Greater Muskegon swimming co-op team finishes runner-up at Ludington Relays

LocalSportsJournal.com

LUDINGTON — Recording five first-place finishes, the Greater Muskegon girls’ co-op swimming team opened the season by taking second behind Traverse City at the Ludington Relays on Saturday.  

Traverse City won the title with 142. The Greater Muskegon team finished with 118. The host Orioles were third with 94 points and Cadillac fourth with 60.  

“I was happy with the way we swam,” said GM swim coach Mike Homan. “The team swam with a lot of positive energy and confidence.  

“Hats off to our senior swimmers who showed great leadership supporting their teammates and leading by example. Today’s success was due to a great team effort, believing in each other and pushing themselves.”  

First places went to the 200 breaststroke relay (2:40.34) consisting of Isabelle DeJonge, Grace Offman, Susie VanBaale and Maria Eenigenberg; 200 backstroke relay (2:11.02) with Sydney Sytsema, DeJonge, Eva Stout and Sophia Zziwambazza, and the 200 butterfly relay (2:10.61) with Sytsema, DeJonge, Marilyn Gaston and Stout.  

Also winning their events were the 400 IM (4:59.49) with Sytsema, Offman, Gaston and VanBaale, and the 200 medley (32.24) with Sytsema, VanBaale, Stout and Gaston.  

Ludington had second-place finishes in the 400-medley relay with Izzie Lundberg, Madison Bearup, Cora Mahler and Reese Willis; the 200-butterfly relay with Willis, Kylie Hatch, Maddie Reed and Mahler; the 500-crescendo relay with Ayiana Rangel, Grace Higley, Lundberg and Mahler, and the 200-freestyle relay with Mahler, Lundberg, Bearup and Willis.  

“It’s a fun meet to kick off the season and swim some events that aren’t included in regular season meets,” said Ludington coach Kelley Hatch.  “I was pleased with the girls’ overall performances, especially this early in the season. Traverse City and Mona Shores dominated, but there were still some very close and exciting races.”  

Next for the Muskegon club is a quad at Hudsonville with the Hamilton co-op that includes Unity Christian and Mona Shores.  

The Orioles dive back into the pool Thursday with a home meet against Spring Lake starting at 6 p.m.