By BUTCH HARMON
Led by senior Hannah Kopydlowski, who was named the meet’s outstanding swimmer, the Powers Catholic girls swim team capped the season with a top-ten finish at the Division 3 state finals at the Holland Aquatics Center.
Kopydlowski won the 100 backstroke and finished third in the 50 freestyle. She was also a part of two relay teams that placed eighth. Kopydlowski teamed up with Natalie Seifert, Erin Emmert, and Morgan Szczeepaniak in both the 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay.
Emmert placed seventh in both the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly for the Chargers, who placed eighth as a team with 104 points.
East Grand Rapids won the team title with 362 points, while Cranbrook Kingswood placed second with 220.
Alma finished in 12th place overall with 71 points.
All three of Alma’s relay teams placed in the top 12. The 200 medley relay team of senior Laura Lowe, freshman Aissa Adams, freshman Evelyn Vandemark, and senior Kaleigh Kovac placed 10th, as did the 200 free relay team of senior Natalie Walsh, senior Kamila Tlegenova, Lowe, and Kovac. The 400 free relay team of Walsh, Vandemark, Lowe, and Kovac placed 12th.
Individually, Vandemark had a big day, as she took fifth in the 100 butterfly and ninth in the 500 free. Lowe placed 11th in the 100 backstroke and Kovac was 13th in the 200 free.
DeWitt took 17th place with 33 points. Senior Rosalie Yockey paced the Panthers with a pair of top-eight finishes. Yockey was third in the 500 free and fourth in the 200 free.
John Glenn placed 19th overall and was paced by senior Kali Hartt, who placed fifth in the 100 backstroke.
Haslett and Nouvel Catholic Central tied for 21st.
Freshman Makenna McCartney led the way for Nouvel, as she placed sixth in the 500 free and ninth in the 200 free. Sophomore Elsa Borrello took 13th in the 200 IM.
Claire Beckett led the way for Haslett, as she placed sixth in the 100 breaststroke and 14th in the 200 IM. Kate Lehman finished 12th in both the 100 butterfly and 200 IM.
DIVISION 1
Rockford finished fifth with 127 points at the Division 1 state finals at Oakland University, while Grand Blanc placed 14th with 75 points. Mercy won the meet with 271 points, and Saline took second with 251.
Junior Erin Hudson led the way for Rockford, as she placed second in the 50 free and seventh in the 100 free. She was a member of the 200 free relay team that placed second overall with Marissa Marion, Dakota Noble, and Madison Trimble. Hudson was also part of the 200 medley relay team with Kara Vandawater, Sydney McDowell, and Trimble that placed third overall.
Junior Eryn Scannell led the charge for Grand Blanc. Scannell placed fourth in the 50 free and also finished 11th in diving. She was part of the 200 free relay team that placed seventh along with Emma Curtis, Rachel Eaton, and Lindsay Baywol.
DIVISION 2
Midland Dow placed in the top ten at the Division 2 state finals at Eastern Michigan University by totaling 112 points. Holland won the title with 287 points followed by Portage Central with 235.
Kara Dean led the way for Dow, as she took fifth in the 200 IM and eighth in the 100 free. Ellie Dean also had a strong meet, as she placed sixth in the 500 free and seventh in the 200 free. The 400 free relay team of Kara Dean, Ellie Dean, Jasmine Purtell, and Mary Noble placed sixth.
Okemos finished in 13th place with 73 points. Katie Dudley led the way for the Chieftains, as she placed second in the 200 IM and fourth in the 100 free.
Bay City Western finished in 15th place with 54 points. Junior Krissy Harmon enjoyed a big meet for Western, as she won the 500 freestyle in 4:59.42 and finished third in the 200 free.
Fenton placed 19th with 25 points. Gabriele Haaraoja led the way for Fenton, taking third place in the 50 free.