T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY PICTURED IS the St. Clairsville 200 yard medley relay, which became the first Belmont County relay to earn a medal in the OHSAA State Swimming Championship Friday afternoon in Canton. Front row, from left, are Olivia Moyer and Kylie McKeegan. Behind, from left, are Casadie DiBetta and Brenna Planey.

CANTON — The liquid running down the cheeks of the St. Clairsville 200 yard medley relay team moments after the Friday evening’s state final wasn’t pool water.

It was tears of joy.

Friday evening — at the Branin Natatorium in the shadows of the Pro Football Hall of Fame at McKinley High School — the Red Devils’ all sophomore quartet of Olivia Moyer, Casadie DiBetta, Kylie McKeegan and Brenna Planey accomplished something no other Belmont County foursome had ever done by reaching the podium at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championship.

The team swam a 1:50.39 and finished sixth overall.

The Red Devils came into the meet seeded seventh and by virtue of their 1:49.73 during Thursday’s preliminary round went into the championship final as the seventh seed.

Moving up a spot made the entire experience even greater.

“When Brenna touched the wall, I started crying because you feel so overwhelmed with emotions because of the hardwork you’ve put in,” McKeegan, the third leg, said.

The race started when Olivia Moyer sprung off the wall to begin two lengths of the pool in the backstroke.

Moyer took part in four events in the state meet this weekend, but qualified to the final in just the medley. She also took part in the in the backstroke and butterfly as well along with the 400 relay.

“I am thrilled (to be all-Ohio),” Moyer said. “I am just so excited to have this opportunity. It was really great to be a part of this. The four of us have been swimming together since we were like six or seven years old, so it’s just like swimming with your sisters. We’ve gotten so close over the years and it’s great to be able to share this with your best friends.”

Second into the water was Casadie DiBetta for the breaststroke. She had a full workload on Friday with two other events, including the breaststroke.

“I was nervous (on the block) because (in a relay), you don’t want to let your teammates down,” DiBetta said. “I am just so proud of the team. I believe we did the very best that we could, and we’re so happy with sixth place because it exceeded our expectations.”

The defending state runnerup, DiBetta was actually more excited than she was to place as an individual because of sharing it with her friends.

“It’s a lot more fun sharing this with the team,” DiBetta said. “It’s a whole different experience and so much fun being up there with your teammates.”

Once DiBetta touched, McKeegan went into the water for the butterfly leg.

Like most swimmers growing up, McKeegan admitted to have always dreamed about placing in the state meet. Her dreams became reality.

“I imagined it, but I never thought it would become a reality,” McKeegan said. “It’s crazy that we podiumed as only sophomores. It’s just insane to me.”

Planey brought it home for the Red Devils as the freestyle anchor. She touched the wall, quickly came for a breath and immediately turned her head to the scoreboard to see the place and then watched her teammates embrace on the deck.

“I was definitely getting choked up,” Planey said. “In our own, personal way, it’s been a very tough (season) for each of us, and to finish sixth in the state of Ohio is just such a great honor. This is just amazing. We’ve worked our butts off this season and to finish on the podium is just great.”