St. Clair Shores

South Lake girls swim team wins first division title since 2006

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Deb Jacques St. Clair Shores South Lake swimmer Tori Marble, pictured Oct. 2 swimming in a meet with Warren Fitzgerald, is a member of a Cavs team that won the program’s first division title since 2006. Photo by Deb Jacques St. Clair Shores South Lake swimmer Tori Marble, pictured Oct. 2 swimming in a meet with Warren Fitzgerald, is a member of a Cavs team that won the program’s first division title since 2006.

WARREN — A young roster with its share of inexperienced swimmers didn’t stop the St. Clair Shores South Lake girls swim team from winning the Macomb Area Conference Silver Division title.

With a 124-40 win over Warren Fitzgerald Oct. 2 at Fitzgerald, the Cavaliers clinched the school’s first league crown since 2006, when it was a member of the Macomb Area Conference Gold Division.

At press time, South Lake sat at 5-3, 4-0 in the MAC Silver.

“My sister was on the team in 2006,” said junior Krista Nannini, a team captain who swims the 100-meter breaststroke and 200 individual medley. “Now I have something to rub in her face.”

The win is a sweet one for the Cavaliers and coach Jim Bunting. South Lake has finished second in the Silver the last two years.

Bunting, who’s coached the swim team since 1994, said having young, talented swimmers who are willing to work hard has led to South Lake breaking through and winning the division.

“It’s a small team, so we have girls swimming three or four events, and some of them are first-time swimmers. So there’s a steep learning curve that’s been there, but they’ve all adapted well,” said Bunting, adding that the team has just one senior and six first-year swimmers.

“It’s always our goal to win the division, and this group deserves it,” he added. “We don’t have as much depth as other teams or as much as we’d like, but we’re doing a great job, I think.”

Bunting said his swimmers are solid in a number of areas — individual events and relays.

The longtime Cavs coach said Nannini and senior Brie Biafora have done a great job helping the younger swimmers adjust to the varsity level.

“Everyone here has been dedicated to working hard and getting better from the start,” said Biafora, in her fourth year with the Cavs varsity swim team.

“Being a senior, it’s a great accomplishment to win a division title.”

South Lake next hits the water for a meet with St. Clair Shores Lake Shore at 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at Lake Shore.

The Cavs’ Oct. 9 matchup with East Detroit took place after press time.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jason Carmel Davis at jdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1107. Follow Jason Carmel on Twitter.