Source: MI Prep Zone

Author: Patrick McIntyre

WATERFORD — If the 2014 Oakland County swim and dive championships, held at Waterford Mott on Sunday, were a swimmer, they went out fast before settling into a familiar rhythm, but had enough in reserve for the extra kick to get to the wall.

Through two events, two new county records were set — Farmington Hills Mercy 200 yard medley relay team of Katie Minnich, Jensen Pecora, Alaina Skellett and Roxanne Griffore swam a 1:46.87, beating Birmingham Marian’s 2013 record while Marian senior Mollie Pulte broke her own record in the 200 freestyle with a 1:49.39.

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The familiar rhythm took two forms. First Farmington Hills Mercy asserted its dominance over the field, winning the championships for the 10th straight year with 438 points.

Mercy head coach Shannon Dunworth might be getting used to winning this meet, but he says every single team is unique, and every time the Marlins win its the first time.

“This group is unique,” he said. “Half these kids are freshmen. We really, really emphasize this group has accomplished nothing. So, every Oakland County Championship is unique because every team is unique, and that’s all I care about.”

Second, familiar faces were on the top of the individual events. 

Waterford United’s dual senior threat of Miranda Tucker and Maddie Wright combined to win three events. Wright defended her county title in the 100 butterfly (55.97) while Tucker won the 200 individual medley (2:03.15) and broke her own county record in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:02.24.

“All things considered, I’m pretty proud of how I did,” Tucker said. “Most swimmers, as you know, are pretty hard on themselves. I thought I could have done better, but I’m still really happy with my times.”

Pulte, who set four county records last year, also defended her 100 free title with a 50.95. 

Griffore was also a repeat winner, defending her 50 free title with a 23.87. She also helped the Marlins claim the 200 freestyle relay. Her split in the record-setting 200 medley relay (23.35) would have been good enough to beat the 20-year-old record in the 50 free.

Other individual winners included Ellyse Conn, Mercy in the 500 free (4:56.77), Minnich in the 100 backstroke (56.55) and Amanda Ling, Walled Lake Central, won the diving competition with a score of 436.

The final push in the competition came from Mercy’s final relay team of Kathleen McGee, Minnich, Skellett, and Maddy Loniewski finished in 3:33.31, smashing another county record that had been set last year.

Mercy seems to be on a different level compared to the rest of the county, and the team that finishes second is usually very happy with that result, and this year was no different. Lake Orion, with 244 points, claimed its first trophy at an Oakland County meet in school history by placing in the top-5 of nearly every event.

“We get great senior and junior leadership,” Lake Orion coach Darin Abbasse said. “That’s really our strength. The girls have demonstrated that, not only in school in the classroom, but also in practice.”

Birmingham Marian (196 points) finished in third place, while Birmingham Seaholm (177 points) took fourth and Rochester Adams rounded out the top five with 173 points.