Through a powerful 3-for-3 relay sweep, Birmingham Seaholm High School was able to repeat as Michigan Division II High School Swimming State Champions (393 points). Ann Arbor Skyline would finish in second (271.5 points) and Dexter High School claimed third (239 points). Despite their large margin of victory in the team scoring, Birmingham Seaholm High School only saw an individual win recorded from their diver Sebastian Fay (435.35 points in 1-meter). There were several Birmingham Seaholm swimmers that came close to claiming the top spot on the podium, but Fay was the only one that was able to seal the deal.
Birmingham Seaholm swept all three relays that were contested during the finals session. Two of these wins were in Michigan High School Division II Meet Record fashion (200 Medley Relay and 200 Free Relay). The 200 Medley Relay got them off on the right foot for the meet with Evan Burke (24.06), Jack Russel (25.56), Nick Ross (22.46), Len Ciemniecki (21.03). This same quartet swam a new meet record during prelims with their 1:32.46. They were a little off this time during finals (1:33.11), but it was enough to secure the victory over second place finisher Dexter High (1:34.62).
Jacob Montague of Grosse Pointe South would break the first Michigan High School Division II Meet Record of the night with his 1:48.30 final time in the 200 IM. In a compelling back and forth race Dexter High School’s Robbie Zofchak was 2.38 seconds ahead after his powerful 26.20 split during the backstroke leg. Montague was then able to surge ahead with a breaststroke split that was 3.36 seconds faster and that was enough to shut the door on the victory. Montague was able to later finish his individual meet off with a win and new Michigan High School Division II Meet Record in the 100 breaststroke (54.66), so he had little to panic about after falling behind at the halfway point of the 200 IM.
After starting off the night with a second place finish Robbie Zofchak was looking for his first individual win of the night when he jumped in the water for his 100 back. Zofchak did more than just accomplish that as he was able to better the Division II Meet Record after stopping the clock at 49.72. In a race against the clock Zofchak was able to touch in more than two seconds ahead of second place finisher PJ Desmet (52.33).
The second relay win that Birmingham Seaholm would see would come during the 200 free relay. Following the same path as the 200 medley relay, the boys bettered the Michigan High School Division 2 Meet Record during prelims. Going into finals with confidence after a strong preliminary swim Liam Little (21.26), Jack Russell (21.18), Len Ciemniecki (21.07), and Enrique Hernandez (20.83) were able to come together for the victory. Battle Creek Lakeview finished in second and Midland Dow High School claimed the third place position.
Birmingham Seaholm was able to close out the meet the same way that they started it. The team of Liam Little (47.52), Evan Burke (45.83), Nick Ross (46.94), and Enrique Hernandez (46.06) were able to step up and claim the victory in the 400 free relay after a finals session that was filled to the brim with fast swimming. Their 3:06.35 was a little of the 3:05.13 meet record that was set last year, but Birmingham Seaholm had already more than clenched the overall Michigan Division II State title before this relay was even contested. Ann Arbor Skyline finished as runner-ups in this relay with their 3:06.84.
Other D2 State Title Winners
- 200 Free- Ryan T Vander Meulen (Ann Arbor Skyline, 1:39.56)
- 500 Free-Matt Orringer (Ann Arbor Skyline, 4:34.96)
- 50 Free-Nehemiah S Mork (Midland Dow High School, 20.80)
- 100 Fly- John Vann (Battle Creek Lakeview, 49.68)
Top 5 Teams
- Birmingham Seaholm High School 393
- Ann Arbor Skyline 271.5
- Dexter High School 239
- Birmingham Groves 189
- Battle Creek Lakeview 172
Orringer went 4:33.7 saturday