Hundreds and hundreds of young swimmers invaded the Lake Orion Natatorium earlier this month for the 2008 Michigan Swimming 12 & Under State Meet (held March 7-9).
Included in the event were several members from the Lake Orion Liquid Lightning team.
‘These are the best 10 & under and 11 and 12 year old swimmers in the state,? LOLL Coach Tom Arusso said.
The team also had some swimmers qualify for the 13 & older meet, held this past weekend in Jenison.
Last year, the team had five state qualifiers. This year they bumped that number up to 12.
‘We’re not quite ready to win yet, but we’re getting close,? Arusso said of the 12 & under meet.
Arusso said his goal for the team was to have them gain the experience of a major championship meet, adding that earning points there (the team had 155 points) was a bonus.
‘It’s about gaining experience and aiming at the right goal,? he said.
The team had some new qualifiers earn their way into the event in the week prior at a junior Olympic event, which shows the team’s continued progress.
The team is now getting ready for their spring session, and their summer season will include some outdoor swimming opportunities as well.
To learn more, visit www.liquidlightning.org.
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Notable state finishers…
Devon Nowicki took first place in 10 & under 100-yard breaststroke event. Other state meet point earners for the Lightning included Jared Goestenkors (11-12) in the 200-breast, 100-medley, 50-fly, 100-breast and 100-fly, and Nowicki (10 & under) in the 500-free, 100-medley, 100-free, 50 breast and 200-medley (all top-five finishes).
Relay teams that earned points (all in the 11-12 age category) included the boys 200-free (Goestenkors, Brandon Nowicki, DJ Seeds and Daniel Olthof), girls 200-medley (Milan Spampinato, Courtney McClear, Emily Shallman and Haley Kornburger), and boys 200-medley (Seeds, Olthof, Goestenkors and Brandon Nowicki).
This past weekend, the team’s 13 & older point earners were Ashley Corriveau in the 50-free and 100-free, Jacob Lindquist in the 100-breast and Drew Fritsch in the 1650, 400-medley and 200-breast.