5 Michigan highschool women swimming and diving groups to observe

Girls highschool swimming season is formally again in motion, with loads of groups trying to dive their means right into a championship.

Here are 5 groups to maintain an eye fixed out for this season.

Ann Arbor Pioneer

Pioneer has exhibited nothing wanting dominance within the final decade. It’s coming off of 5 consecutive Division 1 titles and 6 straight appearances underneath head coach Stefanie Kerska.

Kerska has constructed a tradition at Pioneer that epitomizes a day-by-day enchancment mindset. That doesn’t begin with expectations too excessive to succeed in, reasonably it’s about getting the basics down and constructing self-discipline whereas doing so.

“The No. 1 reason for our success that we have had as a team is the culture that we have built and more importantly sustained over the last seasons,” Kerska stated. “We start with the very basic fundamentals. We have standards for every single thing we do from the moment we step foot on the pool deck to the moment we leave.”

For the profitable tradition to proceed, Kerska emphasised the reliance on the upperclassmen to hold the mindset of earlier years and mentor the newcomers.

“Kate Van Ryn is one of our senior captains this year,” Kerska stated. “She has a lot of experience at the state level, anchoring relays, being in high pressure situations and she does a really good job of mentoring our younger athletes.”

Van Ryn is thought to be one of many high swimmers within the state of Michigan, inserting first in plenty of occasions within the 2024 state championship. She was not alone, nevertheless, as Kerska emphasised the depth within the upperclassmen management.

“Cecilia Walusek has started incredibly strong,” Kerska stated. “I think she has a number of events that are at the top of the state right now. She’s looking to make her state cuts in every event over the next weeks.”

Northville

Northville is coming into into the 2025 season because the No. 2-ranked Division 1 workforce underneath second-year head coach Rich Bennetts. It completed because the Division 1 runner-up in 2022, and has excessive expectations coming into this season.

Bennetts joined the ladies workforce simply final 12 months after main the boys workforce for 27 years. Despite the change, his focus was to hold over the identical requirements that he pushed in his time prior.

“Last year was my first year with the girls, so I just kind of brought those same principles over,” Bennetts stated. “I think one of the things you’ve got to be as a coaching staff is consistent. If you start trying to change your message every year, they don’t really know what to expect.”

Although Bennetts could be comparatively new to the ladies workforce, he does have some returning seniors who he expressed nice confidence in. 

Finley Cadwell and Lauren Phillips particularly struck Bennetts’ eye when contemplating the upperclassmen management.

“Finley stands out as a good leader,” Bennetts stated. “She’s been great, especially last year going into this year. She’s a great leader, and obviously a really good swimmer which helps. Lauren Phillps is another really good leader on our team, too; she’s been great.”

As a junior, Cadwell made the state championship cuts for Northville and has seen herself among the many high swimmers within the Kensington Lakes Activities Association. Phillips additionally competed within the Division 1 state championship, inserting tenth general within the 100 breaststroke competitors.

Brighton

After ending as an honorable point out within the ultimate Division 1 rankings for the 2024-25 season, Brighton is coming into the autumn season because the No. 10 workforce in its division, and trying to replicate the success of final 12 months.

Brighton is led by head coach Danielle Gray, who’s carrying consistency into this system because the season progresses.

One factor Gray identified as a assist to this consistency was the distinctive relationship within the senior class of swimmers.

“The great thing about this year is we’ve got a really close senior class,” Gray stated. “Obviously they’re competitive and strong swimmers, but there’s no ego getting in the way of their relationships.”

Among the 5 seniors Brighton has, Gray famous how Josie Libler has stepped right into a management position regardless of not swimming for the final two years.

“(Josie) has stepped right in and bonded with the girls,” Gray stated. “She has really set herself up as a leader on the team.”

Libler additionally has assist from extra seniors Natalie Mazur and Ava Sventickas, who Gray spoke extremely of. She gave particular discover to the in depth coaching that each have been placing on this season.

Farmington Hills Mercy

One of the large names persistently amongst Division 2 groups is Farmington Hills Mercy, and that’s not any completely different this season. 

Mercy is constructing off of two straight Division 2 titles whereas additionally hoisting three Division 1 titles that got here consecutively by way of 2017-19. It’s develop into common to see Mercy sit atop rankings, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down underneath head coach Michael Venos.

Junior Leah Greaves has been one of many standout swimmers for Mercy, coming off of sturdy finishes in final season’s championship. Greaves completed on high within the 400-yard freestyle relay whereas additionally sitting within the high 5 within the 200 medley relay and 100 freestyle.

Sophomore Ella Hafner additionally has been one of many many strengths of Mercy, ending first within the 200 and 400 freestyle relays to contribute 34 factors in final 12 months’s title.

Grosse Pointe South

South is led by head coach John Fodell, who helped lead the workforce to be the runner-up behind Mercy final season for the Division 2 state championship, and sees his workforce ranked proper behind them as soon as extra coming into this season. 

One factor that has helped lead South to constant success over an extended time frame has been its depth amongst all courses. That was epitomized final season within the performances of sophomore Caroline Bryan and senior Whitney Handwork.

Bryan had a standout freshman season amongst all swimmers within the state, profitable the 100-yard butterfly and 200 medley relay title in her first 12 months with the workforce. She locations herself within the high coming into this season once more, trying to construct off of an already profitable season.

Handwork was additionally one of many championship-winning particular person swimmers for South, strolling away with the 50 freestyle title final season. With the assistance of Bryan, South is one workforce with deep expertise that might push it to the highest this 12 months.

Doug Doty is a contract author.