By BUTCH HARMON
Another season of high school girls’ swimming came to an end with the MHSAA state finals. Following is a look at the outcomes in the three divisions.
DIVISION 3
East Grand Rapids dominated the Division 3 meet, as the Pioneers totaled 424.5 points. Grand Rapids Catholic Central placed second with 267 points.
Locally, Nouvel Catholic Central capped off one of its finest seasons in program history, as it placed 21st overall with 27 points. Sophomore Makenna McCartney led the way, as she placed fourth in the 500 free with a time of 5:12.57. McCartney also placed seventh in the 200 free with a time of 1:57.12.
The combined Williamston-Lansing Christian team finished 22nd overall with 25 points. Junior Allie Heineman paced the team, as she placed seventh in the 50 free and eighth in the 100 free. Heineman was also part of the 200 free relay team with senior Taylor Dollar, junior Kelsie Hasse, and senior Marie Hetherington, which finished 16th overall.
Alma finished in 24th place with 20 points. Sophomore Evelyn Vandemark led Alma, as she placed in a pair of events. Vandemark finished sixth in the 500 free with a time of 5:19.72 and 10th in the 100 butterfly.
Haslett finished with four team points. Senior Kate Lehman placed 15th in both the 100 butterfly and 200 IM.
DIVISION 2
Marian captured a wide-open Division 2 meet with 231.5 points and edged Ann Arbor Skyline, which finished with 220 points, and Portage Central, which finished with 219.5. Bay City Western placed 13th with 56.5 points, Okemos finished 15th with 50.5 points, and Midland Dow placed 17th with 34 points. Heritage finished with six points, Waverly with five, St. Johns with two, and Mason with two.
Senior Krissy Harmon led the way for Bay City Western. She defended her title in the 500 free with a time of 4:57.30. Harmon also placed fourth in the 200 free. Freshman Morgan Weiss placed seventh in the 50 free. Western’s 200 free relay team of Harmon, senior Malorie Owczarzak, sophomore Riley Owczarzak and Weiss placed 12th.
Sophomores Freyja Garbacio and Sarah Williams led the way for Okemos, as they placed in the top 16 in two events each. Williams placed ninth in the 50 free and 15th in the 100 free, while Garbacio placed fifth in the 100 butterfly and eighth in the 100 backstroke. A pair of Okemos relay teams also placed. The 200 medley relay team of sophomore Isabella Morris, senior Alexandria Chow, Garbacio, and Williams placed 12th, while the 400 free relay team of senior Carly Seeterlin, Williams, Chow, and Garbacio placed 14th.
Midland Dow was paced by senior Ellie Dean, who placed 13th in the 500 free. Dow also placed three relay teams. The 200 free relay team of senior Julia Ahrns, junior Jenna Lee, senior Mary Noble, and Dean placed 11th. The 400 free relay team of Noble, Ahrns, senior Jasmine Purtell, and Dean also placed 11th. The 200 medley relay team of Purtell, senior Lauren Hall, Ahrns, and Lee placed 14th. Senior Paige Wiersema placed 11th in the diving competition.
Waverly was paced by freshman Rita El Jbeily, who placed 12th in the 100 freestyle.
St. Johns senior Alexandra Davis placed 15th in the 500 freestyle.
Mason’s 200 free relay team of sophomore Kiana Namvansy, senior Brooke Hedglen, senior Rebeca Rogers, and senior Rachel Johnson placed 16th.
DIVISION 1
Saline captured the Division 1 title, as it totaled 267.5 points to edge Mercy, which totaled 262 points.
Rockford placed third with 202.5 points. The Rams excelled in the relays, placing in the top six in all three events. Rockord won the title in the 200 free relay with the team of sophomore Meegan Snyman, senior Dakota Noble, freshman Peyton Rayburn, and senior Erin Hudson, which turned in a time of 1:35.88. The 400 free relay team of Snyman, senior Marissa Marion, Rayburn, and Hudson placed fourth, while the 200 medley relay team of senior Delayni Kornak-Kotorba, sophomore Sydney McDowell, junior Hannah Raymond, and Noble placed sixth. Individually for Rockford, Hudson placed second in both the 50 and the 100 free. Kornak-Kotorba placed 10th in both the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke. Snyman took third in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 free. Marion placed 12th in the 100 and 14th in the 200 freestyle. McDowell placed seventh in the 100 breaststroke, and sophomore Sara Fredricks was 12th in the 200 free, junior Lauren Mirecki 14th in the 50 free, and Rayburn 16th in the 500 free.
Grand Blanc finished 12th with 86 points. Sophomore Emma Curtis led the way, as she won the 50 freestyle in a time of 23.60. She also placed fourth in the 100 freestyle. Senior Eryn Scannell placed 10th in the diving competition. A pair of relay teams also placed for Grand Blanc. The 200 free relay team of senior Sydney Schmit, sophomore Lindsey Sieloff, Scannell, and Curtis placed fifth, while the 200 medley relay team of junior Hyacinth Villarin, sophomore Amanda Quitos, Scannell, and Curtis placed 12th.