Swimming & Diving: Pioneer keeps on swimming along with easy win over Dexter

The Pioneer swimming and diving team remains on course and on track for another huge season in 2021. The Pioneers, the defending Division 1 state champions and top-ranked team in the state, continued to cruise through a challenging SEC Red Division schedule with a 130-56 win over a strong Dexter team on Thursday.

There were plenty of competitive races and a pool full of impressive times clocked in during the dual-meet at Pioneer.

Pioneer started strong with a first and second place finish in the opening medley relay. The team of Holly Pringle, Amelia Weyhing, Sophia Guo and Allison Yadmark took first in 1 minute, 53.95 seconds. Pioneer’s team of Vivian VanRenterghem, Lily Cramer, Autumn Bullinger and Yan Yee Adler took second in 1:54.03.

Dexter’s team of Maddy Matos, Delaney Parker, Lily Witte and Marea Balcom was third in 1:56.42.

Pioneer sophomore Stella Chapman won the 200 free in 1:57.52 with Dexter freshman Jillian Kinnard taking second in 2:01.47. Pioneer’s Reese Heidenreich was third (2:07.42) and Dexter’s Laura Walton was fourth (2:07.47).

The Pioneers took the top three spots in the 200 IM: Cramer was first (2:10.89), Guo second (2:18.0) and Pringle third (2:18.45). Matos was fourth (2:19.14) for the Dreadnaughts.

VanRenterghem, a senior, took first (24.72) and Bullinger, also a senior, was second (26.14) for Pioneer in the 50 free. Dexter’s Witte (third, 26.23) and Balcom (fourth, 26.71) also had strong swims. Pioneer sophomore Yadmark was fifth (26.75).

Dexter went one-two in diving as junior Lily Witte took first with 289.95 points. Junior Vivian Kinnard was second with 254.75 points. Pioneer senior Alexandra Mercier was third (238.75 points).

Pioneer swept the 100 butterfly: Cramer was first (1:01.16), Bullinger second (1:03.60) and Guo third (1:04.04). Dexter’s Isa Reyes touched fourth in 1:04.30 followed by teammates Claire Blodgett (1:09.72) and Alena Michos (1:33.61).

VanRenterghem won her second race of the meet after touching first in the 100 free in 54.08. Weyhing was second (55.45) and Pringle third (56.83) for the Pioneers. Dexter’s Matos was fourth in 57.0.

Chapman won her second race of the night with a winning time of 5:19.82 in the 500 free. Woods was second for Pioneer in 5:40.71. Dexter senior Paige O’Connor was third (6:18.68) followed by teammates Rose Clark (6:22.91) and Morgan Marsh (7:00.01).

Pioneer’s foursome of Guo, Pringle, Pinkerton and Chapman won the 200 free in 1:41.89.

Weyhing won the backstroke (1:03.65) with Adler in second (1:05.28) for the Pioneers. Dexter’s Alexis TerBush was third (1:06.03) and Walton fourth (1:07.12) for the Dreadnaughts.

Adler jumped right back in the pool and the sophomore took first in the backstroke in 1:10.19. Parker was second (1:11.90) for Dexter and Pioneer’s Heidenreich was third (1:12.49). Dexter’s Natalie Koenn was fourth (1:17.78).

Pioneer (Chapman, Pinkerton, Heidenreich and Adler) won the 400 free relay in 3:41.06. Pioneer’s team of Weyhing, Rachel Brewbaker, Woods and Bridgette Kamara was second in 3:54.71. Dexter’s team of Balcom, Jillian Kinnard, Walton and Matos took third in 3:55.70.