The Girl’s swimming and diving neared the end of the season with huge successes from many team members at the 2008 OAA League Meet.
The meet began with a strong start for Seaholm with a 1st place victory in the medley relay team of Rachel Dickerman, Caroline Buck, Melanie Rogers, and Calley Murphy due to the disqualification of the Groves relay team.
The meet proceeded into the 50 free where freshman Emily Parsons earned her state cut with a time of 25.44 while Melanie Rogers got her national cut in the same event. With a time of 23.56 Lauren Nichols broke her own league record in the 50 free.
“It was a good swim. I’m happy I could defend my title all four years. I was very happy with my time in the end,” said Nichols.
The 100 free also proved to be good for Seaholm, who had five of the eight girls in the final heat. Lauren Nichols broke the OAA record of 52.21, previously held by Anne Williams of Seaholm High School in 1998, going 51.81.
On the first day of the league meet sophomore Maddie Nichols earned three state cuts in the 100 free, 50 free and 100 breast, and earned two national cuts in the 50 free and 100 breast.
“It felt good to go a 51 and break another league record. I’m very ecstatic and truly grateful,” said Nichols.
Diving also proved to go well for junior Jacqueline Kendall and freshman Kelly Frazier, with both girls qualifying for the regional meet. Frazier placed 5th with a final score of 305.65, while Kendall finished in 10th place with a score of 266.50.
In another freestyle event Chelsea Abbott went her personal best in the 500 free with a time of 5:11.81, earning her sectional cut.
Nearing the end of the meet, the 200 free relay team of junior Melanie Rogers, freshman Charlotte Yaw, senior Lauren Nichols and sophomore Sam Arnold broke the 2004 Groves pool record of 1:38.60 with a time of 1:38.28.
The state meet begins on Friday, November 21 at 12pm at the Holland Aquatic Center.
