Grafton Welcomes Swimmers for Summer Championship

For more than half a century, swim teams in north central West Virginia have gathered in Clarksburg for an annual summer competition. But the pool that served as the invitational’s home has closed. Organizers have decided to continue the tradition, but rotate its location from year to year. 

For 52 years, young swimmers from across north central West Virginia converged on the Stealey Pool in Clarksburg to breast stroke, back stroke, crawl and butterfly their way to medals, honor and glory.

But with that pool now closed, the fourteen teams involved voted to rename the event (now the North Central West Virginia Summer Swim League Championship) and to hold it this year in Grafton.

Grafton city officials are very pleased with the opportunity and with the turnout they’ve seen. They’ve lined up shuttle busses to get participants and their families and fans to and from the Grafton Municipal Pool and have put local businesses on alert to expect a large influx of people.

City Public Works Manager Busty Weber estimates that at least one thousand people turned out for the event, some coming as early as five in the morning to stake out their spot for the meet.

Organizers expected more than 250 swimmers to compete during the Friday/Saturday championship.