ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Nate Yost enjoyed every minute and seemingly every aspect of his swimming career at St. Clairsville.

The senior standout, who re-wrote the school record book in the 100 fly this season, is now ready, however, for the next chapter of his career.

And that chapter will be written at Wheeling University, which is in the process of re-inventing its swim program.

“The head coach (Daniel Murphy) has a clear plan of what he intends to do, and that was very important for me to find a coach who had that and then the steps that it would take to accomplish the plan,” Yost said during a signing ceremony held recently. “It feels good to be a part of their program and I am looking forward to helping to create a foundation for the years to come.”

Yost was a four-year mainstay for the Red Devils and head coach Ernie Banks where he shined in fly and backstroke. At the collegiate level, Wheeling has recruited Yost for the fly and freestyle.

As a senior, Yost qualified to the district in both the 100 fly and 100 backstroke. He was a district medalist in the fly and scored in the backstroke. He was also part of the 400 freestyle relay that medaled at the district at Bowling Green.

The aforementioned 100 fly record, which is now 56.10, had stood for 20 years before Yost’s effort in February.

“There were some highs and lows to my high school career, but breaking that fly record allowed me to definitely end on a high,” Yost said.

By his own admission, Yost’s biggest accomplishment didn’t involve a record, time or place. It was simply being a key cog on a Red Devils’ team that had just four competitors this season and helping to lead them to a runner-up OVAC finish and a Buckeye 8 championship.

“We were a very close team. It was like a second family because we were always there for each other and very close,” Yost said. “Though we didn’t have the numbers for the bigger meets, we still had enough to place well against many teams.”

Along with his prep swimming, Yost was active in Club Swimming for the Wheeling YMCA squad. He completed at Zones in Bowling Green last month.

“I think the biggest adjustment (to college swimming) will be the fact that I am going to be swimming with a lot of new people,” Yost said. “Usually, we’d go from high school to club to summer swimming with all of the same people, basically. But, I am looking forward to what’s ahead and training like a collegiate athlete the next four years.”

Along with swimming, Yost is currently a member of the Red Devils track team as a distance runner.

Athletics aside, Yost has been active in 4H, serves on the Belmont County Junior Fair Board and is also involved with the Barton Fire Cadet.

Nate, who is the son of Bill and Shawn Yost, plans to study nursing.