It was not your average match-up on Thursday in Dexter when the Dreadnaughts welcomed Skyline to town for a swimming and diving SEC crossover dual meet. It was a showdown between two of the top swimming programs in the state – Dexter finished second last year at the D-2 State Finals while Skyline was fourth in the D-1 meet. Both the Skyline and Dexter boys’ teams won state titles last season.
Both teams lost key swimmers off their outstanding teams from a year ago. And both teams came in missing some key swimmers and divers off this year’s roster so it was difficult to figure out which team would splash its way to the finish line first.
Fittingly, it came down to the last event.
“94 is the magic number,” said Skyline Coach Maureen Isaac. “We needed to win that last event and get those eight points. We had some people really step up tonight for us and that was the difference.”
The Eagles scored a 97-89 victory after taking first and third in the final 400 freestyle relay.
So let’s start there.
The team of Claire Kozma, Allison Haak, Madison Deininger and Hannah Jyawook touched first in 3:45.21. Dexter’s team of Elizabeth Merz, Ella Krahn, Hailee Waters and Jordan Maisch finished in second in 3:51.15.
Now, back to the top.
The Skyline team of Claire Kozma, Madison Deininger, Emma Pettigrew and Sophia Kunisaki started the meet with a first-place finish in the medley relay with a time of 1:55.95. Dexter’s foursome of Jordan Maisch, Emma Sortor, Zoe Michos and Sam Durrant were a close second in 1:56.17.
Dexter took the top three spots in the 200 free. Hailee Waters took first with a time of 2:02.79 followed by Elizabeth Merz (2:04.46) and Allison Wyka (2:05.21).
Hannah Jyawook touched first in the 200 IM in 2:11.45 followed by Dexter’s Zoe Michos (2:22.70) and Skyline’s Emma Pettigrew (2:22.76).
In a close sprint to the finish line, Skyline’s Allison Haak won the 50 free in 25.16 followed by Dexter’s Jordan Maisch (25.57) and Skyline’s Claire Kozma (25.83).
In diving, Dexter’s Elyss Grossmann took first with 225.40 points followed by teammate Nicole France (172.6). Skyline’s Priya Wunjo was third (163.2).
Skyline’s Hannah Jyawook returned to the winner’s circle with her first-place finish in the 100 fly with a time of 1:01.12. Dexter went two-three with Sam Durrant (1:07.02) and Theresa Rutz (1:07.71).
Skyline freshman Claire Kozma won the 100 free in 56.24 followed by Dexter’s Hailee Waters (56.34) and Skyline’s Madison Deininger (57.15).
The Eagles swept the 500 freestyle with Allison Haak first (5:21.9), Gina Sadler second (5:31.8) and Ella Sadler third (5:34.49).
Skyline’s foursome of Sophia Kunisaki, Alison Lock, Hannah Jyawook and Allison Haak won the 200 free relay in 1:43.23. Dexter’s team of Sam Durrant, Kamille Balcom, Zoe Michos and Hailee Waters took second in 1:46.20.
Dexter senior Jordan Maisch won the backstroke in 1:01.07. Skyline’s Madison Deininger was second (1:04.28) and Dexter’s Lauren Witte touched third (1:06.88).
In the breaststroke, Dexter’s Zoe Michos took first in 1:11.92. Skyline took second with Emma Pettigrew (1:12.26) and third with Alison Lock (1:14.70).
