Source: The Observer/Eccentric

Author: Dan O'Meara

Opposing coaches and people in the know see Farmington Hills Mercy as the team to beat once again in Division 1 girls swimming and diving.

The defending state champions have another talented team and are ranked No. 1 in the statewide poll of high school swim coaches.

It's a place the Marlins, who have won state titles in seven of the past eight years, are accustomed to being.

"It's nice to be respected by your adversaries, but I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in anything tangible after that," Mercy coach Shannon Dunworth said.

"Based on recent history, they're going to select Mercy to be at the top, so we appreciate greatly the respect they show us. It's kinda looking at the past and not necessarily the present."

The Marlins return a core group of outstanding swimmers – all of them among the best in the state – who will lead the team and score a majority of the points.

Seniors Roxanne Griffore, Maddy Loniewski and Kathleen McGee, junior Ellyse Conn and sophomore Elaina Skellett were all-state swimmers and members of the all-area team.

Griffore is the reigning state, Oakland County and Catholic League champion in the 50-meter freestyle. She won the state title with an area best of 23.57.

Loniewski won county championships in the IM and breaststroke, McGee in the 500 freestyle (also the league) and Skellett in the backstroke.

"They have never looked better," Dunworth said, regarding their training and preparation for this season. "They're more excited than ever and more committed than ever."

With the return of that group, the Mercy relays are sure to be outstanding again, also.

Griffore, Loniewski, Skellett and McGee won a state championship in the 200 freestyle with an area-best time of 1:35.31 in the final.

Conn and Griffore were part of the second-place medley relay; Loniewski, McGee and Skellett were on the 400 freestyle team that finished fourth.

Senior Michaela Bargardi, junior Katharine Kouvaris and sophomores Emma Noonan and Jackie Baldus were state qualifiers and will be critical to the team's success, too.

Seniors Jensen Pecora and Samantha Dickie and juniors Erin Judd and Kaitlin Bayer are other returning swimmers who have worked hard and will have important roles to play.

The Marlins are "certainly diverse in their preparedness coming into the season," Dunworth said. "Most of them were ahead of the game.

"Those that may not have been have worked hard to catch up. Some of those kids are definitely on the verge of breaking through.

"Jensen can be a real key player for us this year. She and Kaitlin and some freshmen can fill some roles on relays, and that will be really important to our overall success."

Loniewski, McGee, Griffore, Bargardi and Dickie are being recruited by a variety of schools, although no one has accepted a scholarship offer or made a commitment yet, according to Dunworth.

"What makes it unique for Maddy, Katheen, Ellyse, Roxie and Elaina is they've already been good and have never looked better," he said.

"The kids who just made it to the state meet had better never have looked better unless they plan on falling short again."

The Marlins have an outstanding freshman class. Dunworth looks for Katie Minnich, Kendall Goit, Mya Loniewski, Abby de Tassanyi, Megan Hutter, Abby Gowen, Micha Pulick, Kylie Hart and Isha Ganguli to provide immediate help and team depth.

"Katie Minnich is an absolute standout in the state of Michigan," he said. "Kendall Goit trains with our best kids and already has been real fast. She's an absolute blue-chipper.

"Mya Loniewski is the third of the Loniewski sisters. Maura and Maddie were state champs. Abby de Tassanyi is just really exciting to watch in the pool. Megan Hutter is small in stature but incredibly applied every day.

"I think we're good, really good. The kids have put in a great deal of time and effort with their respective swim clubs. Usually, that's a good indication of how good a team will be. Time will tell."

The Marlins have won a tri-meet with Livonia Stevenson and Walled Lake Central and the Rock Invite at Salem, as well as duals with Ann Arbor Pioneer and Warren Regina.

Mercy had a dual meet Tuesday with Catholic League rival and Division 2 power Marian, and it will try to repeat as county champion Saturday, Oct. 4.

"We love the county meet," Dunworth said. "That's just a really great team meet, because so many kids are excited to make state cuts and be there. Historically, it goes real well for us.

"That meet is two weeks away. I wish it was two months away, but things are coming fast and furious; so we'd better start performing pretty soon here."

Dunworth added his gauge is what he sees at practice, and he's excited about what the Marlins are doing in the pool each day.

"The kids are getting broken down and getting tired," he said. "I would compare their level of preparedness and professionalism to any kids in any sport. They're an impressive group of kids."

Ultimately, all roads – and practice sessions – lead to the state meet, which will take place Nov. 21-22 at Eastern Michigan University.

The top competition, based on the rankings, figures to be last year's runner-up, Saline, Rockford and Holland West Ottawa. Ann Arbor Skyline, which finished third, is now the top-ranked team in Division 2 followed by Marian.

"I hope there's a great team battle and we're a part of it," Dunworth said. "Swimming is an individual and a team sport. You can't focus on one over the other.

"You want be to successful as individuals and collectively, so there are a lot of moving parts.

"As long as we're doing all the right things right now, that's the most rewarding part of it. We'll continue to get the job done on a day-to-day basis and figure out where we are in six to eight weeks."