The Dexter swimming and diving team is headed to the SEC Red Division next year where the waters will be a little rougher with the likes of Pioneer, Saline and Skyline – some of the best swimming programs in the state. But the Dreadnaughts also have been swimming with the elite for decades and they’ve never backed down from a good opponent – so bring it on!
The Dreadnaughts said goodbye to the SEC White Division on Saturday with a fitting final swim as they landed in first place in the league meet. Dexter has dominated the SEC White since the league first splashed off and they put one final exclamation point on their dominance this past weekend.
For the record, Dexter has won or shared 13 of 14 SEC White Division titles since the league split into two divisional meets in 2008-2009. Yeah, dominance is a good word!
Dexter finished first with 584 points, well ahead of second-place Pinckney (432). The two teams were co-champions last year but Dexter defeated the Pirates in the dual-meet part of the season and in the league meet to once again reclaim the title all by themselves.
Jackson was third (428), Adrian touched fourth (241), Chelsea was fifth (230), Lincoln sixth (199) and Tecumseh seventh (53).
The Dreadnaughts set several records among the many highlights as Coach Michael McHugh’s team was ready to rock and roll from the opening splash.
For starters, Cole Warren set the pool, varsity and league records in diving. Clayton Kinnard set the pool, varsity and league records in the 100 breaststroke.
But this was a total team effort as the Dreadnaughts won 10 of the 12 events and EVERY member of the team scored points.
Let’s splash in, shall we.
Dexter started off with a victory in the opening medley relay. The team of Stuart Bovich, Adam Hauser, Matthew Resende and Zach Norris touched first 1 minute, 40.93 seconds.
In the 200 freestyle, Dexter senior Leo Varitek began his huge day by taking first in 1:47.63. Junior Joe Sharon was sixth (1:56.59), sophomore Grady Wheeler took seventh (1:57.25) and freshman Dylan O’Connor was eighth (157.43).
Kinnard’s huge meet began with an SEC White record time of 1:55.10 in the 200 IM as the senior touched first. Teammate Hauser was second in 2:05.33.
Norris, a senior, sprinted his way to first place in the 50 free with a time of 21.27. Resende landed fifth (23.37), Jack Potsos was sixth (24.27) and Tristan Lorincz was eighth (24.61).
Warren, only a junior, broke the trifecta in the diving with his score of 515.25 points as the league, pool and varsity records were shattered. Chelsea’s Mitch Brown was second (445.25 points).
Dexter went three-four in the butterfly with Resende, only a freshman, taking third in 57.35 and Bovich finishing fourth in 58.19.
The Dreadnaughts dominated the 100 freestyle. Norris took first in 49.12 and Varitek was second in 49.49 as the two seniors battled to the wall and a close finish. Sophomore Lucas Greatorex was sixth (52.46).
Dexter landed three swimmers among the top five in the 500 freestyle. Hauser won the race with a time of 4:57.03. Sharon was fourth (5:13.75) and O’Connor took fifth (5:19.10).
In the 200 free relay, the team of Kinnard, Norris, Varitek and Resende won in 1:27.97.
In the backstroke, Greatorex was third (56.93), Bovich fourth (58.06) and Adam Bergen seventh (1:01.17).
Kinnard’s first-place time of 57.61 was a pool, varsity and league record in the 100 breaststroke. Wheeler took seventh in 1:09.99.
Dexter wrapped up the meet in first place. The team of Varitek, Hauser, Greatorex and Kinnard took first in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:20.73.
