Swimming: Huron finishes impressive third at tough East Grand Rapids invite
By Margaret Baker
The Huron girls’ swimming and diving team made the trip out to East Grand Rapids on Saturday for the annual “Pioneer Classic.”
The River Rats placed third with 292 points in a tough field that included powerhouse Farmington Hills Mercy, the winners with 619 points and East Grand Rapids who took second with 569 points. Huron finished ahead of Hudsonville (284), Portage North (206), Grand Ledge (148), Okemos (118), and Livonia Stevenson (89).
Head coach Andrea Stanczyk and assistant coach Jennifer Zakrajsek carefully crafted a swim lineup that revealed some excellent results.
The foursome of juniors Clara Bowman, Emily Tran, Annaliese Streeter with sophomore Zannah Baker took 3rd in the opening 200 Medley Relay (1:53:15), closing in on that D1 cut (1:52:89), and the 200 free squad of Tran, sophomore Kathryn Hemmila, Baker and Streeter (1:42.71) was also third.
In the 200 free, sophomore Felicia Sang (2:12:44) finished 17th, just out of usual scoring range, and in the 200 IM, Tran (2:17:48) took 5th, with Baker (2:27:65), 13th. Streeter had the one swim win for the Rats with her 24.59 finish in the 50 free, senior/captain Anna Leone (1:06:63) was 6th in the 100 Fly, and Tran took 8th in the 100 Free (58.28).
The Rats fared well in the 500 free, with three swimmers coming in the top 16: Hemmila, 6th (5:34.66); and sophomores Ezgi Poyraz, 14th (5:52:24); and Lydia Hargett, 15th (6:00.67). Junior Clara Bowman (6:03.27) was 17th. Bowman was also an impressive 9th (1:06.49) in the 100 back, with teammate Streeter taking 2nd (1:00:79). And in the 100 breast, Huron again had three top 16 finishers: Leone, 4th (1:14.12); and sophomores Emma Kaipainen, 8th (1:18:.43), and Cali Streeter, 12th (1:19.50). Senior/captain Faith Baker (1:20.63) cruised in to a 17th place touch.
Huron’s divers, led by coach Vicki Kimball and assistant coach Dick Kimball, dazzled for the second time in a week. Junior Annie Costello (410.30) continued her unbroken winning streak in the grueling 11-dive contest, with senior Sami Ruud (291.17) in 6th, freshman Hannah Margolis (267.95) in 7th, and senior Anna Boerst (240.50) in 11th.
Also making the long trip out to EGR for the Rats were senior captain Kristina Holcombe, Amaris Beal, Hannah Burmann, Sophie Getzen, Analiese Heissenbuettel, Kiana Hemati, Margo Leone, Catherine Li, Alli Sutton, Ella Szymansky, Isabella Whelan, and Pooja Yalavarthi,
Huron will host a double-dual meet on Thursday against Adrian and Lincoln.
