(Chelsea Update would like to thank Swim Coach Dave Brinklow for the information in this story.)
The Beach Middle School swim team ended its season with an amazing finish at the Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (MISCA) State Invitational held at Holt High School on Feb. 2.
There were 56 teams from across the state and the top 32 athletes from each event competed for individual places. No team scores are kept.
This team firmly established itself as the best to ever swim at Beach by bettering six of the school records that had been set previously this season.
“In a sport where races are decided by hundredths of a second, it is incredible to me how these kids have just demolished the records that were set before, and they were very good times,” said Swim Coach Dave Brinklow.
The highest finish of the meet came in the 200 freestyle relay where the team of Preston Ewald, Brian Jacobs, Kurt Jolly and Lee Argir took first place in a record-setting time of 1:40.64, which toppled the previous record of 1:41.25.
In the 200 medley relay, the foursome of Jolly, Ewald, Argir and Joey Mangner finished second in a record time of 1:50.01, beating their previous time of 1:53.92.
The same four set the new mark in the 400 freestyle relay with a second-place in a time of 3:37.13 – beating their previous time of 3:46.60.
“This was probably the most incredible swim of the season” said Brinklow. “They lowered this record by 4 seconds the first time they broke it, and today dropped another 9 ½ seconds, which is just unheard of.”
Mangner also broke his own records in both the 50 and 100 freestyle events. His second place time of 23.81 in the 50 free beat his previous time of 24.20, while his second time of 53.35 in the 100 free eclipsed his previous time of 53.79.
Connor Gilbreath was 26th in the 200 freestyle.
In the 100 IM, Ewald finished third and Jacobs was 25th.
Zach Lee finished 16th in the 50 free and Jacobs was 29th.
Jordan Smith led the way in the diving event finishing third, Tim Lyons was seventh and Nick Beatty was 12th.
Argir finished second in the 50 butterfly and Isaac Smedshammer was 20th.
In the 100 freestyle, Lee was nineth and Collin Babycz was 20th.
Jolly was second in the 100 backstroke and Babycz was 10th.
Smedshammer placed 7th in the 100 breaststroke.
In the girl’s meet, Anna Vanneste led the way with her fifth-place finish in the 50 butterfly, where she bested her school record time, touching the wall in 29.16, which toppled her previous mark of 29.60.
“Anna had a great day today as did Abby Burris. Both girls swam personal best performances in all four of their events,” Brinklow said.
Vanneste and Burris were joined on the 200 medley relay by Ellie Doman and Clara Nelsen to finish 12th with a season best time of 2:07.71.
In the 200 freestyle relay, Vanneste and Burris were joined by Taylor Brodbeck and Molly Olk and finished in fifth place with their season best time of 1:53.61.
The same foursome placed 12th in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 4:18.42.
Brodbeck finished 18th in the 200 freestyle and 23rd in the 100 freestyle.
In the diving event, Lily Franscisco placed 11th.
Burris placed 10th in the 50 butterfly.
In the 100 breaststroke, Nelsen placed seventh and Catherine Wellman was 26th.
