PARKERSBURG — It is said that if you want to win a state championship in some sports like swimming, how you fare in the regional which is the final step to state is of the utmost. So today and Friday in Morgantown at the WVU Natatorium, both PHS and Parkersburg South should carry their banners high on more than several victorious occasions as both have the personnel to possibly contend for team honors too in the West Virginia state championship swim meet. In the Region I meet almost two weeks ago, PHS captured the girls team title trophy, while on the boys side, the Big Reds were runners-up with the Patriot swimmers coming in third. But even more importantly, both schools got enough competitors through to the state in various venues. PHS is led by such stalwarts as David Snider, Brady Colvin, Jaden Welsh and Grace Cox, who were all-regional performers. Snider is the top seed today in both the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly after regional wins. He also swims the first leg on PHS’ second-seeded 200 medley relay team as well as anchoring the No. 1-seeded 400 freestyle relay foursome with help in both from Colvin and Aaron Vann along with Jakeb Bertram in the 400 and Aidan Azinger in the 200. In addition, Colvin is the third seed in the 200 indvidual medley and fifth in the 100 butterfly competition. For the South boys, Dominic Collins is a prime state contender too, being No. 1 seeded in the 50 freestyle as well as in the 100 free. He is also anchors both the No. 3-seeded Patriot 200 freestyle and fifth-seeded 400 free relay teams with MacGuire McDuff, Reece Fletcher and Oliver Fletcher. McDuff is also seeded fourth in the 200 freestyle. The PHS girls don’t have any top seeds, but do have three No. 2s, two 3s and two 4s. The 2s are the 200 medley relay with Mary Michael Strobl, Welsh, Cox and Kate Snider; Cox in the 100 butterfly; and Welsh in the 100 breaststroke. The 3s are Welsh in the 200 individual medley and the 200 freestyle relay with Olivia Collett, Emma Padden, Cox and Welsh. The 4s are Collett in the 200 freestyle and Cox in the 100 butterfly. Other Big Red possibilities are Kate Snider, seeded 6th in 100 backstroke and 8th in 200 individual medley; Padden 8th in 100 freestyle; and Collett 7th in the 500 free. South’s girls best bet to earn some medals is Makayla Burns, seeded 4th in 500 freestyle and 6th in the 200 free.