Results for Battle Creek-area swimmers at conference championship meets

Nov 11, 2024

BATTLE CREEK - Conference bragging rights and medals were on the line, and a school record was broken along the way, as local teams competed in the league championships in high school girls swimming over the weekend.

The Southwestern & Central Conference Championships were held at Otsego Friday-Saturday with area teams Harper Creek and Marshall in competition.

The highlight of the day for the Beavers was a record-setting performance by freshman Ella Laupp, who set a school record in the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:57.14. The record was previously held by Alysa Wager, the daughter of first-year Harper Creek head coach Chad Wager.

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Overall, Harper Creek's young squad finished third as a team with 374 points, trailing first-place Allegan with 433 and Sturgis with 398. Marshall was sixth with 278 points.

Harper Creek finished seventh a year ago.

"We had a great meet. Big improvement from last year," Wager said.

Laupp also won the 100 freestyle in a time of 54.18 with the other first-place for the Beavers coming from Mallory Albrecht, who was on top in the 500 freestyle in 5:24.91.

Finishing with medals with top eight finishes for Harper Creek, included Callie Slayton (4th in the 200 free) and Albrecht (5th in the 200 IM), Megan Cook (5th in the 200 IM). Lilly Kelly also had two top eight finishes in the 50 free (6th) and the 100 breaststroke (5th).

Harper Creek also was runner-up in two relays. The Beavers were second in the 200 relay (1:46.72) with the team of Kelly, Jayden Aceituno, Baylee Casterline and Cook. Harper Creek was second in the 400 relay (3:47.34) with the team of Laupp, Cook, Slayton and Albrecht.

Marshall had a handful of top eight finishes also.

Marshall was sixth in the 200 freestyle relay with the team of Courtney Olding, Grace Johnson, Autumn Sanchez and Lilly Marvin. The Redhawks were fifth in the 200 freestyle relay with the team of Katie Robinson, Grace Johnson, Maria Dent and Claire Thomas. Marshall was sixth in the 400 freestyle relay with the team of Ella Doolittle, Sanchez, Dent and Thomas.

Individually, Sanchez was eighth in the 200 IM, Thomas sixth in the 200 freestyle and seventh in the 100 freestyle, Johnson was sixth in the 100 breaststroke, Doolittle was seventh in the 500 freestyle and Olding was sixth in the 100 backstroke.

The Redhawks' Alexes Spencer was seventh in diving.

The Lakeview girls were sixth as a team with 227.5 points at the SMAC Girls Swimming and Diving Championships, held at Battle Creek Central. Loy Norrix was first with 450 points. Battle Creek Central was 10th.

Lakeview took all-conference honors in the three relays. The Spartans were sixth in the 200 freestyle relay with the team of Adia Wielenga, Josephine Pawlowicz, Almendra Felix and Skyler Katsarsky-Terrell. Lakeview was seventh in the 200 freestyle relay with the team of Pawlowicz, Avery Russell, Raegan Magnus. Lakeview was fifth in the 400 freestyle relay with the team of Magnus, Tiana Mishra, Almendra Felix and Russell.

Individually for Lakeview, Magnus was fourth in the 50 free and Katsarsky-Terrell was sixth in the 50 free. Magnus was also all-conference in the 100 butterfly, taking seventh. Russell was eighth in the 200 freestyle and fifth in the 500 freestyle. Pawlowicz was eighth in the 100 breaststroke.

Keira Byrd was eighth in diving for the Spartans..

Bill Broderick can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick