Preview: Powers May Reign, But Many Have Chances to Shine
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 18, 2021
Powerhouse programs appear set to rule again at this weekend’s Lower Peninsula Girls Swimming & Diving Finals.
Ann Arbor Pioneer in Division 1, Birmingham Seaholm in Division 2 and East Grand Rapids in Division 3 will enter Friday’s preliminaries with large groups of contenders seeded among the top 16 in their respective events.
But one of the best parts of this weekend’s meets is the opportunity that provides – placers up to 16th score points, and hundreds will have that opportunity. Among returning event champions and this weekend’s top-seeded individuals alone, 28 schools are represented – with many more likely to celebrate one or more placers climbing the podium.
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 p.m. at all three sites.
Spectator limits – two tickets per Finals qualifier – will be in place in Divisions 1 and 3, but all three Finals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv both days with an announcer calling Saturday’s action. Click for lineups and seed times for all three meets.
Lower Peninsula Division 1 at Holland Aquatic Center
Reigning champion: Ann Arbor Pioneer
2020 runner-up: Farmington Hills Mercy
2021 top-ranked: 1. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 2. Northville, 3. Brighton.
Pioneer won last season’s championship, its first since 2008, with exactly double the points (368) of the next closest placer. This could be quite an encore, as 21 entries and all three relays are seeded to score, all three relays are among four top seeds, and a scoring diver also is returning. Northville was third last season and is seeking its first team championship with all three relays and nine individuals seeded to score. Brighton was fourth a year ago and has some possibilities as all three relays and 11 individuals enter in scoring positions.
Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer junior: The reigning champion in the 100-yard backstroke also took fourth in the 200 individual medley last season and swam on the winning 400 freestyle relay. She seeded second in the backstroke (55.84), fourth in the IM (2:07.64) and likely will swim on two top-seeded relays.
Lily Cramer, Ann Arbor Pioneer senior: She could be in line for at least one individual championship after swimming on two winning relays both last season and in 2019, and coming in fifth in the IM and eighth in the 100 breaststroke as a junior. She seeded first in the 200 freestyle (1:48.50) and second in the breaststroke (1:02.16) and is likely to swim on two top-seeded relays as well.
Sophie Curtis, Grand Blanc senior: She’s seeking to join her two-time title-winning older sister Emma with her first trip to the top of the podium, seeded first this weekend in the 100 freestyle (51.15) and fourth in the backstroke (57.13). She finished third in the 100 and sixth in the backstroke last season.
Brady Kendall, Plymouth senior: The reigning champion in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly is seeded first in both races with times of 23 seconds and 54.02, respectively.
Abby Marcukaitis, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg senior: After finishing fourth in the backstroke and ninth in the 50 last season, Marcukaitis also enters her final high school races with a chance at a first title. She’s seeded first in the backstroke (55.63) and 14th in the 50.
Emily Roden, Northville junior: She won the butterfly as a freshman and then finished fourth in that race and third in the 200 freestyle last season. She returns as the top seed in the IM (2:04.43) and second in the butterfly (55.11).
Victoria Schreiber, Brighton junior: After finishing runner-up in both the 200 and 500 freestyles last season, she’s the top seed in the 500 (4:58.43) just ahead of teammate Annika Geyer (4:58.52) and third-seeded in the 200 free (1:52.19).
McKenzie Siroky, Livonia Stevenson junior: The reigning champion in the breaststroke is the top seed in that race (1:00.86) and second-seeded in the 50 (23.04), just four hundredths of a second outside the top spot in the latter race.
Vivian VanRenterghem, Ann Arbor Pioneer senior: An individual champion in the 200 free and winner as part of the 400 free relay the last two seasons, VanRenterghem is likely to swim on two top-seeded relays and is seeded fifth in the 200 free (1:53.22) and sixth in the 100 (51.96). She also was 10th in the backstroke as a junior.
Ann Arbor Pioneer 200 medley relay: All three Pioneer relays have posted seed times that would place them among the fastest in LPD1 history in those respective races. But a medley relay likely made up of Chapman, seniors Amelia Weyhing and Holly Pringle and junior Sophia Guo might have the best chance at chasing a record. Their seed time of 1:43.57 would fall in fifth all-time in LPD1, with the record 1:42.40.
Megan Jolly, Rockford sophomore: Jolly scored a 454.05 at her Regional at Hudsonville to win by just under 118 points. Her score also was the best from any of the Division 1 Regionals by 11 points.
Lower Peninsula Division 2 at Oakland University
Reigning champion: Birmingham Seaholm
2020 runner-up: Rochester Adams
2021 top-ranked: 1. Birmingham Seaholm, 2. Grand Rapids Northview, 3. Rochester Adams.
Seaholm has won the last two Division 2 team titles and three of the last five with a 2018 runner-up finish in that mix as well, and prevailed last season with two relay winners but without an individual event champion. The Maples have all three relays and 14 individual entries seeded to score, plus a diver, and likely is the team to chase again. Northview finished third last season and is hoping to make a jump with all three relays and 10 individual entries seeded to score. Adams finished 46 points off the lead a year ago and is the most recent not-Seaholm champ, having edged the Maples in 2018. The Highlanders have two relays and nine individual entries in scoring position to start the event. Skyline is an interesting contender as well with three relays and nine individual entries seeded to score including three top seeds, plus two divers.
Grace Albrecht, Jenison sophomore: She made her Finals debut with a win in the 50 and sixth place in the 100 freestyle, and will return seeded second in both races in 23.76 and 52.50 seconds, respectively.
Karen Austin, Birmingham Groves senior: Last season’s runner-up in the 500 (and fifth-place finisher in the IM) will be looking to take the last step up the podium as the top seed in the 500 (4:59.29) and fifth in the IM (2:09.17).
Angelina Baker, Portland Northern senior: The reigning champion in the 500 is second-seeded this time but only 61 hundredths of a second off the top at 4:59.90. She’s also seeded seventh in the butterfly (57.67) after finishing fourth in that race last season.
Lily Cleason, Ann Arbor Skyline junior: She was runner-up in the backstroke and seventh in the 200 free as a sophomore, but is seeded first in both this weekend in 55.22 and 1:51.75, respectively.
Samantha Clifford, Birmingham Seaholm junior: She piled plenty of points toward the team title last season swimming on two winning relays and finishing second in the 100 free and third in the 200. She’s been part of three relay champs total over her first two seasons and could add an individual title seeded first in 100 (52.25) and second in the 200 (1:52.51).
Addy Forbes, Grand Rapids Northview sophomore: Another freshman champion last season, she won the backstroke and finished fourth in the IM. She’s seeded third in the backstroke (58.04) and seventh in the IM (2:10.06) this time.
Tess Heavner, Fenton freshman: She could be the next freshman Finals champ, entering seeded first in the breaststroke (1:03.91), second in the IM (2:05.85) and slated to swim on the top-seeded 200 medley relay.
Claire Kozma, Ann Arbor Skyline senior: A past placer at the LPD1 Finals, she enters her final meet for Skyline as the top seed in the 50 (23.64) and sixth in the butterfly (57.47).
Gracie Olsen, Fenton senior: She will be looking to finish her Fenton career with a few more championships to go with the four she’s earned over the last three seasons. Olsen has won the butterfly the last two Finals and is seeded first at 55.25. She’s also seeded first in the IM (2:02.85) after winning that race as a freshman. She won the 200 free her sophomore season before finishing runner-up in that race as a junior.
Hannah Williams, Portage Northern junior: A multi-event champion as a sophomore could add to her titles in the 200 free and breaststroke. She’s seeded second in the breaststroke (1:04.32) and 12th in the 200 this time.
Caroline Li, Okemos junior: She finished diving runner-up last season and as a freshman, and enters this weekend having posted the second-highest Division 2 Regional score of 463.05.
Lily Witte, Dexter junior: The two-time champion in Division 2 posted the highest Regional score last week of 472.25 and also will be swimming the 50 and potentially on the 200 free relay.
Lower Peninsula Division 3 at Calvin University
Reigning champion: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
2020 runner-up: Hamilton
2021 top-ranked: 1. East Grand Rapids, 2. Bloomfield Hills Marian, 3. Holland Christian.
After not competing at last season’s Finals, East Grand Rapids could add to its record 23 championships – and most recently won four straight in either Division 3 or 2 from 2016-19. The Pioneers have all three relays and 21 individual entries seeded to score, plus three strong divers competing. Marian was third last season and won its most recent Finals title in 2014 in Division 2. With three relays and 11 individual entries seeded to score, plus a diver, the Mustangs should have an opportunity to move up. Holland Christian finished fourth last season and could climb with strong relays leading the way.
Gwen Eisenbeis, Williamston senior: The reigning champion in the 50 and runner-up in the backstroke is seeded second in both the 50 (23.79) and 100 free (51.71).
Scarlet Maison, Standish-Sterling freshman: She’ll make her Finals debut in the IM and breaststroke and is top-seeded in the former (2:09.07) and third-seeded in the latter (1:07.02).
Ginger McMahon, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett senior: The breaststroke champion as both a freshman and junior, and runner-up in the IM last season as well, she enters this weekend top-seeded in the breaststroke (1:04.21) and seventh in the butterfly (1:00.27).
Lauren McNamara, Flat Rock sophomore: She finished third in the butterfly and 12th in the IM last season and is expected to make a jump in both as the top seed in the butterfly (56.98) and seventh in the IM (2:13.21).
Riley Nugent, Plainwell senior: She will swim for a rare fourth championship in the same race after winning the 500 freestyle her first three seasons. She’s seeded second in that race (5:11.35) and eighth in the 200 free (1:58.56) after finishing third in the latter last season.
Erika Pietras, Grosse Ile senior: She’s another strong distance swimmer, coming off a runner-up finish in the 500 and fourth place in the 200 last season. She’s seeded first this time in the 500 (5:08.36) and fifth in the 200 (1:56.14).
Sarah Rott, Grand Rapids Catholic Central sophomore: The top seed in the 200 free (1:56.14) and sixth in the 100 (53.72), she was fifth and tied for ninth, respectively, in those races last season.
Alina Stanczak, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep senior: She finished fourth in the backstroke and seventh in the 100 free last season and could finish with her first title, entering the weekend top-seeded in the backstroke (58.96) and 10th in the 100.
Julia Waechter, Bloomfield Hills Marian senior: After climbing the podium with her 200 medley teammates as a freshman, she will have multiple opportunities to finish with individual titles. Waechter is seeded first in the 50 (23.64) and 100 (51.40) and will swim on the top-seeded 200 free relay and second-seeded 400 free relay. She was third in the 50 and fourth in the 100 last season.
Ava Jendritz, East Grand Rapids sophomore: Three East Grand Rapids divers finished among the top five at the Hamilton Regional, and Jendritz led the way for all of Division 3 with a score of 442.50.
Abigail Sullivan, Otsego senior: She was third at the Hamilton Regional with a 408.65, but won last season’s Finals championship by nearly 110 points with a 455.50.
PHOTO: Contenders launch during last season's Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)
Comerford, Cranes Repeat as D3 Champs
November 17, 2012
By Gary Kalahar
Special to Second Half
YPSILANTI – By the time she is finished with her high school career, perhaps Plainwell’s Mallory Comerford will be an MHSAA champion in all eight individual swimming races.
Sounds a bit far-fetched to be sure. But after Comerford’s performance Saturday in the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 3 meet at Eastern Michigan University, would anyone care to bet against her?
Comerford, a sophomore, made it four championships in four different races by winning the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle in dominant, record-breaking fashion.
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood used its outstanding depth – scoring at least 15 points in every race – to swim away with its second consecutive Division 3 team title. The Cranes scored 361 points, and Bloomfield Hills Lahser finished second with 211.
As a freshman, Comerford was the champ in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Plainwell coach John DuBois said with another excellent long-distance freestyler last year, Comerford was placed in the sprints to give the Trojans the potential for more points.
“So we trained her in sprints, but her love is distance,” DuBois said. “It wasn't a hard transition at all.”
It certainly didn't look like it, especially on the final weekend.
“I was real happy with how I did,” Comerford said. “I’m very excited. I felt smooth going in the water Friday, and it was the same way (Saturday).”
In the 200 freestyle, Comerford set the Division 3 record with a 1:50.92 in the preliminaries and lowered it to 1:48.07 to win the final by more than six seconds.
“In my heart, I thought she could go 1:48,” DuBois said. “But I didn't know it would be that easy. Easy as in the way she swam – it was so effortless. She was in a groove.”
Comerford’s 4:58.18 in the 500 freestyle preliminaries established a meet record. That one lasted about 24 hours, too, as she went out fast and never slowed down in a 4:53.14 final. She won by 13 seconds with a time that would have made her a winner at the day’s Division 1 or Division 2 Finals.
“That was a surprise to me,” Comerford said.
Ten minutes after that race, Comerford was back on the blocks for the anchor leg of the 200 freestyle relay, boosting the Trojans from sixth place to fourth.
“I had to be there for my team,” Comerford said. “I just had the belief that I was fresh and I could do it."
She brought Plainwell from seventh to fourth on the final leg of the 400 freestyle relay, but the Trojans were disqualified.
“I knew it would be tough, but it was definitely worth it,” Comerford said about switching her focus to the longer distances. “It was a lot more yardage, a lot tougher on your body to be prepared for the longer races. My coaches, John DuBois here and Jeff Russell with USA Swimming, have pushed me as hard as I could go. I couldn't do what I've done without them.”
DuBois, whose team finished fifth with 140 points, said Comerford’s willingness to swim the events where she could most help the team is representative of her attitude.
“She’s a phenomenal athlete, she has great character and she’s an unbelievable worker,” he said. “She obviously is gifted, and we’re lucky to have her at Plainwell. She’s been a model academically and athletically. She’s all the things coaches love to have.”
Another thing all coaches would love to have is the depth of Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood rode to the team title. The Cranes had no divers but had girls swimming in every final race. In nine of the 11 events, they scored at least 23 points.
“A lot of it goes to the competition that we started with the first day of practice,” first-year Cranbrook-Kingswood coach Chris Bagley said. “It’s unbelievable to think about how deep we are.”
Senior Kylie Powrie swam on teams that finished second in Division 3 her freshman and sophomore years and won titles the last two.
“It’s amazing,” Powrie said. “Our team has come so far. We've improved so much over the years. I never would have thought this was possible my freshman year. When I started, it was hard for us to fill up all the events.”
Powrie, the 2011 champion in the two races won by Comerford this year, finished her career by helping the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay teams to victory, the latter in a Division 3-record 3:33.63.
“We just wanted our team record, and we got it and got the state record,” Powrie said.
Lara Kokubo was Cranbrook-Kingswood’s lone individual champion, winning the 100 freestyle. She also swam on the two winning relay teams.
“We knew we were going to have high expectations, but to do what we did, the way we did it, is just unbelievable,” Bagley said. “We set our goals at the beginning of the year, and we never talked about winning a state title. We talked about being the most improved team in the state, and I think we did that.”
Ines Charles led runner-up Bloomfield Hills Lahser. She repeated as champion in the 100 backstroke, helped her 200 medley relay team to a second straight title and finished second in the 100 butterfly.
PHOTO: Members of the Cranbrook-Kingswood 400-yard freestyle relay team celebrate their LP Division 3 Final record time Saturday. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)