On November 21st, the girls’ swim State Team departed to Oakland University in Detroit to compete at State Finals. For some, this was the last time they’d race competitively, and for others, it was a stepping stone that prepared them for the future.
The team ended up placing eighth in the state, with being a part of a new and more competitive conference was an outstanding outcome. The state team consisted of two divers: Katelyn Allen and Caleigh Jones, as well as eight swimmers: Lily Lindower, Natalie Benedict, Avery Lowe, Julia Henke, Alexis VanZweden, Lexi Pepper, Kelly Burke and Bea Kilburn. Throughout the season, the girls put in hard work both physically and mentally in order to do the best they could one last time in the pool. They practiced for 17 weeks including weekend practices, they practiced for about three hours after school and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays they had weight training in the morning for one hour.
Rob Damuth is the head coach for the girl’s swim team and has been coaching swimming since he was in college at 19 years old in 1998. Going into the meet, he had high hopes for the team. He wished to make a top-ten finish and push through the finish.
Damuth wanted to make sure that there was a balance of hard work and rest for the girls.
“[The team was] just resting, trying to drop yardage and get a positive mindset going into the weekend,” Damuth said.
The girls shared Damuth’s passion to succeed at the state meet. Senior Lily Lindower has been swimming for eight years and competed on the state team for all four of high school, she was ready to give it her all for her finale as a Northview swimmer. Lindower qualified for and competed in three races and did well in all, placing eighth in the 100 fly and first in a 400 free relay with fellow swimmers Avery Lowe, Natalie Benedict and Julia Henke, She also swam the 50 freestyle.
Throughout her four years on the high school swim team, Lindower improved immensely as a swimmer and enhanced on many aspects of the sport. She’s placed in the Top 15 for Northview for 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle, 200 and 400 freestyle relay, and 100 backstroke. She is accepted and plans to attend Wayne State University and continue her swimming career there.
“[I am] understanding the process more and being calmer mentally,” Lindower said.
Sophomore diver Katelyn Allen eighth at the meet and earned All-State honors. This was her second year going to the state meet with her teammate, Sophomore Caleigh Jones.
At the state meet for Swimmers, they have a two-day meet. It consists of prelims, in which everyone that qualified competes in, then the top 16 swimmers move on to the finals the second day. However, for dive it’s different.
“[At state] you have to complete 11 dives and you have your 11 dive list on Friday, the first cut is after 5 dives and the second cut is after eight dives and then on Saturday if you make it through the two cuts, you compete with your last three dives,” Allen said.
This year has been particularly challenging for the team, but they had an amazing season and put their best effort in. Eleven swimmers left this year out of the 34 who were a part of the team. But they’ve been pushing each other and showing the determination needed to succeed. It was a year that the team and coaches won’t forget.
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