Last weekend the lady swimmers and divers competed in the annual Oakland County Championships held at Waterford Mott High School. The dragons finished 12th overall with several outstanding efforts by both swimmers and divers.
The county team consisted of senior Co-Captain Ronnie Booth who qualified in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke events, juniors Annie Jongekrijg, Kristin Kevnick, Kristin Watkoske, Andrea Kricak and Colby Pudlo and sophomores Courtney McClear and Katie Corcoran in diving.
In order to qualify all swimmers must equal or better the qualifying standards in order to compete in this very fast and competitive meet.
Annie Jongekirg qualified and finished sixth in the 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 backstroke establishing a new varsity record of 1:00.44.
Courtney McClear qualified in the 200 freestyle and placed eighth overall and 19th in the 100 freestyle. Ronnie Booth qualified in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
The team of Jongekrijg, Mc Clear, Pudlo and Booth placed 13th overall and qualified their 200 medley relay for the MHSAA state championships.
The dragons continued to swim fast with another state qualifiying time and placing 10th in the 400 freestyle relay with the team of McClear, Jongekrijg, Booth and Kevnick. The final relay team Pudlo, Kricak, Watkoske and Kevnick all juniors placed 30th overall and achieved their personal best time all season.
The dragons moved up to the OAA White division after 12 years of swimming and diving in the OAA and are competing very well, says Coach Darin Abbasse, but have only one victory against a non-conference team Detroit Country Day.
‘We lost 12 seniors and have a very young group of swimmers that are competing against some of the states best teams,? said the coach.
Even though the team has more losses then victories they continue to improve their personal best times and efforts weekly. The Dragons have returning state qualifiers in Booth, Jongekrijg, Pudlo, McClear and Corcoran.
‘This is a strong group of girls who are very competitive and enjoy racing. We have some young swimmers who in the past were not the depth of the team but becoming very competitive in practice and meets. I am very proud of how these girls have stepped up and have a never say die attitude,? said Abbasse.
They are senior Co-Captain Ellen Cavendar, juniors Krsiten Watkoske, Andrea Kricak, sophomore Hannah Weglarz and freshmen Ericka Kevnick.
The Dragons next swim meet is against OAA White division Farmington Harrison and the team will finish their season with two home meets Oct. 14 against Rochester Adams, and Clarkston on Oct. 21.
– Submitted