Dakota repeats as Macomb County girls swim and dive champion

One tried-and-true strategy and another that was new have helped Dakota stay ahead of Macomb County girls swim and dive competition.

The Cougars won four individual events on the way to winning a second-consecutive county championship at L'Anse Creuse North on Saturday.

"We wanted to defend that championship," coach David Smith said after the Cougars amassed 336 points, 26 more than runner-up Eisenhower, for their third crown in four years. "We knew we had our work cut out for us; there are a lot of fast teams out there.

"Our kids were focused and dialed in on our goals and what we wanted to accomplish."

Ella Threlkeld won the 200-yard individual medley and the 500 freestyle; Ariana Heugh the 1-meter diving and Johannes Madison the 100 butterfly to lead the Cougars. Johannes, who swam the anchor leg for Dakota's runner-up 400 freestyle relay team two events after finishing second in the 100 backstroke, was named winner of the Most Outstanding Senior award.

"The backstroke had been my best event, but this year I've been focusing on the butterfly and the backstroke," Johannes, a team captain, said. "I'm really excited that we could do it (win the meet) in my senior year.

"It feels great to win. There's nothing like it."

Romeo had a meet-high five first-place finishes thanks in part to a big day from Alyssa Chambers.

In the first event of the meet, the junior backstroker helped her 200 medley relay team slice five seconds off its season-best time while winning in 1:55.4, which eclipsed the state Division 1 qualifying time of 1:55.69.

Chambers then turned in a state-cut time of 1:55.91 in the next event, the 200 freestyle.

And that wasn't the highlight of her day.

Chambers won the 100 freestyle in a state-cut 52.94, which broke the meet record of 53.15 set by Eisenhower's Abby Desmet in 2016.

"I knew I went out fast," Chambers said. "I could see my coaches cheering me on; I knew something special was possible.

"I knew what the record was. I knew my goal. I knew I could do it."

Romeo also won the 200 freestyle relay, and the Bulldogs' Giselle Stone won the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.70.

Harper Savage, Stone, Isabella Greco and Chambers won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:47.39.

Stone (breaststroke), Greco (butterfly) and Savage (freestyle) joined Chambers on the medley relay.

"I'm so, so proud of everyone," said Stone, who helped Romeo finish third in team scoring with 261.50 points. "We've been building toward this. We're working real hard, and it's paying off.

"We're very happy."

Eisenhower closed the meet by winning the 400 freestyle relay; Natalie Gabriel, Erin O'Rourke, Bella Lechner and Caitlyn LeBel finished in 3:51.60.

"They just wanted to win; you could see it in them," coach Lisa Doherty said. "They didn't want to go home without (the Eagles) winning a race."

In the second season of her second stint as coach, Doherty was pleased with the Eagles' runner-up finish.

"Great team effort today," she said. "We gave Dakota a run for their money. We just didn't have enough to finish the job. They're (the Eagles) feisty, they like to train, and they don't like to lose. Those are good traits for swimmers."

Stevenson sophomore Olivia Buford won the 50 freestyle in 25.82.

Chippewa Valley junior Rachel Kincher won the 100 backstroke in 1:01.08, a Division 1 qualifying time.

The top eight finishers in each event received medals. The top 16 contributed to team scoring.

Fifteen teams scored at least four points.

Center Line was back in the field after being absent for several years. Addison Tiensivu swam in the breaststroke for the Panthers.

Threlkeld repeated as champion in the IM, winning this time in 2:14.55, a Division 1 qualifying time.

She took the lead on the backstroke (second) leg of the medley.

"When I started swimming, I think the breaststroke was my best stroke, but now I'd say it's the backstroke," she said.

In the 500, Threlkeld at the urging of coaches picked up the pace she usually sets over the first 200 yards.

"I typically go out too slow, because I'm nervous," she said. "I'm afraid it's going to hurt really bad in the end. But my coach kept telling me not to be afraid to hurt.

"(The faster start) is mainly to get in front of people so you're not behind their waves. Today was the first day I started faster. It worked out."

Threlkeld finished in a state-qualifying 5:21.34 and had a half-second edge over Eisenhower's Gabriel, who also made the state cut with a 5:21.85.

Heugh scored 360.05 points. She and fellow senior Rebecca Plieth gave Dakota a 1-2 finish in diving.

Heugh was a gymnast before she started diving as a ninth grader. She still leans on that sport.

"I use it with my walkups, when I'm getting ready to go," she said.

Heugh has a routine she has used throughout her career in diving.

"I always say the dive to myself as they announce it," she said. "Then I think about it before I go, take a few breaths."

Heugh and Plieth are close friends.

"It's so fun, because I get to see her all the time," Heugh said.

Heugh would like to dive in college. Wayne State is one of the schools she's considering, she said.

Heugh, Plieth, Johannes are among Dakota's five seniors. Sophia Pelino and Amy Newmann are the others. Pelino helped Dakota place five in the top 13 in the 500 freestyle.

Fraser's medley relay team of Jayde Lemmon, Anabeth Blehm, Bridget Rutila and Addison Lasley finished second in 1:56.46, a Division 2 qualifying time.

Lasley also posted qualifying times of 2:03.23 in the 200 freestyle and 55.57 in the 100 freestyle, and Blehm qualified in the breaststroke with a 1:10.97.

The Ramblers finished in fourth place with 225.50 points. L'Anse Creuse North was fifth with 220.

Chippewa Valley, Utica and Lakeview finished sixth through eighth. Lutheran North/Regina and Stevenson tied for ninth.