The Lake Orion girls swim team had the best showing in school history in the 2014 state championships.
Coach Darin Abbasse’s lady Dragons, competing recently in the Division 1 State Swimming and Diving Championships at Eastern Michigan University, finished seventh.
The 10-member group had 128 points for the best finish since the team was established in 1998.
There were 10 team members. They were alternates, freshmen Eliana Ritt and sophomore Zoe Quinn.
Others were Amanda Keller who finished 21st in the 100 breaststroke; Sarah Hennings placed eighth in the 100 butterfly, winning all state honors and 20th in the 100 backstroke.
Junior Nicole Horvath was an alternate. Natalie Zainea finished 25th in the 200 freestyle and 32nd in the 100 butterfly.
Kirstyn Abbasse placed seventh in the 200 freestyle and eighth in the 500 freestyle, to win all state honors in both event. Senior Bethany Abramczyk placed sixth in the 200 freestyle and fifth in the 500 meter freestyle to win all state honors.
Lydia Mattar placed sixth in the 100 breaststroke to win all state. She also finished 13th in the 200 meter individual medley.
Danielle Kudla finished 29th in the 100 freestyle.
The Dragons 400 Freestyle Relay team of Kirstyn Abbasse, Danielle Kudla, Sarah Hennings and Bethany Abramczyk finished eighth and received all-state recognition.
Additionally, the Dragons finished 10th in the 200 medley relay with the team of Sarah Hennings, Lydia Matar, Natalie Zainea and Danielle Kudla and 10th in the 200 freestyle relay with team of Danielle Kudla, Lydia Mattar, Kirstyn Abbasse and Bethany Abramczyk.
In order to receive all state honors a swimmer has to place in the top eight in their individual or relay events. The Dragons had five swimmers receive this recognition which is the most ever in a single season, according to Coach Abbasse.
The lady swimmers established seven new varsity records over the course of the season. The 200 medley relay team of Hennings, Mattar, Zainea and Kudla set a school record during the OAA RED League Championships with a time of 1:48.71.
Bethany Abramczyck improved on her varsity records in the 200 freestyle (1:52.90) and 500 Freestyle (5:03.68) Lydia Mattar improved on her varsity record in the 200 IM with a time of (2:08.50) and 100 breaststroke (1:05.34). Sarah Hennings broke a 14 year old record in the 100 butterfly (56.19) and set a new 100 backstroke record with a time of (59.14).
The swimming and diving team had a successful season starting out by winning the Wayne State Relays and West Bloomfield Invitational. Then the team finished second overall in the Oakland County Championships and completed their dual meet season with a record of 7-2 overall and finished third in the OAA Red Division.
Abbasse said the coaching staff is extremely proud of all the swimmers and divers for their hard work and commitment to training. The commitment paid off with the best season in Dragon history.