No Fazing Holland in Repeat Run

November 21, 2012

By Jon Malavolti
Special to Second Half

ROCHESTER – Holland High girls swimming and diving coach Don Kimble said his squad talked about it all year.

“The second one is harder than the first one,” he said. “The second one, you’ve got a target on your back. Everybody’s looking for you. You sort of swim a little tight – you don’t want to be the one that loses it.”

On top of all that pressure, the Dutch had some other challenges they didn’t have last year while winning their first Lower Peninsula Division 2 title. Last year, Holland lifted the trophy at the nearby Holland Aquatic Center. This year, the Dutch would had to traverse across the state to Oakland University a few hours east, and face some new teams like Ann Arbor Skyline and East Grand Rapids that moved into Division 2 after competing in Division 1 or 3 in 2011.

But Holland wasn’t fazed by any of it, defending its title in convincing fashion.

The Dutch receive a Second Half High 5 this week after winning their second straight MHSAA championship. Prior to last season, they finished runner-up three straight seasons.

This time, they dominated the relays – taking first in all three, while also finishing first in four individual races. Holland grabbed crucial points with a second-place finish and three third-place finishes in the individual events, while its depth rounded things out on the day with nine finishes between ninth and16th.

Holland sophomore Taylor Garcia epitomized the team’s toughness, finishing first in all four races she swam – the 100-yard butterfly, 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay – all while dealing with a broken thumb.

“I think it affected my butterfly turns a little bit, and also I was a little tentative on my finishes,” she said. “I’m glad I just got to swim and didn’t need surgery or anything”.

Kimble was impressed with her performance despite the setback that has hampered her the past few weeks.

“She hasn’t been able to train all out,” he said. “To go the times she did today … it’s remarkable.”

Garcia wasn’t the only member of the Dutch proving her resolve on Saturday.

Junior Holly Morren won the 100 freestyle and finished second in the 50 free, while also helping the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams finish first.

Kimble noted how vastly she improved her performance from the preliminaries the day before.

“Holly came back with a vengeance,” he said Saturday. “She was really disappointed where she ended up yesterday, but made the effort today to step up.”

The third Holland team member to take home an individual title is another reason why the Dutch should be favored to three-peat. Cassie Misiewicz, a junior, will look to defend her 500 freestyle title next year, as well as improve on her third-place finish in the 200 free. She also swam on the first-place 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.

In fact, the Dutch will graduate just one senior who scored points at this year’s Finals – Melissa Vandermeulen, who capped off her career nicely with a pair of third-place finishes in the 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, while also swimming on the first-place 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.

Surely there will be more challenges that pop up in the way of Holland’s title run next year.

But no one should believe the Dutch won’t figure out a way to get it done, again.

PHOTO: Holland swimmer Abi Johns gives a thumbs up after one of her events during Saturday's Division 2 Finals at Oakland University. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)

Performance of the Week: Kingsford's Adelaide McRoberts

February 28, 2022

Adelaide McRobertsAdelaide McRoberts ♦ Kingsford
Swimming ♦ Sophomore

McRoberts won the third and fourth MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals championships of her career, this time in the 200-yard individual medley and 50-yard freestyle with times of 2:11.34 and 24.22 seconds, respectively. The 50 time set the UP Finals record, and she went on to best it with a 24.21 split to start the runner-up 200 freestyle relay. She also swam the second leg of the runner-up 200 medley relay as her team finished overall runner-up Saturday at Marquette High School.

The 50 record was her second at the UP Finals, to go with the record-setting 100 butterfly she swam in 58.89 seconds as a freshman – when she also won the 100 backstroke in a time of 59.68 that ranks second in UP Finals history. Her 200 IM time this weekend ranks fourth on that race list.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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2021-22 Honorees

Feb. 17: Christopher Kavanaugh, Petoskey hockey - Report
Feb. 10:
Ira Jenkins, Whitehall wrestling - Report

Feb. 3: Emma Stewart, Salem gymnastics - Report
Jan. 28:
Tyler Ray, Pinckney swimming - Report
Jan. 21:
Elle Craven, Traverse City Central skiing - Report
Jan. 14:
Nevaeh Williams, Mount Clemens basketball - Report
Dec. 2:
Lucas Dunn, Chelsea football - Report
Nov. 25:
Riley Nugent, Plainwell swimming - Report
Nov. 18:
Harper Murray, Ann Arbor Skyline volleyball - Report
Nov. 11:
Abby VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian cross country - Report
Nov. 4:
Arianne Olson, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Oct. 28:
Jack Guggemos, Okemos soccer - Report
Oct. 21:
Sachiv Kumar, Northville tennis - Report
Oct. 14:
Kate Brody, Grand Blanc golf - Report
Oct. 7:
Lilly Nelson, Negaunee tennis - Report
Sept. 30:
Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Sept. 23:
Riley Hough, Hartland cross country - Report
Sept. 16:
Josie Bloom, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Report

PHOTO Kingsford's Adelaide McRoberts swims the 200 individual medley during Saturday's Upper Peninsula Finals. (Photo by Daryl Jarvinen; head shot courtesy of Adelaide McRoberts.)