GENEVA, Ohio — The Jamestown YMCA Jets swim team competed in the Western Pennsylvania YMCA district meet, held at SPIRE Institute March 7-9.

This meet hosted 31 teams and more than 850 athletes. The West District is one of three districts in YMCA Pennsylvania swimming that hosted a time qualifying meet that weekend.

Representing the Jets in 27 individual events and two relays were Matthew Cama, Caleb Webster, Flynn Fadale, Emery Watkins, Clarissa Hren, Addi Bryant, Sydney Canfield, Aidan McCleery, Jack Osborne, Brennan Issacson, Noah Miles and Finnegan Fadale. Jets swimmers made it to the podium (top 12 finishers) in 18 races, and four Jets qualified for the Pennsylvania YMCA State meet in 13 individual events.

“I am thrilled at the performances we have had this season,” said Coach Jason Chinni. “This was our best district meet in years. We swam great (and) our kids posted 19 personal-record times. At a meet where the top 50 free time was a :20.20 having the number and depth of state qualifiers is exciting and says a lot for our swimmers.”

The Pennsylvania State meet is March 22-24 at University of West Virginia in Morgantown. Representing the Jets will be McCleery 50, 100, 200 freestyle, and 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 500 freestyle; Webster will be competing in the 50 free, 100 individual medley and the 50 butterfly; and Watkins will race in the 200 butterfly. Hren qualified in the 1,000 freestyle and the 200 backstroke, but is unable to attend.

McCleery will be competing at the YMCA National meet in Greensboro, North Carolina April 2-6. He is currently qualified in the 50, 100, and 200 free.

To date this season seven Jets have broken a total of 18 records. They are Whitney Canfield, Girls 9-10 200 IM; Clarissa Hren, Girls 13-14 1,000 free, 1650 free and the 400 IM; Watkins, Girls 13-14 200 fly; Stella Hren Girls 15 and over 1,650 free; Webster, Boys 11-12 500 free, 50 breast, 200 breast, 200 fly, and the 100 IM; Levi Overend, Boys 13-14 1,650 free; and McCleery, Boys 15 and over 100 free, 200 free, 100 back, 200 back, 100, fly and the 200 fly.

“This season we watched our novice athletes develop into swimmers,” Coach Maria Roehmholdt said. “Our ‘seasoned’ swimmers worked hard on their technique, enabling them to drop time. We watched kids on a team become teammates. The work ethic, technique development and mentorship we stress has led to a record-breaking season. As a team, we could not be happier, and as a coach I couldn’t be prouder”

The Jets are already looking to next year with the start of their pre-Olympian program which will be held Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Jamestown Y’s upper pool and will prepare would-be swimmers for the Jets 93rd season starting in the fall. For more information on the Jets, contact Roehmholdt at maria@jamestownymca.org or Chinni at jchinni@jamestownymca.org.