Oakland County

Swim meet raises the bar again; Mercy wins title again

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Swimmers at the Oakland County girls championship meet prepare to compete in the 100-yard backstroke during the finals Oct. 1 at Lake Orion High. Farmington Hills Mercy won the county meet for the seventh straight year. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Swimmers at the Oakland County girls championship meet prepare to compete in the 100-yard backstroke during the finals Oct. 1 at Lake Orion High. Farmington Hills Mercy won the county meet for the seventh straight year.

They say it every year.

The coaches of various Oakland County swim teams call the county championships one of the best and fastest meets around.

More often than not, the annual event lives up to those expectations.

And some years, it somehow exceeds them.

This year was one of those years.

“This was the fastest county swimming meet ever, and the most record breaking that I can recall in the past 25 years,” Lake Orion High coach Darin Abbasse said.

Three new records were set and a few more were nearly broken at the Oct. 1 finals held at Lake Orion.

Two records were set by freshman phenom Maddie Wright of Waterford. First she broke the 200-yard freestyle record of 1 minute, 53.10 seconds set in 2010 by Kacie VanBuskirk, turning in a time of 1.50.26. Later, Wright won the 100 butterfly in 55.16 seconds, edging the 2006 mark of 55.33 set by Dana Christ.

Novi High junior Andrea VanderMey swam a 56.92 100 backstroke, breaking the former record of 57.04 set by Liz Johnson in 2007.

While new names were written into the record books, a familiar one ended up on the team trophy. Farmington Hills Mercy won its seventh consecutive county title, finishing with 362 points in the 12-event competition.

“We’re very fortunate to have many talented and dedicated swimmers choose Mercy for school,” Mercy coach Shannon Dunworth said. “Once here, the team concept really takes hold and helps to bring out their best.”

Bloomfield Hills Marian took second with 227.5 points, followed by Clarkston High (206), Farmington Hills Harrison (171), Birmingham Seaholm (161), Novi High (160), Lake Orion (133), Birmingham Groves (126), South Lyon High (122) and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood (96).

Dunworth noted that the caliber of competition at the county meet helps the Marlins focus on improving and preparing for more success later down the line.

“The county meet, for us, is second only to the state championships,” the coach said. “With teams like Clarkston, Seaholm, Groves, Novi and so many other great programs, the competition is exceptional.

While Mercy athletes didn’t finish first in any of the individual events or relays, the Marlins’ depth led them to another title. Mercy swimmers, divers and relay squads racked up 17 top-8 finishes throughout the meet.

“With all the work swimmers put in against the clock, it’s vital to apply it against opponents,” Dunworth said.

Speaking of opponents, many fared well at the county meet.

Novi freshman Mallory Buha, juniors Andrea VanderMey and Maranda Buha, and senior Abby Hall tied Clarkston sophomores Kathryn Culver, Sami Stelpflug and Natalie Vela, and freshman Megan Stelpflug for first place in the 200 medley relay.

Sami Stelpflug also won the 200 IM individual title, while Megan Stelpflug won the 500 freestyle. The duo later teamed up again with Culver and freshman Sydney Thon to win the 400 freestyle relay.

Lake Orion senior Annie Jongekrij took first in the 100 freestyle, and Birmingham Groves senior Annie Lazor won the 100 breaststroke to round out the individual swimming titles.

Marian’s team of sophomore Clare Nienstedt, junior Madison Taylor, freshman Mollie Pulte and senior Jaynie Pulte came away with first in the 200 freestyle relay.

Lastly, in diving, Rochester High’s Lauren Reedy finished in first among a field Abbasse called “very competitive, with some All-American performances.”

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