Swimming Championships: EF girls win first WPIAL title

By Dean  Dellamalva Jr.

MVI Sports

Elizabeth Forward head swimming coach Shawna Boden knew how important the girls 500 freestyle race would be. 

The Warriors went into the event sitting in second place in the team standings, trailing Laurel Highlands by 15 points.

With four EF swimmers competing in the event, the Warriors got the results they needed at the right time. 

Kaelyn McClain finished second followed by teammates Hailey Yurkovich and Natalie Glessner in third and fourth, respectively, while Maddy McClain put up a strong time in the second heat and earned a ninth place finish. 

The strong 500 freestyle showing, along with a gold-medal performance by the 400 freestyle relay team of Marleigh Bennett, Kaelyn McClain, Yurkovich and Glessner, gave Elizabeth Forward a 42-point lead and propelled the Warriors to their first Class 2A WPIAL team championship in program history at Pitt’s Joe C. Trees Pool Friday. 

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