Zeeland swims to fourth at D1 state finals behind 4 runner-up finishes

Defending a state championship is a difficult thing for a swimmer, especially in the sprint events.

Anything can happen and sometimes a hundredth of a second is the difference between a repeat and a runner-up.

Zeeland's Madison Ensing nearly defended her state championship in the 50-yard freestyle on Friday, Nov. 21, at Oakland University. She got to the wall in 22.92, but was out-touched by Pioneer's Kia Alert by one hundredth of a second.

Ensing, who signed with Arizona this week, nearly defended her 100 free title, too, finishing in 50.19, faster than her prelims time and just off her personal best.

But Ann Arbor Pioneer's Katelyn Van Ryn was a little bit faster, winning the race in 49.94.

Zeeland finished fourth behind four state runner-up finishes, earning a team trophy.

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Ann Arbor Pioneer won the meet with 404 points, followed by Jenison (249) and Northville (179). Zeeland scored 179 points.

Zeeland sophomore Natalie Lauritzen finished state runner-up in the 200 freestyle (1:51.39) and was fourth in the 100 backstroke (57.29).

Zeeland finished second in the 200 freestyle relay as Ensing led off in a 23.14, teaming with Molly Meyering, Paige Davis and Ariyah Gettings to finish runner-up in 1:36.47. Pioneer won in 1:32.32.

Gettings finished third in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.92) and 16th in the 50 freestyle (25.14).

Zeeland swam to a third-place finish in the 400 free relay to close the meet. Ensing, Lauritzen, Meyering and Davis finished in 3:30.71. Pioneer won in 3:25.89.

Zeeland opened the finals with a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. Lauritzen, Gettings, Mallory Ensing and Davis got to the wall in 1:47.86. Ann Arbor Pioneer won in 1:43.83, followed by Jenison (1:44.86).

West Ottawa's Maggie Hill finished 14th in diving with 284.55 points and the Panthers finished 39th. Kalamazoo Central's Kiya Bowman won diving with 422.60.

West Bloomfield's Elizabeth Eichbrecht won he 200 free in 1:45.98. During prelims, she swam a 1:45.05 to break Olympian Allison Schmitt's all-class state record in the event. She also won the 500 free in 4:42.89.

Jenison's Emma Albrecht won the 100 butterfly (55.12).

Pioneer's Tallulah Beg won the 200 IM in 2:04.15 and the 100 breaststroke (1:03.42).

Belleville's Miranda Phelps won the 100 backstroke (56.07).

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as  Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Zeeland swimming takes fourth at Division 1 state finals