Oakland County

Local athletes fare well at state finals; Cranbrook retains D3 title

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Donna Agusti Marian’s Mollie Pulte celebrates winning the state title in the 200 freestyle at the Nov. 17 Division 2 state finals at Oakland University. Pulte also took third in the 100 freestyle. In Division 3, Cranbrook won its second straight team state title. Photo by Donna Agusti Marian’s Mollie Pulte celebrates winning the state title in the 200 freestyle at the Nov. 17 Division 2 state finals at Oakland University. Pulte also took third in the 100 freestyle. In Division 3, Cranbrook won its second straight team state title.

The girls swimming and diving season came to an end Nov. 17 with the MHSAA state finals. Several local teams and individuals took home trophies and medals when it was all said and done.

Here are the top-eight finishers from the teams from The Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle’s coverage area and the team scores. Visit our website at www.candgnews.com for more results, photos from the Division 2 finals, and from the D-1 and D-3 diving regionals. Visit www.mhsaa.com for complete results.

DIVISION 2
Holland High won its second straight title in D-2, taking first with 311.5 points at Oakland University. Locally, Birmingham Groves finished fifth with 152 points, Bloomfield Hills Marian was seventh with 142 points and Birmingham Seaholm ended up eighth with 140.

Groves highlights
Hanna Pfershy finished fourth in the 50 freestyle.  Merrill Watzman was seventh in the 500 freestyle. Kelly McGowan placed seventh in the 100 backstroke. McGowan, Anna Lockwood, Pfershy and Beth Moran were fourth in the 200 medley relay. Pfershy, Alysse Fischer, Watzman and McGowan placed fourth in the 400 freestyle relay.

Bloomfield Hills Marian
Mollie Pulte won the 200 freestyle and took third in the 100 freestyle. Madison Taylor finished fifth in the 200 freestyle and eighth in the 500 freestyle. Maren Taylor was seventh in the 50 freestyle. The 200 freestyle relay squad of Pulte, Hannah Richard and the Taylors placed fifth. The 400 freestyle relay team of Pulte, Madison Taylor, Madison Clement and Christina Schott also finished fifth.

Birmingham Seaholm
Mykala Arnold took third in the 100 butterfly and eighth in the 100 backstroke. Celia Hoag was sixth in the 100 breaststroke. The 200 freestyle relay team of Elizabeth Ahern, Morgan McKay, Ella Waechter and Sydney McKay finished eighth. The McKays, Waechter and Arnold placed seventh in the 400 freestyle relay. Arnold, Hoag, Mia Deighan and Ahern were sixth in the 200 medley relay.

DIVISION 3
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood won its second straight D-3 title, as the Cranes finished atop the standings at Eastern Michigan University with 361 points. Bloomfield Hills Lahser was second with 211 and Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day was sixth with 118.

Cranbrook’s championship
Lara Kokubo won the 100-yard freestyle and placed third in the 50 freestyle. Kylie Powrie finished second in the 500 freestyle and fifth in the 200 freestyle. Julia Briggs was third in the 100 butterfly. Alexa Resetar was fourth in the 200 IM and fifth in the 100 backstroke. Charlotte Lee placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke and fifth in the 200 IM. Madeline Montgomery took fourth in the 100 freestyle and sixth in the 50 freestyle. Anuschka Sambel placed fifth in the 500 freestyle and sixth in the 200 IM. Emme Reasoner was seventh in the 100 butterfly. Juliet Wu took eighth in the 100 freestyle. Gabby Roehr was eighth in the 500 freestyle.

The Cranes’ 200 freestyle relay team of Montgomery, Wu, Powrie and Kokubo finished first overall, as did the 400 freestyle relay squad of Montgomery, Resetar, Powrie and Kokubo. The 200 medley relay team of Resetar, Lee, Briggs and Pippa Russell took second.

Lahser highlights
Mary Pilibosian won the 200 IM and finished second in the 100 backstroke. Ines Charles took the 100 backstroke title and was second in the 100 butterfly. Hailey Sambor finished in third in the 100 breaststroke. Alicia Lew, Annie Reed, Charles and Pilibosian teamed up to take third in the 400 freestyle relay. Charles, Sambor, Lucy Ramonat and Pilibosian finished first in the 200 medley relay. The 200 freestyle relay squad of Doey McGowan, Lew, Annie Reed and Ramonat finished fifth.

Country Day
Maggie Pyett took second in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle; Varsha Yerasi was fourth in the 100 butterfly; Katie Kim finished fifth in the 100 butterfly; and the 200 medley relay team of Courtney Tynan, Yerasi, Kim and Pyett placed third.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040. Follow Jon on Twitter.