Fenton swim takes fourth in the state
PHOTO Grace Olsen
December 8, 2021
Nine girls from Fenton’s varsity swim and dive team took on the Michigan High School Athletic Association Finals on Nov. 20. The meet took place at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. The girls’ swim and dive team is ranked in the division two category and is part of the Flint Metro League. This final meet was the last for many seniors’ swimming careers.
“I was very thankful to have the opportunity to be able to make it to the meet this year,” senior Halee Alexander said. “I had been to the meet my sophomore and junior year, but was struggling with my times. This year I was determined to enjoy my last meet and to swim the best I’ve ever swum.”
Entering the meet the varsity girls had never won a trophy at states. Third through fifth place was in reach for the team, and they ended up leaving the meet with the fourth place trophy. The team’s strongest races specifically were the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay.
“I swam the 200 relay,” Alexander said. “My team entered the meet in 26th place, which is the lowest place, but we ended up placing 18th— which was better than we expected we would do.”
Varsity records were set by both the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Placing fourth at states was also a new team record for Fenton girls swim and dive.
“The meet went really well,” senior Gracie Olsen said. “Everyone swam great and I couldn’t be more proud of my teammates. Individually, I broke both of my prior varsity records and achieved All American status after this meet.”
All American Status refers to high school athletes who are outstanding performers in their individualized sport. Prior to the state meet, swimmers like Gracie Olsen signed and committed to continue their swimming careers at a college/university.
“This race was the perfect end to my high school swimming career,” Olsen said. “I got to finish out my swimming career with some of the same girls I started competing with when I was just seven years old. It was a good wrap to four years of swimming at Fenton High School and now I will be continuing my swimming career at Indiana University in Bloomington.”
The varsity girls swim and dive season ended with a fourth place trophy and four varsity records broken. Now the boys swim and dive season will start on Dec.16, with their first meet being home against the Holly Broncos.
