3K visitors to Bluffton expected for WOAL Swim Champs, July 12-13
Sardines celebrate 50th anniversary
More than 500 swimmers and their families will descend on Bluffton July 12-13, 2024 for the annual Western Ohio Aquatics League (WOAL) Swim Champs. WOAL swimmers are ages 5-18 and represent eight regional teams.
Bluffton Village Pool will host the Ada Gators, Bluffton Sardines, Findlay Frogs, Kenton Stingrays, Shawnee Tide, Wapakoneta Waves, Westside Wave and Van Wert Marlins. Teams will compete for the 2024 league title.
Events start at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 12 and will conclude around 2 p.m. Day two of champs will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 13 and will conclude around 3 p.m. The league champs will be crowned at the end of day two.
“We are expecting close to 3,000 people in Bluffton for the two-day event,” said Jennie Wilson, manager of the Bluffton Village pool and president of the Bluffton Sardines Swim Club. “There is great energy behind swimming as a sport in our area and the summer league program is a great way to keep the swimmers active and competitive.” Each year the championships rotate between Bluffton, Kenton and Wapakoneta pools.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Bluffton Sardines, making the meet even more meaningful for the team.
Teams have been competing against each other since early June. Though many of the swimmers compete year-round with their local YMCA team, some participants also swim for local USA Swimming teams and have qualified for other competitions through this program.
Local companies and individual sponsors for the WOAL champs include Lima Elks #54 Wapak (awards stand) and Visit Findlay (Clerk of Course area). T-shirt sponsors include Around the Clock – Kenton, Baker Animal Hospital – Ada, Diamond M Vet – Kenton, Curling Iron – Bluffton, JTB Tech – Bluffton, Lima Sheet Metal – Ada, Precision Strip – Kenton, Quest FCU-Kenton, Roger’s Insurance-Kenton , Van Wert YMCA - Van Wert and the YMCA x3 – Bluffton
Admission is free and open to the public. Food trucks and concessions will be available for food and beverage purchases. Food Vendors will include Bubba C BBQ, Bluffton Baking Co., Kona Ice, Doughlicious Donuts and Coffee, Artic Moo Ice Cream, Circle U Waflle CO., Buerger’s Fries and More Concessions and The Main Squeeze Fresh Lemonade.
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, May 2, 2025
- BHS seniors exhibit art at Gallery 323 through May 7
- What's in your weekend?
- Pirate softball blanked by Lancers
- Pirate baseball blanked by Lincolnview
- Laman Promoted to VP Retail Credit Manager by CNB
- Local land conservancy hires first Executive Director
- Steiner to present Swiss Family Migration program on May 21
- 850 Days of Caring volunteers will pitch in for Hancock County
Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Angel M. Langhals owned LFE/API Meters
- Allen Co. task force targets target sex and human traffickers
- Blessing of the Bikes, May 4
- Metzger honored at 2025 Black Swamp Council meeting
- Volunteer invitation for Bluffton Pathway Count in May
- Pirate tennis edges Ottawa-Glandorf
- Bluffton EMS station staffing goes 24/7 on May 1
- You are what you eat: Link to immune system
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
- Observation deck added to Motter Park cascading pools project
- Bluffton Women in Business meet May 15
- Four sportsmen stock 200 trout at Buckeye Lake
- Pirate girls, boys 2nd at Minster track quad
- Pirate baseball win vs. Riverdale
- Pirate softball loss vs. Riverdale
- Field reports from NW Ohio wildlife officers