LEXINGTON — Sage Moore brought home the hardware — or half of it, at least.
The Richland Bank Athlete of the Week, Moore shared the Ohio Cardinal Conference girls Swimmer of the Year award with Lexington teammate Alli McFarland at last week’s OCC championships at Wooster’s Ellen Shapiro Natatorium.
A junior, Moore won the 200 yard individual medley and the 100 butterfly and was a member of Lex’s record-setting 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams. McFarland joined Moore on the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay units and also won a pair of individual events.
The OCC Swimmer of the Year award is based on a points system that takes into account record-setting performances. With four wins apiece and two OCC records, Moore and McFarland had the same number of points in the Swimmer of the Year equation.
OCC officials had only one plaque to present to the girls Swimmer of the Year. So which of the two Lex swimmers got to keep it?
“I got one last year, so Sage gets it,” said McFarland, the 2017 OCC girls Swimmer of the Year.
Added Moore, “They said they would mail a second (plaque) to the school.”
If all goes according to plan, Moore and Lady Lex will be collecting a lot more hardware during the postseason. The 200 medley relay team of Moore, McFarland, Kelsi Brown and Alivia Merkel returns intact after placing fourth at state last February in 1 minute, 48.80 seconds.
The medley relay unit touched the wall in 1:51.02 last week, breaking Wooster’s 2014 record of 1:52.52.
“We have high expectations,” Moore said.
Individually, Moore won the IM in 2:17.11, six seconds ahead of Lady Lex teammate and runner-up Lily Weeks. She finished almost two seconds ahead of runner-up Skylar Hill of Mount Vernon in the 100 butterfly, finishing in 1:01.93.
Moore qualified for state in the 100 fly last year. She didn’t make it to the finals, but that experience should serve her well going forward.
“A lot of these girls have (state meet) experience,” Lexington coach Brock Spurling said. “We are building toward February. The OCC meet is our stepping-stone to next month.”
Lady Lex won its second OCC title in three years and fourth overall. The boys team also claimed a team trophy, becoming the first team other than Wooster to win the OCC boys title.
“It was a good feeling, because we have working really hard this season,” Moore said. “I’m proud.”
