Local swimmers took to the pool over the weekend in Cumming, representing Cherokee County in the Georgia Parks and Recreation Association’s state championships.

The competition was intense, with top youth swimming programs represented. A few Cherokee County swimmers qualified for the finals of their respective events, though none claimed a state title.

Leading the way were Ashley Fortin, Leia Lankford and sisters Lainey and Laurel Blase, who swam well enough to place in four events.

Competing in the girls 7-8 division, Lainey Blase placed fourth in the first event of the meet, the 50-yard freestyle, with a time of 36.60 seconds. She also finished third in the 100 IM (1:37.14) and teamed with Amelia Wingham, Sadie Castle and Macie Portis to place eighth in the 100 medley relay (1:26.32).

Older sister Laurel Blase competed in the girls 9-10 division and placed third in the 50 freestyle (29.52) and seventh in the 25 freestyle (14.19).

Lankford, at girls 7-8, placed in both of her events, taking fifth in the 50 freestyle (36.65) and sixth in the 25 freestyle (18.57).

Fortin placed in two individual events and two relays. In girls 9-10, she placed sixth in the 50 backstroke and seventh in the 100 freestyle. She was also part of a seventh-place 200 freestyle relay and eighth-place 200 medley relay.

In the boys competition, Colin Parker fared well. Swimming in the boys 7-8 age group, he raced to a third-place finish in the 50 freestyle (34.89). Logan Wetterling placed in both of his events in the boys 13-14 division, taking fourth in the 50 butterfly and eighth in the 50 breaststroke.

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