HOLLAND — No matter the challenges, the Chippewas knew it would be a special year. And because of the challenges, it was that much sweeter.
The Manistee boys swim team capped the program's most successful season to date on Saturday in the Division 3 state finals at the Holland Aquatic Center.
The Chippewas, who were represented by the largest contingent of state qualifiers in program history, totaled 40 points to place 18th of 35 teams at the finals, as several school records were eclipsed by their performances.
East Grand Rapids won the D3 finals with 308 points on the day.
"It was a splendid day," said Manistee coach Corey Van Fleet. "It never goes exactly the way you think it will, but it always ends up going a way that's pretty good.
"Our kids did a masterful job," he said, "and in the process, they broke school records, scored some points and got on the board.
"They capped a wonderful season in every facet."
Individually, Manistee was led by their seniors as Ben Sullivan had the team's highest placement with 11th in the 500-yard freestyle (4:55.56), while also taking 17th in 200-yard freestyle (1:49.00). Zach Lee capped his prep swimming career with a 12th-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.43) and 13th in the 200-yard individual medley (2:03.25), as Griffen Antal took 13th in the 500-yard freestyle (5:02.69).
Standout freshman Alec Lampen placed 12th for the Chippewas in the 100-yard backstroke (55:39) and 18th in the IM (2:05.39), as sophomore Trevor Adamczak took 17th in the 100-yard butterfly (55.28) and 20th in the 100-yard backstroke (57.04).
Manistee's Drew Mendians finished 23rd in 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.68) and Seth Thompson placed 26th in 100-yard freestyle (50:45) and 27th in the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.70).
The Chippewas also raced in all three relays Saturday, as the team of Lampen, Lee, Adamczak and Antal took 12th in the 200-yard medley relay in the time of 1:40.67; Adamczak, Thompson, Antal and Sullivan placed 14th in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:20.56); and Lampen, Thompson, Antal and Sullivan placed 18th in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:32.40).
Saturday's state finals appearance was essentially two years in the making for Manistee, considering the Chippewas were literally on the road to the finals last year when they received word that athletics state- and nationwide were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The finals were ultimately canceled altogether, cutting Manistee's season short of a conclusion.
The team was hungry to get back in the pool this season, but sports were again suspended in mid-November. Boys swimming/diving was finally given the green light to commence in full on Jan. 16, but then the Chippewas ran into another unforeseen hurdle. Due to a COVID-19-related quarantine of its swimmers, Manistee had to postpone its first three meets of the season before finally getting underway on Feb. 11.
"These kids went through all kinds of different decisions on when to start and how to do it, and then they got sent home for COVID," Van Fleet said. "It's a wonder we got through this thing."
Once they got rolling, however, it was nothing short of success for the Chippewas as they punched ticket after ticket to the finals with state qualifying times, setting new school records and capturing their second straight Coastal Swim Conference championship in the process.
"For us to qualify in every event but the 50 (yard freestyle) and diving is a big deal," Van Fleet said. "That's a first for us."
Van Fleet added that Saturday's payoff was a long time coming.
"We had no (state finals) meet last year, so it was pretty much two years of the sport wrapped up in this one day," he added. "We talked a little bit about how much we've improved in that time, but realized so did the rest of the field. And we were right in the thick of it.
"This is the premier season since we started the program, and I've got to give a lot of credit to the parents," Van Fleet said. "When we drove back into town at 9:30 (on Saturday night), there were 25 cars in the parking lot with their horns going, welcoming these kids back.
"They understand what a sacrifice it's been for these kids to get this far."
March 29, 2021 at 03:16AM
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Chips cap banner year at state finals - Manistee News Advocate
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