East Grand Rapids' Depth Nets 24th Team Title, While Jenison Stars Shine
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
November 19, 2022
GRAND RAPIDS – There may not be a heated competition between sisters, but that's definitely not the case for opponents of Grace and Emma Albrecht.
The speedy Jenison siblings went head-to-head in two events in addition to swimming together on two winning relays at Saturday's Lower Peninsula Division 2 Finals at Calvin University's Venema Aquatic Center.
"We push each other," said Grace, a junior. "But it's the same as with any other swimmer – we want to win."
The two were critical in helping Jenison finish runner-up behind East Grand Rapids with 219 points. The Pioneers notched their 24th Finals title with 280.
The sisters had a memorable afternoon as Grace edged her younger sister, a freshman, in the 50 freestyle. Grace won the event with a time of 23:41, while Emma was second at 23.82. Grace also was second in the 100 backstroke (54.50), while Emma was seventh (57.46). The two were part of the winning 200 medley (1:43.59) and 400 free relays (3:27.18).
When pressed, Grace will admit she looks at her sister more as a sibling rather than someone she needs to beat.
"Sometimes, once in a while," she said. "But most of the time we're competing against each other."
The sisters began their swimming background at virtually the same time at the club level about seven years ago. Emma said for the most part she looks at her older sister as a competitor, not a sibling.
"She's like any other swimmer," she said. "But we work together as teammates. She taught me always to have a positive attitude, no matter what."
The Pioneers continued their domination of Division 3/Class B Finals. Saturday's title was the team’s sixth in seven years, eighth since 2013 and 14th in 24 years. The program won its first title under coach Butch Briggs in the third year of Swim Finals in 1978 after finishing runner-up at the first two championship meets.
Briggs said the success never gets old. Different maybe, he said, but his swimmers never take anything for granted.
"Coming into the meet we were relatively beyond our seed times. But we found a way to win," said Briggs, who credits depth for the victory. "It's the way we've been all year with the depth. We have a little less than some teams, but Friday was one of our best days I can remember. We were up like 14 points without diving, and diving has saved (us) more than once over the years."
EGR senior Allison Alguire agreed that depth is a team strength, but so is another factor.
"We have a lot of perseverance," said Alguire, one of the team's co-captains who swam personal bests in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke while helping the 200 medley and 400 relays to second and third-place finishes, respectively. "We got close at the end of the year, which made our chemistry better. With our team we don't swim for a best time, we swim for the team."
EGR had only one first place, in the 200 free relay with Caroline Flermoen, Ellery Chandler, Alyssa Hein and Kate Simon.
The top individual performance in the meet came from Dexter senior Lily Witte, who won her fourth-straight diving title with a 554.65, as Caroline Li of Okemos (492.25) finished runner-up for the fourth year. Witte’s score was a Michigan all-Finals and pool record.
"It gets more special," said Witte, who will attend Indiana next season. "The fact that it’s my senior year and last year makes it special. I just try to go out and do what I need to do and try not to worry."
The meet's only double winner was Jenison's Sophie Umstead. She won the 200 individual medley (2:00.33) and the 100 breaststroke (1:01.11). She made a smashing transition from being a club swimmer a year ago as a freshman to becoming a two-event Finals champ.
"I just wanted to come in and swim my best," she said. "Club is similar to high school, but maybe a little more chilled."
Other first places were collected by two Birmingham Seaholm swimmers, Kelley Hassett in the 500 free (4:58.63) and Samantha Clifford in the 200 free (1:48.64). Rhian Russell of Rochester Adams in the 100 butterfly (54.30), Lily Cleason of Ann Arbor Skyline in the 100 backstroke (53.95) and Ella Roberson of Midland Dow in the 100 free (50.13) also won titles.
PHOTO (Top) An East Grand Rapids swimmer leaves the blocks during the 400 freestyle relay. (Middle) Swimmers approach the wall during the breaststroke final. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)
Preview: 1st-Time Contenders, Familiar Favorites Seek History-Making Finishes
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 17, 2022
In a sport often dominated by powerhouse programs, we could see new contenders emerge during this weekend’s Lower Peninsula Girls Swimming & Diving Finals.
True, Ann Arbor Pioneer looks tough to beat as it seeks a third-straight championship in Division 1. But even with Birmingham Seaholm pursuing a fourth-straight title in Division 2, it appears Jenison is the team to chase at Calvin University as the Wildcats seek their first Finals team victory in this sport.
In Division 3, the top-two ranked teams have won before – but neither this century. Holland Christian and Milan lead those with championship aspirations.
Competition begins at noon for Friday’s preliminaries and Saturday’s championships. Friday’s action will begin with swimming, with divers taking the pool approximately 3:30 p.m. at all three sites.
A spectator limit of two tickets per Finals qualifier will be in place in Division 2, but all three Finals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv both days. Click for information on purchasing tickets, plus schedules and qualifiers for all three meets.
Lower Peninsula Division 1 at Oakland University
Reigning champion: Ann Arbor Pioneer
2021 runner-up: Saline
2022 top-ranked: 1. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 2. Northville, 3. Farmington Hills Mercy
Pioneer has won the last two LPD1 championships, last season with 405.5 points and a 158.5-point margin over the rest of the field. It’s tough to imagine that streak not growing as the Pioneers enter this weekend with 16 swim entries seeded to score (among the top 16) with eight top seeds – including favorites in all three relays – and two competing divers. Northville finished fifth a year ago and is seeking its first team championship in this sport, entering this weekend with 13 swim entries seeded to score and two divers as well. Mercy was seventh last season but champion three straight from 2017-19, and enters with 10 swim entries seeded to score.
Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer junior: The top seed in the 200-yard individual medley (2:04.13) and 100 backstroke (56.07) will be looking to add to individual titles won in the backstroke as a freshman and IM as a sophomore. She’s also swam on four relay champions and is part of two top-seeded relays this weekend.
Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield freshman: She’s burst onto the scene this fall and provided plenty of anticipation as she enters her first MHSAA Finals with top seeds in the 200 freestyle (1:48.87) and 500 freestyle (4:54.65).
Lucy Mehraban, Ann Arbor Pioneer senior: After swimming on two championship relays as a freshman, Mehraban could close her high school career with a few more titles as she’s set to swim on two top-seeded relays and enters with top seeds in the 50 freestyle (23.04) and 100 freestyle (50.31).
Emily Roden, Northville senior: She won the 100 butterfly as a freshman and was second in that race and the IM last season. She enters this weekend with the top seed in the butterfly (55.17) and fourth seed in the 200 freestyle (1:51.86).
Victoria Schreiber, Brighton senior: She’s the fourth seed in the 500 freestyle (5:01.22) and fifth seed in the 200 (1:51.94) after winning the 500 and finishing fourth in the 200 in 2021.
McKenzie Siroky, Livonia Stevenson senior: She’ll chase the all-Finals record of 1:00.48 she set in the 100 breaststroke last season with a top-seed time this weekend of 1:00.77, and she’ll also swim the 50 seeded third (23.49).
Rosalee Springer, Grand Haven junior: The reigning 100 freestyle champion is seeded fourth in that race (51.46) and sixth in the IM (2:10.07).
Ann Arbor Pioneer 200 medley relay: Chapman is likely to be joined by sophomore Ursula Ott, senior Sophia Guo and freshman Kate Van Ryn as they pursue the LPD1 Finals record of 1:42.40. Pioneer has a seed time of 1:43.52.
Alice English, Saline senior: After finishing second at last year’s Final, less than 19 points off the lead, English will pursue her first championship coming off the highest Regional score (426.90) in Division 1.
Lower Peninsula Division 2 at Calvin University
Reigning champion: Birmingham Seaholm
2021 runner-up: Grosse Pointe South
2022 top-ranked: 1. Jenison, 2. East Grand Rapids, 3. Grosse Pointe South
Seaholm is seeking to become the sixth Lower Peninsula girls swimming & diving program to win a fourth-straight Finals championship, but this one might be the toughest to earn as the Maples enter ranked No. 6 – although they will bring 10 swim entries seeded to score and a competing diver. Jenison is seeking its first team championship after finishing sixth a year ago and enters with an impressive lineup including six top seeds, 10 more also seeded to score and four divers. East Grand Rapids is back in Division 2 after claiming three championships in Division 3 – and most recently winning Division 2 in 2017. The Pioneers have nine swim entries seeded to score and three divers competing. Grosse Pointe South finished runner-up last season for the second time in three years, and will make a run at its first team title this time with 14 swim entries seeded to score and a diver competing.
Grace Albrecht, Jenison junior: She’s won the 50 freestyle twice (including last season in a tie) and also was the 100 free runner-up last fall. She enters this weekend seeded first in the 50 (23.31) and second in the 100 backstroke (54.26) and also likely will swim on two top-seeded relays.
Lily Cleason, Ann Arbor Skyline senior: The reigning backstroke champion is seeded first in that race again (53:00) and second in the 200 freestyle (1:50.77) after finishing sixth a year ago.
Samantha Clifford, Birmingham Seaholm senior: She swam on her fourth and fifth champion relays last fall and also won her first individual title in the 100 free while finishing second in the 200. She’s seeded fourth in the 200 free (1:53.32) this weekend and second in the 100 (51.76).
Ella Roberson, Midland Dow senior: After finishing fourth in the 200 free and third in the 500 a year ago, Roberson is a favorite to win multiple individual titles entering the weekend seeded first in the 200 (1:49.56) and 100 free (49.82).
Rhian Russell, Rochester Adams senior: She’s seeded first in the 100 butterfly (54.95) by more than a second and fourth in the backstroke (56.41). She previously was part of Adams’ 200 medley championship relay in 2020.
Layla Umstead, Jenison freshman: She enters her first Finals with a top seed time in the 500 (4:58.81) and seventh seed in the IM (2:09.69), plus she’s expected to swim on two top-seeded relays.
Sophia Umstead, Jenison sophomore: She’s also swimming in her first Finals and with an opportunity to make a historic impact with her top seed times in the IM (1:59.01) and 100 breaststroke (1:01.96) faster than the current Division 2 Finals records.
Jenison 200 medley relay: The expected combination of Albrecht, her freshman sister Emma and the Umstead sisters enters with a top seed time of 1:42.81, which is 1.8 seconds off the Division 2 record but would be the second-fastest time on the list.
Lily Witte, Dexter senior: She’s twice set the Division 2 Finals record for diving and won the event three times, with her 503.55 last season just under six points shy of the all-Finals record. She scored 513.35 to win her Regional by nearly 90 points.
Caroline Li, Okemos senior: Like Witte, she’s one of the nation’s top high school divers – but has finished second to Witte all of her first three seasons. She also won her Regional, with her 463.30 nearly 42 points better than the field.
Lower Peninsula Division 3 at Holland Aquatic Center
Reigning champion: East Grand Rapids
2021 runner-up: Bloomfield Hills Marian
2022 top-ranked: 1. Holland Christian, 2. Milan, 3. Bloomfield Hills Marian
With East Grand Rapids competing in Division 2 again, we’re guaranteed a new champion in Division 3 – and Holland Christian is hoping for its first team title since 1996, while Milan last won in 1977. The Maroons finished fourth a year ago and present a strong lineup this weekend with 13 swim entries seeded to score including two top seeds, plus four divers. Milan is right there with 13 swim entries seeded to score as well, one being a top seed, and two divers competing. Marian’s most recent championship was in Division 2 in 2014, and it will look to take that step again with 10 swim entries seeded to score and a diver this weekend.
Kiera Danitz, Ogemaw Heights senior: She has a chance to sprint to multiple championships as she enters with the top seed in the 50 free (24.15) and second seed in the 100 (53.41).
Ella Dziobak, Dearborn Divine Child freshman: She’ll enter her first Finals as the top seed in the 200 (1:52.99) and 500 (5:06.77) freestyles, both by at least three seconds.
Julijana Jelic, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood junior: After finishing fourth in both the IM and backstroke last season, Jelic is the top seed in the backstroke (59.60) and fifth in the IM (2:15.14).
Scarlet Maison, Standish-Sterling sophomore: She left her first Finals last season with a championship in the IM and 11th place in the backstroke, and she returns as the top seed in the IM (2:08.76) and second seed in the breaststroke (1:07.56).
Lauren McNamara, Flat Rock junior: The reigning champion in the butterfly is seeded first in that event (56.46), and second in the IM (2:11.46) after finishing sixth in that race last season.
Ella Schafer, St. Johns junior: She’s the top seed in the breaststroke (1:06.48) and ranked fifth in the 100 free (54.36), after finishing sixth in the 200 free and ninth in the breaststroke last season.
Laney Wolf, Wayland freshman: Another standout freshman, Wolf enters her first Finals seeded first in the 100 free (53.09) and fifth in the 50 (24.88).
Alicia Viaches, Haslett junior: Viaches posted the highest Regional score in Division 3 (367.75), more than 45 points higher than the rest of the competitors at her site.
Kaitlyn Molnar, Grosse Ile junior: She should build significantly on last year’s 10th-place Finals finish after winning her Regional by more than 60 points with a 366.10.
PHOTO: Dexter’s Lily Witte dives during last season’s LPD2 Finals; she won the diving competition for the third time. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)