PICTURED ARE four returning All-Ohioans from St. Clairsville who are excited and ready for their senior seasons. From left are Casadie DiBetta, Kylie McKeegan, Brenna Planey and Olivia Moyer. All four are multiple-time qualifiers to the state meet, which will be held in late February in Canton.

Prep swimming season is back!

And in full force.

Many sanctions from last season’s COVID-19 season have been lifted and area swimmers are looking forward to competing in front of parents, family members, friends and fans once again this winter.

The season officially got underway last week in Ohio and will culminate in late February when the state meet is held at Branin Natatorium at Canton McKinley High School. The district venue has not been finalized, but the sectional meet will be held once again at Steubenville High School.

In between, though, are plenty of meets, races and yards.

The OVAC will return to its traditional format of a championship meet and it will be held at Brooke High School on Jan. 15. The Buckeye 8 Champion will be crowned on Jan. 8 at Brooke.

Here’s a capsule look at the area swim teams:

BARNESVILLE — The Shamrocks are extremely excited to get back to more of a normal season of practicing and competing this winter.

“We had a limited schedule and practice time due to the COVID restrictions last season,” Barnesville head coach Bobbi Jo Johnson said. “Our meets were strange. No parents, limited time at meets and masks were worn the entire time. We walked to the blocks, put the masks in a plastic bag, put it in the basket, swam the event and put the masks back on.”

The Shamrocks have scheduled the full complement of 16 meets this season and believe that parents and fans will be permitted to attend.

Barnesville features a roster of 16 swimmers and 13 of whom have been involved in the sport “since they were four or five years old on the Barnesville summer team,” according to Johnson.

The Shamrocks feature a roster that includes several multi-sport performers. Many competed in the fall for either the cross country or football team.

“Our conditioning is pretty good,” Johnson said.

The senior class consists of Ethan Spangenburg (backstroke), Jett Stephen (breaststroke, freestyle), Jordyn Strous (distance freestyle).

“The three seniors are team leaders who are willing and very able to instruct swimmers and help them with technique,” Johnson said. “All three of the seniors are exceptional people and not just swimmers.”

The junior group consists of Logan Dodd, who is also playing basketball, in the freestyle and fly and Aubrey Johnson (sprint freestyle).

Sophomores include Hank Johnson, Marah Bethel (backstroke), Eden Steele (breaststroke), Cali Lee (breaststroke, freestyle), Kailey Nugent (freestyle).

The freshman class includes Conner Starr (breaststroke), Olivia Phillips (breaststroke, butterfly), Delana Jenkins, Marlee Strawn (backstroke), Addyson Moore (freestyle).

“The kids are great this year,” Johnson said. “No complaints because they were all in shape and we went right for yards and they were amazing. Their technique is improving and endurance is strong.”

MARTINS FERRY — Nick Levi begins his 13th season at the helm of the Purple Riders with a team that he expects to see continual improvement as the season moves forward.

“I am really excited for the season because I’ve coached and/or watched a lot of these kids come up through our summer program,” Levi said. “As a coach, it’s always rewarding to see the progression of these swimmers. I can’t wait for the season to watch years of hard work pay off.”

The Rider girls return a solid cast with a nucleus of five veterans.

“Those five girls have been a big part of the success we’ve had in the past,” Levi continued. “I expect these kids to continue to improve and have another successful season.”

Leading the list of returnees is junior Gia Starkey, who will take part in the distance freestyles and backstroke. She was a district qualifier in the 500 free last winter and scored in three events at the OVAC.

Sophomore Ashlyn Williams will be in the short freestyles, breaststroke and fly this winter.

She was a district qualifier on the 400 free relay and scored in the OVAC in four events.

Junior Lilly Masters will be entered in the sprint freestyles and backstroke. Classmates Winnie Luong and Raena Simpson will take part in the freestyles and backstroke. Simpson could also see time in the breaststroke.

Senior Amy Brown will get a look in the sprint freestyles and foreign exchange student Natphatson Wannaekkawee will be in the sprint freestyles.

Three freshmen Nina Lipscomb (freestyles, backstroke), Kadee Mulvey (freestyle, back, breaststroke) and Maleigha Schultz (distance freestyle, IM, backstroke, fly, breast) will all be looking to make an immediate impact.

The Rider boys, meanwhile, were hit hard by graduation and have only one competitor on the roster. That is freshman Nathan Luong, who will be in the freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and IM.

“Nathan is a hard worker and though relatively new to swimming, he will see big improvement during the season,” Levi said.

Despite numbers or experience, Ferry’s goals in the pool never change.

“We want to continue improving through the course of the season,” Levi said. “We want to have a successful dual-meet record and advance as many people to the district meet and beyond. We also want to place high in individual events as well as a team at the district meet.”

Ferry’s graduation losses included Jocelyn Reihner, Kayleygh Vargo, Tristen Blatt, Luke Krol, Kenton McCroskey and Wyatt Wodarcyk.

Levi is assisted by Sue Levi and George Shreve.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Red Devils went to new heights last winter when the girls team finished a program-best eighth in the Division II state meet with a school-record 83 points.

However, there was a significant graduation loss from that team. Maggie Marody, who became the first Belmont Countian to compete in four consecutive state swim meets, has taken her talents to Niagara University.

Though Marody’s steady scoring in the distance freestyles will certainly be missed, plenty of talent remains as four remaining state scorers return, including three who have signed National Letter of Intent to swim at a Division I school.

“I believe our girls will have another solid season, individually, and as a team,” St. C. head coach Ernie Banks said. “We have a strong group of returning swimmers and some new talent to go with it.”

Leading the way is three-time All-Ohioan Casadie DiBetta, who is the reigning bronze medalist in the 100 breaststroke. She also owns two silvers in her specialty and has signed to attend Ohio University. She will also see time in the individual medley, 100 fly and on relays.

Senior Kylie McKeegan, who has signed to attend Youngstown State, is back after earning All-Ohio acclaim as part of the medley relay for the second straight season. She will swim in the sprint freestyles and backstroke.

Senior Olivia Moyer, who has signed to attend Marist University in New York, was part of the medley relay that placed in the state. She’s expected to compete in the 200IM, 100 fly and 200 free.

Senior Brenna Planey, also a member of the All-Ohio relay, will swim in the distance freestyles.

The balance of the roster includes: Ryleigh Conaway (100 fly, 200 free, 200IM), senior Paige Koshenko (200 free, 100 back), juniors Andrea Horton (200IM, 200 free, 100 breast), Grace May (50 free, 100 free), sophomores Berlin Lucas (50 free, 100 breast), Jenna Wodarcyk (50 free, 100 breast), freshmen Lucinda Banks (500 free, 100 back), Claire Daubenmeyer (100 breast, 200IM), Adrienne Lowe (50 free, 100 free) and McKenna Miller (50 free, 100 breast, 100 back).

“We have six kids back who qualified for the district and three others who would have qualified in any other year or district have returned as well,” Banks said. “I expect a lot from this (team) as the year progresses.”

Along with Marody, other graduation losses include Taya Rocchi and Johnna Sroka.

On the boys’ side, the Red Devils had limited numbers last season and still had extensive success. This season, the entirety of those swimmers are back as well as four newcomers.

“Our boys did extremely well last year, and I believe they will continue to progress this season,” Banks said.

Seniors Jack Gasber (200 free, 100 breast) and Brendan Miller (200 free, 100 breast) lead the way.

Sophomore Evan Yost (200 free, 200IM, 100 back) enjoyed a strong rookie season. He’s joined by fellow tenth graders Kevin Costlow (50, 100 free) and Dylan Davenport (200 free, 100 free).

The newcomers are Brandon Kralovic (50, 100 free), Daniel Kyer (50, 100 free), Zachary May (50, 100 free, 100 fly) and Luke Stack (500 free, 100 back, 100 breast).

“The (boys and girls) teams have trained hard from the very first practice and looked good in our opening meet (at Linsly),” Banks said. “Individually, we’ve had some times which pleasantly surprised us this early in the season. Everyone of these kids is focused on their training and personal goals, and I will enjoy watching each one of them grow as an individual swimmer.”

ST. JOHN CENTRAL ACADEMY — Head coach Linda Metz has four swimmers out for the team this season.

“We had a late start to this season due to illness, but we are glad to be back for another season,” Metz said. “Though we had quite a few restrictions last year, we were grateful that Ohio allowed us to have a full season. We missed being able to (compete in) invitational meets and are glad to participate in those year. We’re also thrilled to have a relay team this year.”

The Irish foursome includes senior Cora Metz, junior Maya Metz, sophomore Gianna Metz and freshman Jailyn Cline.

UNION LOCAL — The sixth season of Jets swimming begins with increased numbers and experience. With that comes loftier goals.

Head coach Dave Phillips has a roster of 15 total athletes combined between boys and girls.

Leading the list of returnees is senior Cheyenne Fillipovich, who excels in the fly. She’s been an OVAC qualifier during her career and plans to swim at Aquinas College in Michigan next season.

Emma Sroka returns in the breaststroke and fly. She, too, has been an OVAC qualifier. Isabella Parker is the third senior female and will take part in the freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke.

The junior class features Jaymie Schafer (backstroke), Keiarah Paulick (multiple strokes), Gracey Norris (multiple stroke), Aivereigh Holmes (freestyle) and Mia Cole (various events).

The sophomores — Susanna Duff and Sophia Talamonti — both lettered a season ago.

On the boys’ side, senior Brenton Orr is out for the first time as the lone senior.

The junior class is led by two-year letterman Lee Adkins, who will take part in the freestyle and breaststroke. Classmate Hayden McCrate is out for high school swimming for the first time.

Two sophomores expecting to compete well are Coye Fillipovich, who Phillips calls a “versatile swimmer” and Carson Phillips. Phillips lettered last season and will enter the backstroke as well as other various events.