LocalSportsJournal.com
SPRING LAKE — It was a long bus ride home for the Ludington girls swimming and diving team Thursday, as the Orioles left Spring Lake with a pair of losses — 119-66 to the host Lakers, and 137-48 to Grandville.
But, there were some bright spots individually for the Orioles with their swimmers coming away with 16 lifetime-best swims, as well as 12 season bests.
The Orioles did pick up some first place finishes, with Cora Mahler touching the wall first in the 100-yard butterfly and also was first in the 500-yard freestyle.
Her time in the 100-yard butterfly fell just 0.2 seconds shy of the qualifying time for the MHSAA Division 3 state meet.
Impressive performances were also turned in by Maggie Autrey in both the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events, Erika Hatch in the 200-yard intermediate and 100-yard breaststroke, Reese Willis in the 100-yard freestyle and Kaitlin Carlson in the 500-yard freestyle.
Ludington coach Kelley Hatch also singled out the performances of Ayiana Pansang-Rangal in the 100-yard backstroke and Kylie Hatch in the 100-yard butterfly.
First-year swimmers Tory Clark, Nikki Hartrum-Kellecher, Katie Gronstal, Carley Sova and Ava Carlson had the coach raising her eyebrows with significant drops in their times.
The Orioles are next scheduled to swim at Grand Rapids Northview on Wednesday, Sept. 8.
