The fastest team in Okemos history capped off the season in fine style by capturing 2 state titles, setting a state record, placing all 3 relay teams in the top 8 and demolishing 3 varsity team records.  While the 1980 team won a Class B State Title, the competition in the lower division was not comparable to the powerhouse teams now competiting in the current toughest division--D2.  The last three years have seen the overall Okemos team points increase from 77(99 without relay DQ) in 2007, 117 in 2008 to 161 in 2009.  Once again this is the highest Okemos point total since the early 1980s.

 

The top swimmer on the team did not disappoint.  Amelia Marsh won her 3rd and 4th state championships by repeating in the 200 and 500 free events.  Her time of 1:50.55 set a new D2 record, Okemos varsity record, was the fastest time recorded in the state in any division and qualified for the automatic standard for high school All-American.  Amelia also won the 500 in a time of 5:01.65 which is an All-American consideration time.

 

Madison Batchelor had the next highest individual finish by placing 7th in the 100 breaststroke.  In the preliminaries she dropped a full second off her previous all time best time.  Madison also achieved an all time best in her 200IM while finishing 9th.  Kylie Holden swam best times both days in every event she competed in.  Not satisfied with her :59 in the prelims on Friday, Kylie came back in finals to swim a :58.91 to finish in 8th place in the 100 fly.  Kylie now has her sights set on getting the Okemos varsity fly record of :58.5 next season.  Carolyn Wallace used the same set of dives she used her sophomore year at the state meet and once again the formula worked.  Carolyn capped her stellar career with an 8th place finish in the diving competition.

 

As everyone knows, relay points count double in scoring and both Lauren Dudley and Kylie Holden sacrificed swimming an individual event where they could have scored in order to swim 3 relays for the team.  The biggest challenge coming in to make top 8 was the medley relay.  Any way you looked at it on paper the Okemos team was destined to qualify 9th or 10th at best.  The girls ignored the doubters and swam an unbelievable race in the preliminaries to qualify 8th.  Lauren dropped a half second off her previous best backstroke to split a :28.3, Madison was right on her best breaststroke split, Kylie swam her best ever split in the fly in a :26.2 and Lydia was right near her best in the freestyle leg.  The result was a 1:51.2 that pushed possibly faster teams from Dexter, Forest Hills, Dow and Jenison back into the consolation heat.  The girls finished 8th in finals on Saturday to achieve 1st team all state and pick up huge somewhat unexpected points for the team.   

 

The 200 free relay team of Lauren, Kylie, Lydia and Amelia not only finished 5th in the state, but also smashed the old varsity record by 1.3 seconds and qualified for All-American consideration with their time of 1:39.05.   Amelia anchored with a :23.86 split.  This relay has improved from 1:41.5 to 1:41.33 to 1:40.42 to 1:39.05 the last 4 years.

 

The 400 free relay team of Lauren, Kylie, Madison and Amelia finished 5th in a new varsity record and All-American consideration time of 3:36.07.  Lauren swam the fastest flat start 100 free time of her life in her last high school meet with her leadoff split of :54.38,  Kylie followed with her best ever 100 free split of :54.55, Madison with not much rest after the breaststroke swam her lifetime best split of :54.69 and Amelia followed with a solid :52.45.  The composite time knocked roughly 2.3 seconds off the previous record set only last year.

Over 4 years our 400 free relay time has come down from 3:43.99 to 3:42.74 to 3:38.30 to 3:36.07.

 

Both the 200 and 400 free relays are now officially the fastest girls relays ever recorded in mid-Michigan, knocking off the old records held by East Lansing HS.  Coach Patrick will have to put on his thinking cap next year when putting together the state meet relays.  Lydia has been on the medley relay each of the past 4 years and Amelia and Lauren have both been on the 200 and 400 free relays all four years of their Okemos high school careers.  The good news is competition among underclassmen should be spirited next year to help replace these 3 long time relay swimmers.

 

A quick recap of the season:

 

Waverly Relay Champions

Undefeated CAAC Blue dual meet season 5-0

Undefeated overall dual meet season 11-0

Won 9th consecutive League Title

Won 27th League Title in the last 34 years

Won most events at CAAC League Meet (10)

Led area in individual state meet qualifiers (6)

Led area in state meet scorers (6)

Led area in All-State swimmers and Divers (6)

Led area in individual State Champions (2)

Posted fastest area times in all 3 relays (All in All-American consideration times)

Led area in "Swimming Honor Roll" 34 swimmers and divers ranked in the top 10 in the 9 individual events

 

The team banquet will be held Tuesday December 1 at 6:30pm at the OHS cafeteria.  Okemos will be returning two all-state swimmers next year in Kylie and Madison, but we will need other girls to make a commitment to off season training if we want to continue our string of League Championships and top 10 state meet finishes.  It is unlikely Okemos will ever see a single class as strong as this year's group.  Mariya Smith(MSU) scored all 4 years at Leagues in the 50 free and we will all miss her sense of humor and outgoing personality.  Mariya showed also showed strong leadership along with juniors Laura Kruger and Sally Yan by attending both days of the state meet and cheering on her teammates throughout the competition.  Lydia Roth qualifed individually for the state meet all 4 years, was integral to the success of our relays and overcame many obstacles outside of the pool.  Lydia also leads the team in AP classes.  Lauren Dudley(Michigan) was the team leader, swam whatever event the coaches and team needed from her(top 10 in area in every individual event), and will go down as one of the greatest relay swimmers in Okemos history.  Carolyn Wallace(Wyoming) owns the varsity diving records, qualified and placed in states all four years and will be Okemos' first 3 time diving All-American.  Amelia Marsh(Minnesota) was the top swimmer on the team and will be remembered for her 4 individual state titles and anywhere from 3 to 7 All-American recognitions.  Amelia leaves Okemos as the fastest freestyler ever, owning varsity records in the 100, 200 and 500 as well as a member of both the 200 and 400 relays.

 

Congratulations to this stellar senior class!  Congratulations to coaches Patrick Saucedo, Mike Wagner, Brent Pohlanski and Julie Kahn for getting the most out of these girls and being such great role models!  Finally, congratulations to the entire Okemos girls team for your dedication and great successes in 2009!