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Swimmers ready to leave it all in the tank at state finals

Dan Stickradt | November 19, 2010 | Comments (1)

GLIDING: Lake Orion sophomore Courtney McClear sails is seeded in the top-10 in the 200 IM for the Division 1 state finals. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Sami Steplflug has a high ceiling.

The Clarkston freshman has already had a memorable season, winning a pair of events at both the Oakland County meet and OAA Blue Division meet. She also swam on two winning relays at the league meet.

One of the state’s top ninth-grade prospects has higher goals than winning league and county titles.

“I want to win states,” smiled Stelpflug at Monday’s practice. “I am seeded really high in my events. I have a chance.”

Stelpflug is seeded first in the 200 IM and second in the 100 breaststroke for the Lower Peninsula Division 1 state finals, which take place Friday and Saturday at Oakland University.

“I’ve been swimming really well,” added Stelpflug. “I think my best race (is yet to come).”

Clarkston, which launched its program back in 1999, has never finished higher than 16^th at the state meet in girls swimming. The Wolves, led by a talented freshman class, could equal or beat that his season.

“We were hoping to have a few more qualifiers this season, but I think we have some kids who can score,” said Clarkston coach Kenwyn Chock. “Our two freshmen should score in their events, as Sami’s going to be in the hunt. And two of our relays should score.”

Freshman Kathryn Culver is also seeded in the top-15 in two events.

There are dozens of swimmers from the coverage area for www.northoaklandsports.com hoping to make their mark t either the Division 1 or Division 2 state meets.

Lake Orion did not have a great dual-meet season, but the Dragons have two individuals that could shine at the state meet: Annie Jongekrijg and Courtney McClear.

McClear is seeded seventh in the 200 IM, while Jongekrijg is third in the 100 free and 11^th in the 100 backstroke.

“I’m really excited about the IM. Over the course of the year, I’ve dropped so much time,” said McClear, a sophomore. “I just feel like I can do really good (at the state finals). I think I can swim faster.”

Jongekrijg has a shot of placing in two events.

“I’m third in 100 free and 11^th in the 100 backstroke I’m really excited to (swim at the finals). I’m really looking for a fast time in the 100 free, go out and do my best and get in the fast heat,” said Jongekrijg, a junior.

The goal Friday for most swimmers is top grab a top-16 finish to be able to compete on Saturday. The top eight will compete in the fast heat Saturday.

“I am trying for a Junior Nationals time with my club team,” added Jongekrijg, who competes out of the high school season with the Liquid Lightning. “It’s about a second and half faster where I’m at now, so I’m hoping the state meet against (the competition) will help me get that time.”

Lake Orion’s Katie Corcoran and Rochester’s Lauren reedy hope to finish among the top-16 in the one-meter diving events, as both had top-10 seeds heading into Friday’s prelims.

Rochester Stoney Creek, which moves up from Division 2 to Division 1 this season, is seeded in the top 20 in two relays.

In Division 2, Rochester Adams in entertaining goals of finishing in the top 10, while Oxford is looking to score for the first time. The D-2 state finals are at Eastern Michigan Univiersity.

The Wildcats’ Haley Kornburger, a talented freshman, is the school’s first state qualifier and finished in the top-16 at last month’s Oakland County meet. She could become the school’s first female swimmer to finish in the top 16 and scored points at the state finals.

Adams has the best shot at a team top-10 finish, which was the preseason goal, according to veteran coach Tim Hickey. The Highlanders have six individuals swimming open events and the team is represented in all three relays.

Kristin Finney, Gabrielle Thivierge, Bianca Tiberio all have top-20 seeds, while the Highlanders rank in the top 15 in two relays.

SWIMMING & DIVING STATE QUALIFIERS

DIVISION 1

CLARKSTON: 200 medley relay (12^th); Sami Stepflug, fr. (200 IM, 1^st; 100 breaststroke, 2^nd); Kathryn Culver, fr. (50 free, 14^th; 100 free, 10^th); 200 free relay (24^th); 400 free relay (16^th).

LAKE ORION: 200 medley relay (29^th); Courtney McClear, soph. (200 IM, 7^th; 100 free, 27^th); Annie Jongekrijg, jr. (100 free, 3^rd; 100 backstroke, 11^th); 400 free relay (24^th); Katie Corcoran, soph. (diving).

ROCHESTER: 200 medley relay (34th); Veronica Loock, jr. (200 free 43^rd;100 backstroke); Lauren Reedy, jr. (diving); Haley Ludwig, soph. (200 IM, 30^th; 100 butterfly, 29^th); 400 free relay (35^th).

ROCHESTER STONEY CREEK: Rachel Watton, jr. (200 free, 22nd; 500 free, 39^th); Hannah Knapp, jr. (50 free, 31^st; 100 free, 30^th); 200 free relay (18^th); 400 free relay (14^th).

TROY: 200 medley relay (26th); Lauren Dietz, jr. (50 free, 29^th; 100 backstroke, 33^rd); Jacquiline, soph. (100 free, 35^th; 50 free, 38^th); Kristine Barlow, jr. (100 breaststroke, 20^th); 200 free relay (28^th); 400 free relay (37^th).

DIVISION 2

AUBURN HILLS AVONDALE: Pam Johnson, sr. (50 free, 21^st; 100 free, 21^st); Ashley Moskal, soph. (diving); Kaitlyn Morton, jr. (diving).

ROCHESTER ADAMS: 200 medley relay (14^th); Hannah Hunstad, soph. (200 free, 24^th; 100 backstroke, 25^th); Natalie Schmidt, soph. (200 free, 28^th); Kristin Finney, jr. (200 IM, 16^th; 100 breaststroke, 13th) ;Gabrielle Thivierge, soph. (200 IM, 18^th; 500 free, 8th); Bianca Tiberio, soph. (50 free, 19^th; 100 butterfly, 10^th); 200 free relay (26^th); Briana Glanda, fr, (100 backstroke, 37^th); 400 free relay (10^th); Keegan McCaffrey, soph. (diving); Allison Westgate, sr. (diving).