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Chelsea Swim and Dive fantastic season ends with 5th place finish at State Div. 3 meet

Courtesy photo by Kathy Burris. Chelsea State Swim Team.
Courtesy photo by Cathy Burris. Chelsea State Swim Team.
Courtesy photo. Kathy Burris. Nick Deppner.
Courtesy photo by Cathy Burris. Nick Deppner.

(Chelsea Update would like to thank Coach Dave Jolly for the information in this story and Cathy Burris for the photos.)

The Chelsea Bulldog Swimming & Dive Team finished their sensational season with a 5th place finish with 177 points at this year’s state championships held at Eastern Michigan University.

The Bulldogs spent much of the season ranked in the Top 10 teams and this year’s finish could very well be a precursor to a run of many top finishes to come.

Courtesy Photo. Kathy Burris. David Alday.
Courtesy Photo by Cathy Burris. David Alday.

David Alday finished as state champion in two individual events and helped two relays earn All State Honors. Plus, he finished second in the balloting for swimmer of the year. In addition, he earned All American Status for his first-place finish in the 200 IM.

The future looks very bright for this talented junior, said Swim Coach Dave Jolly.

Chelsea got the weekend going by earning a spot in the championship finals of the 200 medley relay, and finished fifth in a record time of 1:38.45. Sam Almhiemid, Alday, Nick Burris, and Nick Deppner sprinted their way in the highly competitive event and hung with the big guns.  What is equally impressive is that they would have placed amongst the top eight in both the Division 1 and 2 meets as well.

In the 400 freestyle relay, Burris led the way, which seemed fitting for the team captain, and he had his best time for 100 yards in his last swim as a Bulldog.  Burris touched at 48.93. Almhiemid hit the water next and touched in 49.41.  Mangner got the call for third spot and swam an awesome career best split of 48.66.  Alday in a show of true strength, finished the race with an impressive 46.32 clocking. The swimmers missed first by .34 seconds and finished 4th overall earning All State honors.

Courtesy photo. David Alday, Nick Burris, Nick Deppner, Sam Almhiemid
Courtesy photo by Cathy Burris. David Alday, Nick Burris, Nick Deppner, Sam Almhiemid

Ben Thoms had a great weekend for the Bulldogs. He improved in the 200 freestyle placing 19th overall at 1:50.61.  Though he didn’t quite make the top 16 and get a chance to swim on Saturday, the experience was awesome for the talented sophomore. He will no doubt be among the elite swimmers next season, Jolly said.

Alday led the way for the Bulldogs in the 200 IM, winning the event with a time of 1:52.88, which earned him the title of state champion and his time also qualified him for All America status as one of the top 100 athletes in the country.

He just missed the state record of 1:52.80 and will no doubt set that as a goal for next season.

Sophomore Jacob Hartman swam lights out all weekend. He had huge time drops in his events. In the 200 IM, he dropped 3 seconds and fell just short of the top 16, placing 17th overall at 2:04.70.

“Both young men were quite impressive in the event,” Jolly said. “They both trained so well all season and they both reaped the rewards of a job well done.”

In the 50 freestyle event, Deppner led the way for the Bulldogs placing 12th overall in 22.23.  The senior, was instrumental in the team’s success the past two seasons and will be missed as the team retools for next season.

Courtesy Photo. Kathy Burris. Jacob Hartman.
Courtesy Photo by Cathy Burris. Jacob Hartman.

“Nick is one of those kids that will always give you everything he has,” Jolly said, adding, “He is so talented and can focus when the race is on the line.”

Jonny Mangner, a junior, swam for the first time individually in the meet this season. He will be a key to next year’s team, Jolly said. He finished the event in 23rd position with a season best of 22.77.

“With hard work and dedication in the off season, Jonny will be a force to be reckoned with next year,” Jolly said.

The difference between being a top team in the state and one that struggles to find recognition revolves around diving. Chelsea has been blessed for years in having excellent talent in the 1-meter diving event. This year’s crew was no different.

Much of the credit has to go to the coaching and dedication of Eric Burris the diving coach for the Bulldogs, Jolly said.

“He is one of the best coaches in the state and his record speaks for itself.”

This year, Joe Smith led the way for the diving crew with a 9th place finish. Smith was on his game all week placing 6th at regionals on Tuesday and then earning 9th place at states with a great score of 374.20 points.

“Joe handled the pressure of the meet so well this year and helped the Bulldogs on their way to our 5th place finish,” Jolly said, adding, “He is a talented young man and the future is bright for sure.”

Jake Burris also competed in the event, but had a rough prelim, which was quite uncharacteristic for the talented sophomore.  “Jake struggled with his first dive and was unable to recover point wise to make the finals,” Jolly said.

Courtesy photo. Joe Smith.
Courtesy photo by Cathy Burris. Joe Smith.

“Knowing Jake, he will use this experience to make himself even better,” Jolly said, adding, “He won’t let it happen again.”

Burris brought his best, as he has all season, when the talented senior used his four years of experience and his desire to power his way to All State honors in the 100 butterfly.

He swam a career best of 54.17 in the event to take 8th place overall and solidify his status as one of the programs most complete and talented swimmers. “Nick accomplished what he did through hard work and focus,” Jolly said of his team captain.

“He led by example and never gave less than 100 percent each day,” Jolly said, adding, “That is what it takes to be great.”

Another up and coming star for the Bulldogs is Max Lonnemo, who swam in his first state meet this year as a sophomore. He did an excellent job, Jolly said.

Lonnemo ended the weekend in 25th place overall with a season best of 56.85.

He, too, will be someone that the Bulldogs will count on next season as Burris leaves for college.

Alday, Almhiemid and Mangner were back up in the 100 freestyle, and Alday had the swim of his life, Jolly said, coming from behind. He entered the last wall in 4th place and attacked his last length to power by the competition to capture second state championship stopping the clock at 46.85.

“All I can say is that he is just impressive,” Jolly said. “Watching him swim is an honor and a joy, and he has a special talent for sure.”

Courtesy photo by Kathy Burris. Max Lonnemo.
Courtesy photo by Cathy Burris. Max Lonnemo.

Mangner was also impressive in one of the toughest events at this year’s meet, while Almhiemid swam his best race of the weekend in the finals of the event, which earned him 12th place overall in a time of 49.09.

Mangner finished 25th overall with a season best time of 50.49. “Mangner will definitely be the key to our success next year,” Jolly said.

Thoms and Austin Horn  were the team’s two entries in the 500 freestyle. Thoms dropped massive time in the prelims on Friday and then came back with an even greater focus in the finals Saturday to take 12th place overall at 4:58.02.

Courtesy photo by Kathy Burris. Austin Horn and Ben Thoms.
Courtesy photo by Cathy Burris. Austin Horn and Ben Thoms.

“Ben is a bite a nail and spit it out, kind of kid,” Jolly said. “He gives all that he has every time he touches the water.”

Horn was in his first state meet as a senior, which was a great accomplishment for him and proof that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to it, Jolly said. He finished in 35th overall.

In the sprint relay, Burris led the way with a career best time of 22.65.  Lonnemo blasted to a 22.82 and Mangner banged out an excellent 21.93.  Deppner brought up the anchor and in a big way — swimming a career best 21.18.  The quartet finished 5th and earned All State honors.

“Each of them gave it their all and took advantage of the opportunity given to them,” Jolly said, adding, “To say I am proud would be an understatement.”

Senior Tom Olsen was a new comer to the state meet this year earning a spot on the team as a breast stroker. He finished 32nd but it felt like a victory for the whole team.

“Tom is proof that if you try hard every single day and you set goals to do great things, anything is possible,” Jolly said.

Courtesy photo by Kathy Burris. Nick Burris.
Courtesy photo by Cathy Burris. Nick Burris.
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