Source: C & G News

Author: Mike Moore

FARMINGTON HILLS — There is an expectation, fairly or unfairly, that needs to be upheld.

In 2017, the Farmington Hills Mercy swim team certainly lived up to it.

The Division 1 state swimming and diving state finals were held Nov. 17-18 at Oakland University, and once again, the Marlins asserted themselves as the top team in the state.

“It’s very cool,” second-year coach Mike Venos said. “This was the culmination of a very interesting season for us. But you have to take a lot of pride in this.”

With a total of 37 teams scoring in the two-day final, the Marlins finished with a score of 277.

Saline High was next-best with 248, and Harrison-Farmington came in third with 192.

“We kind of ran away with it Friday,” Venos said. “But then things got closer on Saturday.”

Mercy’s depth, and ability to qualify in multiple events, proved to be the difference considering the team didn’t win one single event.

That, of course, goes back to the tradition the program has had for years — and the work ethic required to uphold it.

“We’re in a delayed-gratification sport in an instant-gratification society,” Venos said. “We had to build this up. We had to work all year to get to where we were at our best at the end. For them to watch that all play out was pretty special.”

So, when asked what it was like to win his first title with the program, Venos laughed.

“It’s a big relief, but you love it,” he said. “I mean, we’re talking about 11 practices a week for 16 weeks to get ready. And really, this is a silly sport where you work those 16 weeks for one swim.”

The title was the seventh for Mercy since 2007, the first since 2013 and the ninth since 1972.

The Marlins took second in 2016, 2014 and 2012.

“That’s why there’s pride in this, because upholding that tradition is something these girls take very seriously,” Venos added. “They have to maintain what’s been established here before them.”

And now do it all again next year?

“Well, yeah,” he answered. “No pressure at all, right?”