ELKINS — The Elkins Otters swim team competed in the 2023 North Central West Virginia summer league championship last weekend at the Upshur County Pool.

Fourteen area teams, including over 400 athletes, participated in the event.

Once again, the Otters were able to hold their own against some amazingly talented teams from Morgantown and Bridgeport.

The Otter boys placed second, while the girls captured first, leading the Elkins club to an overall runner-up trophy.

Incoming eighth grader Elin Morris won the Christopher Sprenger award, which is given to an athlete that shows sportsmanship and a team-oriented attitude.

The team’s lone senior, Joslyn DeWeese, was also honored for her many years as an Otters member. The relay teams made a huge contribution as well, with several of the girls relays winning first in both the 200-meter freestyle and 200 medley relays.

Many individuals were also honored with high-point awards for outstanding performances.

Isaac Anger (first place), Rachel Shryock (runner-up) and Emma Ujvagi (second runner-up) gave solid performances in the 15-18- year-old category.

Additionally, Anger broke meet records in the 50 and 100 breaststroke.

In the 13-14-year-old age group, swimmers Joel Casto and Lilly Anger both earned runner-up awards. Aubry Shay (second runner-up) and Kyan George (first place) swam great races in the 11-12-year-old category, and in the 6-and-under group, Betty McFadden (runner-up) and Alexis Halle (second runner-up) had great meets as first-time participants.

Coach Lauren Cain, who returned to head coaching duties this year, was aided by Jared Varner and Luke Anger, both former swimmers and coaches, and D&E swim team member Max Sutherland.

Cain was very proud of her team.

“The Otters did an amazing job with numerous personal best times,” she said. “I am especially impressed at how much the swim team becomes your swim family,” Cain said. “Everybody is so supportive of each other and I love seeing the swimmers cheering for their teammates.”

Other local area swimmers with outstanding performances included 6-year-old Gentry Roy (second runner-up), 10-year-old Berkeley Jeran (first place), 18-year-old Cadence Vincent (first place) and 18-year-old Preston Bennett (first place) from Buckhannon Swim Team and 12- year-old Dorsey Cutright (runner-up) from Barbour County Swim Team.

For more information about the swim team, please follow Elkins Otters on Facebook or visit elkinsotters.swimtopia.com.