Article written by John McCabe and published in The Journal on February 23, 2026 link to article HERE.
Musselman High School’s Sawyer Wright is a state champion.
In the 50 freestyle at the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission State Swimming Championships at Peak Health Aquatic Center in Morgantown, Wright out-touched James Hadjis of Bridgeport High School to win the event, 21.84 to 21.85.
Meanwhile, a handful of strong swims Thursday and Friday propelled Washington High School into a sixth-place finish for the girls.
Washington competes in Division 1, comprised of the state’s big schools.
George Washington High School captured the girls title while Parkersburg finished second and Morgantown third.
For the boys, George Washington also came out on top, barely edging Bridgeport High School with Morgantown third.
In Division 2, the Lady Tigers of Elkins High School defended its small-school title from 2025 with another team win, followed by Herbert Hoover. For the boys, Robert C. Byrd High School came in first with Elkins second.
In an interesting note at the meet’s end, Herbert Hoover actually was given a second chance to swim the 400 freestyle relay, alleging issues with hearing at the start. That marked the second such issue with how the meet officials handled starts.
Washington started the meet strong, with a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay. The team of Claire Miles, Georgia Hennigan, Lexi Stone and Shyla Hatti touched the wall at 1:56.78, just behind Bridgeport High School.
Hennigan finished third in the 200 individual medley (2:20.03) while Stone was seventh in the 50 freestyle (26.61). Miles was seventh in the 100 butterfly.
In the 200 freestyle relay, Spring Mills team of Elle Hiller, Alexis Stephens, Erin Hiller and Jessie Hiller finished eighth. Musselman High Marit Irgens finished fourth in the 500 freestyle (5:45.46).
In the 100 backstroke, Hennigan placed fourth at 1:03.75 while Hatti was sixth in the 100 breaststroke and Stone, seventh. And Wren Rice, Miles, Hennigan, and Stone placed third in the 400 freestyle relay (3:56.35).
Boys
Jefferson’s boys finished fourth in the 200 medley relay, as the team of Chris Robbins, Noah Musselman, Caius Buchheit and Mason Graff had a 1:44.36. Spring Mills Ian Kradeel was fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:49.77) while Musselman’s Adam Sharp was fifth (1:51.9). Noah Musselman was eighth in the 200 individual medley while Musselman’s Daniel Sandlin III was seventh in the 50 freestyle.
Kradel from Spring Mills finished runner-up in the 100 butterfly (52.33) while Wright followed up his win in the 50 with a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle (48.22), with Sandlin finishing eighth.
Sharp finished fourth in the 500 freestyle (5:06.33) while Musselman’s team of Sandlin, Jacob Gilliam, Sharp, and Wright were fifth in the 200 freestyle relay.
In the 100 backstroke, Jefferson’s Robbins finished third at 54.93 while teammate Joel Dillow was fifth (57.44). Noah Musselman was sixth in the 100 breaststroke while Musselman High’s team of Sandlin, Braylan Valdez, Sharp, and Wright were fourth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:29.0).