Feb 18, 2025
Parkersburg freshman Levi Morr is seeded first in the 500 freestyle and second in the 200 individual medley at the West Virginia State Swim Meet, beginning Thursday in Morgantown. (File photo)
PARKERSBURG – When Delaney Snodgrass and Levi Morr arrived on the scene for their first season with the Parkersburg High School swim program this year, the Big Red slogan could have easily incorporated a quip from presidential campaigns – “Four More Years.”
Entering this week’s State Meet in Morgantown Thursday and Friday, the two freshmen have made their presence known. Snodgrass is seeded first in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle, while Morr is seeded No. 1 in the 500 freestyle and second in the 200 individual medley.
“Both Delaney and Levi are so hard working and dedicated – they put in long hours between their club teams and here with PHS,” PHS coach Emily Martin said. “Delaney is one of the most caring people you will ever meet and just so excited to support her teammates. She encourages them to do better and reach their goals.”
Morr has transitioned in quite nicely with a boys program which features seven seniors.
“Anytime a freshman can come out like he has and become the anchor in relays, and lead the team in points it elevates the whole team,” Martin said. “It motivates the boys to level up their games. Same thing with Delaney and the girls side.
Parkersburg freshman Sydney Snodgrass is seeded first in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle for the West Virginia State Swim Meet. (File photo)
“Levi is a great kid. He takes winning very seriously. He doesn’t want to lose.”
The PHS boys are coming off a Region I championship, while the girls placed third. The Big Red boys’ depth paid off. Now they have to shrink the gap with where they are seeded in their respective events.
“I am so proud of what the boys have accomplished so far,” Martin said. “If they want to bring home state hardware, they have to raise up some of their places and get into the ‘A’ finals.’ If they can get a seventh through 12th place that’s just as impressive.
“Bridgeport looks good on the boys and girls side. George Washington and Huntington also look good for the boys. It was encouraging to get past Huntington at the (Mountain State Athletic Conference meet). For the girls, East Fairmont and John Marshall are also strong.”
With a smaller contingent to work around, Martin refers to her girls as “small but mighty.”
Illness ran rampant through camp leading up to and including regionals, yet the PHS girls managed to claim five top-three individual finishes along with a second and third place in two relays.
“Some girls were still on the mend (last week) and we were working on getting back to full strength,” Martin said. “Some kids who had been struggling swam impressive times and even their fastest times. They really outperformed their own expectations and certainly blew me away.
“Once we are fully healthy, the girls will be really primed to take off. This whole season, they have come out swinging. At regionals they just showed how much fight they had in them. It’s been such an impressive group. They have fought for everything.”
On the boys side, senior Braden Williams finished second at regionals in 200 freestyle and became a four-time state tournament qualifier. He is the lone individual on the current Big Red boys roster to have state experience as a freshman.
“Braden has played such a key role and continued to lead the charge. He has become a leader and a motivated teammate while encouraging others. Andrew Shafer and William Crichton are others I can count on.”
The State Meet at Peak Health Aquatic Center at Mylan Park begins Thursday and ends Friday. Prelims are scheduled for the morning session each day beginning at 9:45 a.m., while finals take place in the afternoon beginning at 4:45 p.m.
“This has just been an exciting year because this is the most success we have had in a season for several years for boys and girls,” Martin said. “The kids are coming into the state meet with so much energy. The boys won MSAC and regionals, while the girls were second at MSAC and third at regionals.
“This time of year is like Christmas for me. And this year it’s been like Christmas for the kids. They are so amped up.”
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