Michigan Lower Peninsula Boys High School Championships

By David Rieder

ROCHESTER, Michigan, March 15. THE Michigan Lower Peninsula Boys High School Championships took place March 12-13. Division 1 swam at Oakland University in Rochester, Division 2 took to the pool at Eastern Michigan University in Detroit, and Division 3 battled it out at Holland Aquatics.

Division 1
Saline High School dominated the competition, winning five individual and three relay victories, along with the overall team title. Adam Whitener and David Boland both doubled individually; Whitener won the 100 (45.76) and 200 free (1:39.29), while Boland took the 200 IM (1:51.30) and set a Division 1 state record of 48.95 to win the 100 fly. Teammate Mike Fisher matched the record feat with his 56.18 victory in the 100 breast.

Saline's Josh Ehrman, Fisher, Boland, and Andrew Krieber took the 200 medley relay (1:34.50), while Whitener, Krieber, James Fisher, and Brad Frost set a D1 state record of 1:25.10 to win the 200 free relay. Boland, Frost, James Fischer, and Whitener wrapped up the meet with a 3:04.83 victory in the 400 free relay, setting an overall State record.

Rockford's Eric Chisholm stormed to victory in the 50 free (21.19), while Salem's Adam Seroka took the 500 free (4:32.90) and Canton's Victor Zhang the 100 back (51.55). Zeeland East's Tyler Keelean set a D1 state record of 494.40 points to win one meter diving. Saline posted 384 points for an easy team victory, while Ann Arbor Pioneer took second (197) and Rockford third (150).

Division 2
Battle Creek Lakeview's Clay Youngquist won two individual events and set four individual state records. Youngquist opened his meet with a state record of 1:34.28 in the 200 free. The time would have qualified Youngquist for the B Final at last year's NCAA Division 1 Championships. Along with his 4:20.71 500 free posted last year, Youngquist is now a Swimming World Six-Star Recruit. Youngquist also set a state record in the 100 fly, clocking 47.51. Finally, he set two more individual records as relay lead-offs. He clocked 20.09 in the 50 free and 43.73 in the 100 free, both breaking marks established last year.

Dexter's Stephen Sobczak doubled with win in the 100 free (45.07) and 100 back (50.81), and he led his team to the win in the 200 medley relay. Sobczak, Ian Wilson, Josh Boren, and Mark Brown clocked 1:36.17 for that win. Midland Dow's Tyler Piotrowski took the 100 breast (58.93), while St. John's Brennan LaBar won one meter diving with 453.10 points.

Birmingham Groves won the remaining events. Noah Zamler won the 200 IM (1:55.50), while teammate Rob McGowan hit the wall first in the 50 free (20.70). McGowan, Steven Curry, Scott Crosthwaite, and John Hammond took the win in the 200 free relay (1:25.02), while Crosthwaite, Curry, Zamler, and McGowan posted a D2 State record of 3:05.63 to win the 400 free relay.

In a tight finish, Birmingham Seaholm won the team title with 295 points, edging Birmingham Groves (287). Dexter took third with 265.

Division 3
Cranbrook-Kingswood's Justin Glanda and East Grand Rapids' Nick Watson each won two individual event victories. Glanda took the 200 free (1:38.89) and 100 fly (49.67), while Watson won the 100 free (45.98) and 100 back (53.33). Watson led his team to victory in the 200 medley relay, and Matt Hooper, Casey Bloom, and Bobby Lundquist joined Watson to post a 1:35.86. Hooper won an individual event of his own, taking the 100 breast in 58.29.

St. Joseph's Aaron Moyer won the 200 IM (1:56.85), while Alma's Kevin Sommerville took the 500 free (4:41.12). Hamilton's Austin Fathman touched first in the 50 free (21.31), and Fathman, Zach Lepird, Ryan Hagan, and Joey DeGood won the 200 free relay (1:26.1). Holland Christian's team of Parker Cook-Weeks, Eric Helder, Colby Haan, and Alex Baumann claimed the 400 free relay. Grand Rapids West Catholic's Nick Burciaga won one meter diving with 512.3 points.

Hamilton ended up winning the meet with 251.5 points, while Holland Christian edged East Grand Rapids for second, 237.5 to 234.

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