssa Kalinski, Kayla Fogle and Jamie Fogle (2:18.72), the 200 relay squad of Lauren Garan, Kylie Huber, Jamie Fogle and Rylee Reis (2:05.62) and the 400 relay team of Schellhase, Ethan Beale, Tristen Blatt and Bolinger (4:18.24). In the 11-12 age group, it was Anna Norman in the 50 backstroke (38.70) and Matthew Collette in the 100 breaststroke (1:28.79) setting new meet records.

During the high school season, Schellhase and Sarah Heilman were part of the Wheeling Park swim team but Levi is thrilled for the opportunity to watch them improve and succeed during the summer.

“Chuckie and Sarah both swim for Wheeling Park but a lot of these kids came up through the 10 and under division in the summer swim league,” Levi said. “I have seen them as they progressed and I keep tabs on their times. It is always exciting to see these kids progress.”

St. Clairsville’s 10 and under 100 relay squad of James Muhly, Oliver Muhly, Zachary May and Drew Gasber shattered the meet record (1:17.66) and Brenna Planey of the 13-14 division set the new 50 record at 31.04.

Steubenville’s Tyler Virtue supplied a time of 1:17.80 to set the new record in the 100 breastroke, previously held by Bolinger.

Although there were plenty of records broken and trophies handed out, for Levi and his three-time champions, it is about learning and having fun.

“We don’t do any serious training during the summer,” Levi said. “We are trying to have fun, especially for the kids under 15. We want to teach them the proper skills and strokes for swimming.”