Park Swim Takes On OVAC

Elliana McCabe, Copy Editor

January 30, 2026

Zander Kalcum in the 100 Backstroke.

Last Friday and Saturday, the Wheeling Park Swim Team took on the 2026 OVAC Swimming Championship. The team was extremely successful, the boys earning 101 points. finishing as 5A runner-ups, and the girls with 91 points, placing 3rd in 5A.

The team came together this year to score as many points as possible. “We had a good two days overall. Everyone did their best and had fun, and it was nice to see so many people on the podium,” said junior swimmer, Ella Landini.

Captain Molly George, who is now a four-time OVAC Champion, was very happy with the team’s performance this year. “As a team, we had so many good time drops this year,” said George, “Personally, I had great time drops and am so happy with my placement.”

George has led the team to the long-deserved recognition it’s seen recently.

“It’s amazing to have recognition. It’s not just me; there’s so much good talent on the team. Swim doesn’t get recognized a lot, so when we do, it’s extremely meaningful,” said George.

The top six 5A swimmers in each event ended up on the podium. Park was seen on the podium a total of twenty-seven times:

Girls 200 Medley Relay — 2nd — Molly George, Elliana McCabe, Luana Fernandez, Lucrezia Santini

Boys 200 Medley Relay — 2nd — Brady Bowie, Brady Beihl, Ben Henderson, Jacob Walters

Girls 200 Freestyle — 4th — Luana Ferndandez

Boys 200 Freestyle — 3rd and 6th — Ronan Maxwell and Ben Henderson

Girls 200 IM — 4th, 5th, and 6th — Ella Landini, Elliana McCabe, and Kinsley Edgmon

Boys 200 IM — 5th — Brady Beihl

Girls 50 Freestyle — 3rd — Leah Leif

Boys 50 Freestyle — 5th — Brady Bowie

Girls 100 Butterfly — 1st and 6th — Molly George and Ella Landini

Boys 100 Butterfly — 3rd and 5th — Brady Bowie and Ben Henderson

Girls 100 Freestyle — 6th — Leah Leif

Boys 100 Freestyle — 2nd and 4th — Jacob Walters and Zander Kalcum

Girls 500 Freestyle — 4th — Luana Fernandez

Boys 500 Freestyle — 5th — Ronan Maxwell

Girls 200 Freestyle Relay — 4th — Leah Leif, Elliana McCabe, Lucrezia Santini, and Ella Landini

Boys 200 Freestyle Relay — 2nd — Jacob Walters, Connor Kiziminski, Brady Beihl, Brady Bowie

Girls 100 Backstroke — 1st — Molly George

Boys 100 Breaststroke — 2nd and 6th — Brady Beihl and Bryton Alig

Girls 400 Freestyle Relay — 3rd — Molly George, Leah Leif, Ella Landini, and Luana Fernandez

Boys 4oo Freestyle Relay — 2nd — Ben Henderson, Zander Kalcum, Connor Kizimiski, and Ronan Maxwell

Wish the swim team luck at regionals on February 7th!

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About the Contributor

Elliana McCabe, Copy Editor

Elliana McCabe is a junior at Wheeling Park High School and a Copy Editor for the Park Press. Elliana is a three-year member of the Press, as well as a three-year member of both the girls’ varsity swim and soccer teams. She is also a member of the American Cancer Society, the Women’s Empowerment Club, the Wheeling Park strings program, a freshman mentor, and a REAP counselor. Outside of school, you’ll find Elliana at the gym, on the soccer fields as a referee, or at Wheeling Hospital as a volunteer. She is excited to be back writing for the 2025-2026 school year.