Perhaps they were using it as a preview of this week's state swimming meet, but Robert C. Byrd's Chris Hagedorn and Bridgeport's Kimberly Sickles put on a pair of impressive performances Wednesday.
Both were dominating at the Region II swimming championships. Now, both have been selected as the BB&T Clarksburg Exponent and Telegram Athletes of the Week.
Hagedorn showed why he is considered one of the state's top swimmers, running away with individual titles in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle races and was a member of the winning 200 and 400 free relay teams.
Sickles earned co-high point honors with teammate Michele Knicely, winning the 200 individual medley and the 500 free. She also swam on the 400 free relay team which took first place.
Both Hagedorn and Sickles will be honored at the BB&T Athlete of the Year Banquet.
Other boys nominated:
n Robert C. Byrd's Ben Davissson won the 100 fly and was on the winning 200 and 400-free relay teams.
n Robert C. Byrd's Andrew Barberio and Mark Ross. Barberio scored 20 points in a win over Bridgeport, while Ross averaged 17.5 points in two wins.
n Lincoln's Jordan Toth averaged 16 points in two games.
Other girls nominated:
n Bridgeport swimmer Michele Knicely won the 100 fly and 100 breast and was on the winning 400 free relay team.
n Bridgeport's Theresa Melko and Erica Rome. Both were needed last week in a pair of close games. Melko averaged 20 points, including a 22-point, 12-rebound effort in a 55-52 overtime win over Grafton. Rome averaged 16.5 points for the two games.
n Robert C. Byrd's Keisha Bowsman scored 21 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in a win over Lincoln.
n Liberty's Lindsay Brown, who scored 28 points and grabbed 29 rebounds in two games last week.
Sports writer Mike Nutter can be reached at 626-1444 or by e-mail at sports@exponent-telegram.com