2025-26 Season: Swim Team Crushed School Records
For the first time in school history, the Varsity Boys Swim Team won the OVAC 1A-3A championship title. “That is such a great accomplishment, but what’s most impressive is that they did this with just six boys,” stated Head Swim Coach Danielle Anderson. The Varsity Girls Swim Team took home the OVAC 1A-3A Runner-Up title.
Junior Antoni Schuerle was voted as OVAC 1A-3A Boys Swimmer of the Year. Schuerle qualified for the state swim competition in the 100 Breast, holding the school record with a time of 1:01.19. The last time that Barnesville had a boys’ individual qualifier was in 2012. Schuerle’s advice for success is “leave it all in the pool” and “just keep swimming.”
Antoni Schuerle and his teammates, Mason Starr, Jack Carpenter and Maddox Whaley, broke two school records at the District meet. The Boys 200 Medley Relay and the Boys 200 Free Relay school records are now 1:49.93 and 1:37.91, respectively. Junior Maddox Whaley shared, “Swimming has taught me discipline, the ability to trust the work that I put in, and believe in the knowledge and the intuition of my coaches.”
Sophomore Liv McCrate qualified for the state competition in the 200 IM and the 100 Breast. The last time for a girls’ individual qualifier to state was in 2004. “The most meaningful part of my season was witnessing the long hours of hard work, late nights, early mornings, and discipline paying off,” stated McCrate. She continued, “Sharing that journey with my teammates created unbreakable bonds.” McCrate holds three school records: 500 Free with a 5:54.37, 200 IM with a 2:17.52, and 100 Breast with a 1:08.25.
Coach Anderson said, “I’m very proud of each and every one of my swimmers. They put in the hard work and it shows.” Junior Bonita Passmore expressed, “Swimming has taught me that there are ups and downs in life but the downs will only make you stronger mentally and physically. I can’t wait to see what next season brings for us.”
Special Awards
High Point — Antoni Schuerle and Liv McCrate
Most Improved — Mason Starr and Leia Grear
Splash Award — Brock Trigg (voted on by the swim team members)
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