Boys Swimming and Diving: Finals Primer
March 8, 2012
Swim coaches, more than those for any sport, have an ability to predict how a meet will end long before their athletes take to the water.
If those coaches are right this season, Saline and Birmingham Seaholm will repeat as MHSAA Lower Peninsula Swimming and Diving champions this weekend in Divisions 1 and 2, respectively. And Grand Rapids Christian will win its first MHSAA championship, claiming Division 3.
Eastern Michigan University will host this season’s Division 1 Final, with Division 2 at the Holland Aquatics Center and Division 3 at Oakland University. Preliminaries are Friday and championships will be decided Saturday.
Tickets cost $8, and competition begins at noon both days. Saturday’s championship races will be streamed live at FoxSportsDetroit.com and MHSAA.tv. Click for a full schedule and lists of qualifiers, their seed times and diving orders.
Predictions obviously don’t always come true. But here are some the teams, relays and individuals who could make the biggest waves:
You’ll recognize these contenders
Division 1: Saline and Rockford have remained unchanged in the top two spots of the coaches poll all season long, with Ann Arbor Pioneer and Birmingham Brother Rice taking turns in the third spot. Saline has dominated the last two MHSAA Division 1 championships – with Pioneer as runner-up both times. Rockford is seeking its first title since 2001. The Rams finished third last season.
Division 2: The top four in every coaches poll this season has read 1. Birmingham Seaholm, 2. Dexter, 3. Birmingham Groves, 4. Holland. Seaholm beat Groves by eight and Dexter by 30 last season. Seaholm has 40 swimming cuts (not counting relays) this time; Dexter has 26.
Division 3: Reigning champions Hamilton and East Grand Rapids have alternated winning this division since the MHSAA went from two to three five seasons ago. But Grand Rapids Christian is attempting to break that hold after finishing third, fifth and sixth the last three seasons, respectively. St. Joseph has big points potential from a couple of standouts, but might not have enough throughout the line-up to push the big three.
Pass the baton
Keep an eye on these relays, which all could post significant finishes Saturday:
Saline’s 400-yard freestyle relay: Saline would need to cut 4.53 seconds from its seed time to equal last season’s all-Finals record of 3:04.83. But this season’s top time of 3:09.36 is nearly two seconds better than the field, and seniors James Fisher and juniors David Boland and Adam Whitener all were on that record-setting team in 2011.
Birmingham Groves’ 400 freestyle relay: Groves has swum 3:12.79, 7.16 seconds off its Division 2 record pace from last season. However, seniors Scott Crosthwaite, Noah Zamler and Steven Curry all were on that record setter and are back in the line-up.
Grand Rapids Christian’s 200 freestyle relay: The Eagles will try to win one of the best races of the day in any division. Grand Rapids Christian has posted a top time of 1:27.95. Hamilton set the Division 3 record last season with a 1:26.10 and has a top time this season of 1:28.60. But Hamilton also has three swimmers back from that record-setting relay – seniors Joey DeGood and Ryan Hagen and junior Zach Lepird.
Athletes to Watch
David Boland, Saline junior – He could add fifth and sixth individual MHSAA championships to his list this weekend after winning both the individual medley and butterfly as both a freshman and sophomore. He’s also the Division 1 Final record holder in both races and as part of the 400 relay. His 400 and 200 relays won championships as well last season.
Ben Carter, St. Joseph freshman – The first-year phenom is seeded first in two Division 3 races – the 50 (21.58) and 100 freestyles (47.79), with healthy edges in both. He also will swim on three relays expected to score, including two contenders.
Eric Chisholm, Rockford senior – He’s looking to finish his high school career as the elite sprinter in Division 1. He won the 50 freestyle last season and his top time this winter of 20.59 seconds is a second better than both his winning time last season and the best times from the rest of the field. Chisholm also has the second-fastest 100 freestyle time (46.84) and will swim on three relays expected to contend.
Daniel Gironza, South Lyon senior – Based on Regional score, he’s the heavy Division 1 favorite after finishing seventh at the 2011 Final. Gironza’s score Tuesday of 490.55 was 89 points better than that of any other Division 1 diver.
Jackson Goethe, Midland Dow junior – He’s got the top-seeded Division 2 time in the 50 (21.43) and 100 freestyles (46.82), the latter by more than a second. He’ll swim on all three Dow relays, including two that should be in the running for first.
Matt Hooper, East Grand Rapids junior – The reigning Division 3 breaststroke champion has the top seed time in that race (57.77), which would be good enough to set a Division 3 record. Hooper also is seeded third in the IM (1:58.40) and will swim on two relays – including the reigning champion in the 200 medley.
Brennan LaBar, St. Johns junior – He won the Division 2 diving championship last season and won his Regional on Tuesday with a score of 451.50. But he’ll have to hold off Highland-Milford’s Scott Jessup, also a Regional champion with a score of 461.85.
Ben Martin, Midland Dow junior – His 200 individual medley seed time (1:54.77) is 2.2 seconds better than the rest of the Division 2 field, and his 100 butterfly time of 52.69 is a half-second better than the rest. Like teammate Goethe, he’ll also swim on all three relays.
Christian Mellos, Grosse Pointe North senior – After finishing seventh in the individual medley and fifth in the breaststroke last season, Mellos brings in the top Division 2 seed time in the latter (58.46) and the third-best (1:57.44) in the IM. He’ll also swim on two relays – one expected to contend and the other expected to push for a spot in the top heat.
Aaron Moyer, St. Joseph senior – He’s favored heavily to win his third-straight Division 3 championship in the individual medley and has the top seed time (1:56.54) by nearly two seconds. He’s also the top seed in the butterfly (51.99) and, like teammate Carter, will swim on all three relays.
Seiji Osawa, Ann Arbor Pioneer senior – Looking to go out strong after winning the 500 freestyle as a sophomore, Osawa has Division 1’s top seed time in that race (4:41.14) and the second-fastest in the 200 freestyle (1:42.76). He’ll also swim on two relays expected to contend for a spot in the championship heat.
Henk Plaggemars, Haslett senior – He’s taken over for graduated teammate Chris McLauchlan, who finished Division 3 runner-up last season. Plaggemars won his Regional with a score of 417.90, 16 points better than anyone else in his division. He finished sixth at last season’s Final.
Adam Whitener, Saline junior – He won both the 100 and 200 freestyles at last season’s Division 1 meet. And not surprisingly, he’s posted the lowest seed times in both of those races this winter. Whitener also could finish as part of two winning relays for the second straight season.
Victor Zhang, Canton senior – The reigning champion in the 100 backstroke has Division 1’s fastest seed time in both that race (52.04) and the 200 individual medley (1:51.65). In the latter, he’ll likely compete with reigning champion Boland of Saline. Zhang also will swim on two relays.
Preview: Oakland Powers Seek 4-Peats
March 10, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Only one Lower Peninsula boys swimming & diving program has won at least four straight MHSAA Finals championships over the last two decades.
Birmingham Brother Rice in Division 1 and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood in Division 3 have the opportunity this weekend to join the Saline teams from 2010-13 in building such a remarkable streak.
Both the Warriors and Cranes are going for their fourth straight MHSAA titles as action begins both Friday (preliminaries) and Saturday at noon at three sites. See below for team favorites and top individuals to watch at all three meets.
All three Finals also will be streamed live and can be watched with subscription on MHSAA.TV. Click for lineups and seed times for all three meets and below for direct links to broadcasts of all three meets.
Division 1 - Division 2 - Division 3
LP Division 1 at Oakland University
Top-ranked Birmingham Brother Rice has won the last three Division 1 titles, but this isn’t necessarily a one-team race. The Warriors have two top seeds, but only 13 other entries seeded to score among the top 16. Second-ranked Skyline, the 2015 runner-up in Division 2, is seeking its first championship and has 17 top-16 seeds and a strong diver. Saline and Novi tied for third in the final state ranking and should be in the mix, Saline with 12 seeded to score and Novi with 14 and a diver.
Spencer Carl, Holland West Ottawa senior – The reigning champion in the butterfly and 200-yard freestyle is expected to close his career with at least one more title; he’s seeded first in the 200 (1:39.77) and second in the 500 (4:37.67.) and is expected to swim on two top-five seeded relays.
Jonathan Lee, Detroit Catholic Central junior – He moved up from 13th in the breaststroke as a freshman to fourth last season and also took sixth in the individual medley; he’s seeded only ninth in the IM (1:56.43) but first in the breaststroke (56.54).
Alex Margherio, Birmingham Brother Rice junior – Margherio was part of Finals champions last season in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays, and he also took second in the butterfly and third in the backstroke. Both relays are seeded among the top five and the medley (1:33.26) has the top seed, and individually Margherio is seeded second in the butterfly (50.17) and first in the backstroke (50.97).
Camden Murphy, Novi senior – One of the most highly-regarded swimmers his age in the country, Murphy decided to swim for his high school team as a senior and has the top seed time in the IM (1:49.10) by nearly three seconds and the top butterfly seed time (47.94) by more than two; his butterfly time would break the LP Division 1 Finals record and approach the all-Finals record of 47.51. He could also swim on any of three top-five relays.
Benjamin Rojewski, Livonia Stevenson sophomore – He placed seventh in the 500 last season as a freshman, but carries the top seed in that race (4:36.49) by more than a second and is seeded fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:42.94).
Henry Schutte, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central sophomore – He took second in both the 50 and 100 freestyles last season as a freshman, and enters this weekend with the top 50 seed (20.87) and third-fastest in the 100 (46.36).
Gabriel Trevino, Zeeland senior –
After taking fifth in the 50 and 100 last season as a junior, he’s seeded second in the 50 (20.95) and first in the 100 (46.09) and could also swim on any of three qualified relays.
LP Division 2 at Eastern Michigan University
Top-ranked Ann Arbor Huron has four MHSAA titles during a highly-regarded history, but is seeking its first since winning Division 1 in 2008. The River Rats were 10th in Division 1 last season and have 12 individuals and all three relays seeded to score. Dexter is the reigning champion and has won this division two of the last five seasons; it also has 12 individuals and all three relays in scoring position. Groves is tied with Dexter for the No. 2 ranking and finished fifth a year ago. It has 11 individual seeds among the top 16 and also all three relays in position to score, plus a diver competing.
Alexander Capizzo, Fraser freshman – At his first Finals, Capizzo enters with the fastest seed in the 500 (4:32.05) by more than three seconds and third-fastest in the IM (1:55.80).
Niklas Eberly, Dexter sophomore – After finishing 16th in the 200 freestyle and seventh in the 500 last season for Pinckney, he enters this weekend seeded first in the butterfly (51.32) and sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:45.11) and potentially part of any of three top-six relays.
Noah Frassrand, Ann Arbor Huron senior – He finished seventh in the IM and 10th in the breaststroke in Division 1 last season for Ann Arbor Pioneer, and enters this Division 2 Finals fourth in the breaststroke (59.01) and top-seeded in the IM (1:54.43) and as part of two top-seven relays.
Jacob Krzciok, Midland Dow junior – He’s back after finishing 10th in the 100 freestyle and swimming on three top-nine relays in 2016, and he’ll have a chance to contribute even more seeded first in the 50 (20.89) and second in the 100 (46.51) while possibly swimming on any of three top-11 relays.
Ryan Lawrence, Birmingham Seaholm senior – He was part of championship 200 and 400 freestyle relays last season and also took second in the 100 freestyle and 10th in the backstroke. This weekend, he’s seeded second in the 50 (21.14), first in the 100 free (46.49) and those two relays also are seeded first at 1:27.49 and 3:13.24, respectively.
Zach Milke, Warren DeLaSalle junior – In addition to finishing third in the backstroke and eighth in the IM last season, Milke was part of the champion medley relay and third-place 400 relay. He’s seeded third in the 50 (21.23) and first in the backstroke (50.88) this time, and that medley relay (1:36.74) is seeded first while the 400 is seeded second (3:13.53).
Graham Miotke, Rochester Adams junior – The reigning champion in the 500 also took fourth in the 200 last season and finds himself seeded second in both races with a 1:43.41 in the 200 and 4:35.29 in the 500.
Patrick Seidel, Birmingham Groves junior – He’s expected to take another jump after finishing sixth in the breaststroke and 11th in the IM last season; he’s seeded first in the breaststroke (58.78) and sixth in the IM (1:58.48) and could swim on two top-seven relays.
David Turner, Pinckney senior – He’s looking at a strong finish to his career after taking ninth in the 200 freestyle and 11th in the 100 last winter. Turner is seeded first in the 200 (1:43.34) and third in the 100 (46.89).
LP Division 3 at Holland Aquatic Center
After trailing East Grand Rapids in the first three state rankings this season, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood grabbed a tie for the top spot with the Pioneers in the final listing as the Cranes go for a fourth straight championship. They have all three relays and 14 individuals with top-16 seeds. East Grand Rapids, last season’s runner-up, has only three relays and nine individual entries seeded to score, but also the reigning diving champion and another contender in that event. Chelsea finished runner-up in both 2014 and 2015 and has three relays and 11 individual entries among the top 16 seeds in those events, including three top seeds and two second seeds.
Rudy Aguilar, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep senior – He’s looking to add to the relay championship he won for Brother Rice as a sophomore, and is favored as the top seed in the 100 freestyle (45.71) and 200 freestyle (1:39.93). He finished second in the 100 and fourth in the backstroke for Notre Dame Prep last season.
Christian Bart, East Grand Rapids junior – He added a championship in the IM and runner-up finish in the breaststroke to two second places as a freshman; this weekend he’s seeded first in the breaststroke (57.17) and second in the 50 (21.18) with spots on two top-seven relays as well.
Skyler Cook-Weeks, Holland Christian junior – Cook-Weeks made good on his top seed in the 500 last season with the title and finished second in the 200 as well; he’s seeded first in the 500 again (4:33.98) and second to Aguilar in the 200 (1:40.67) while swimming on possibly any of three top-six relays. The 400 freestyle relay is seeded first (3:10.63) by nearly a second.
Joey Mangner, Chelsea senior – The 2015 champion in the 50 false-started in the Final last season but did finish fourth in the 100 and anchored the champion medley relay. He’s seeded first in the 50 (20.78) with a time that would tie the meet record, and second to Aguilar in the 100 (46.50) while possibly swimming on the top-seeded 200 freestyle (1:26.86), second-seeded 400 freestyle (3:11.41) or top-seeded medley (1:35.59) relays.
Luke Mason, Holland Christian junior – He enters this weekend seeded second to Cook-Weeks in the 500 (4:44.17) and first in the IM (1:56.26) and potentially could swim on any of three top-six relays as well.
Ben Puglessi, Grand Rapids Catholic Central junior – After finishing seventh in the 200 freestyle and 10th in the backstroke as a sophomore, Puglessi enters as the third seed in the 200 (1:44.73) and second in the butterfly (51.29).
Riley VanMeter, Holland Christian sophomore – VanMeter carries the top seed in the butterfly (51.15) and backstroke (52.65) into this Finals and likely will swim on at least one of those highly-seeded relays as well.
Grant Williams, East Grand Rapids senior – After jumping from 16th in diving as a sophomore to win the championship last winter, he enters this weekend after finishing second at his Regional (448.85) 10.5 points back of Hamilton senior Nolan DeJonge.
PHOTO: Swimmers launch last season at the start of the 400-yard freestyle relay at the LP Division 3 Finals. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)