By Brian Savard
HOLLAND, Michigan, December 5. HOLLAND Aquatics hosted the inaugural Michigan Women's Division 3 State Championships.
Michigan, a state renowned for producing some of the nation's most elite swimmers, added a third division for the 2007 season. Eastern Michigan University held the Division 1 championships, and Oakland University (Mich.) held the Division 2 championships.
Bloomfield Hills Marian claimed the first Division 3 title by compiling 274 points. East Grand Rapids snatched up the runner-up honors (258) while Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood rounded out the top three teams (197).
Rachel Dekar of Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood walked away with two individual gold medals. Dekar covered the 200 IM in 2:11.73 and continued on to pick up her second win with a 1:04.88 100 breaststroke swim.
Meanwhile, Milan's Maria Donahue dominated both of her events, capturing the two longer-distance freestyle events. She claimed the top spot in the 200 freestyle (1:51.56) before blitzing the field in nearly a 13-second romp in the 500 freestyle (5:00.77).
Randi Brown of East Grand Rapids took home the diving title (414.15). Gabby Erickson of Plainwell placed second (409.05) while Tess Adams of Plainwell took third (389.50).