The Girls? Swim team participated in the 2011 Oakland County Girls Swimming & Diving Tournament last weekend, taking seventh overall of 35 teams.
Head coach Darin Abbasse said the placement was the best the team has had in around five years.
‘It’s nice to get back up there, in the top ten,? said Abbasse. ‘We have a much better championship team than we have a duel meet team in the OAA Red Division this year. A lot of duel meets are won with depth (a team that can participate in a multitude of events) and that’s something we lack right now.?
Abbasse used an example of Lake Orion taking first, fifth and sixth out of the six available win-slots in varsity swim. While that placement would net a team seven points, another team taking second, third, and fourth would take nine. To that end, Abbasse said the team’s goal in 2011 is to support their first place finish as best they can, adding that his team is improving.
‘Three of our freshmen have really stepped up anre really started to compete,? said Abbasse. ‘They’re dropping their times, they’re getting personal bests almost weekly now and they’re starting to acclimate to the swim scheduling.
‘It can be hard for a freshman at first, because you’re in the weightroom at 5 a.m., in the pool at 6 a.m. and then have a full day of school. Then there’s another couple hours after school, and while most sophomores and up have gotten used to this, it’s part of the process for a freshman. All of our freshmen, however, are adjusting really well right now.?
Abbasse added that all Lake Orion swimmers that swam Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 had personal-best-times posted.
Other notable performances include juniors Hannag Weglarz, Sarah Hadden, senior Colby Pudlow, and freshman Lydia Mattar who, as a team, took seventeenth overall in the 200 medley relay. Senior Annelise Jongekrijg was the county champion in the 100-yard freestyle, while junior Courtney McClear set a new Lake Orion varsity record in the 100-yard breaststroke.
This Thursday, the team will face off against the Troy High School Colts in a normal OAA Red meet. Abbasse said the team is similar to Lake Orion and that he is looking forward to a competitive meet.