DIVISION 2 STATE FINALS: Adams breaks into top 10; Oxford has best all-time finish

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

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HOLLAND — Rochester Adams is back on the rise.

The Highlanders returned to the top 10 for the first time in six years Saturday at the Division 2 girls swimming and diving state finals at the Holland Aquatics Center.

Rochester Adams claimed eighth with 103 points, the Highlanders’ first top-10 state finish since 2005.

Oxford made its first significant dent in the scoring column at the state meet. The Wildcats finished an all-time best 17^th, scoring 30 points. Oxford’s previous best was 24^th-place last season.

Top-ranked Holland collected an impressive 419 points to win the state title going away. Birmingham Seaholm, ranked second, was second with 288 points. Birmingham Groves claimed third (216), while Grosse Pointe South (215), Farmington Harrison (161), Portage Central (134), Milan (119), Adams (103), Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (92) and Fenton (80) made up the top 10 in the team standings.

LEADING THE WAY: Rochester Adams' Kristen Finney placed in four events Saturday at the Division 2 state finals, helping the Highlanders finish eighth overall. File Photo

Adams scored in seven of 12 events total and Oxford scored in two events. No other local school cracked the scoring column.

Kristen Finney was 14^th in the 200 IM (2:14.10) and fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.06). Krystal Karas placed 14^th in the 100 free (54.57) and Gabrielle Thivierge claimed seventh in the 500 free (5:12.11).

Finney and Karas teamed up with Bianca Tiberio and Hanna Hunstad to finish fifth in the 200 medley relay (1:47.88). Karas, Finney, Charlene Coutteau and Tiberio claimed seventh in the 200 free relay (1:40.27), and the foursome of Karas, Natalie Schmitt, Hunstad and Tiberio joined forces to finish ninth in the 400 free relay (3:39.08).

Finney and Coutteau are the only seniors for the Highlanders, who sent a school record 12 competitors to the state meet.

Oxford’s Haley Kornburger was fifth in the 50 free (24.26) and third in the 100 butterfly (57.19) to account for Oxford’s points.

ROCHESTER ADAMS

2011: 8^th (103 pts.) D-2

2010: 17^th (25 pts.) D-2

2009: 17^th (37 pts.) D-2

2008: 14^th (50 pts.) D-2

2007: 10^th (84 pts.) D-2

2006: 20^th (33 pts.) D-1

2005: 3rd (184 pts.) D-1

2004: 4^th (130 pts.) D-1

2003: 25^th (16 pts.) D-1

2002: 18^th (30 pts.) D-1

2001: 27^th (8 pts.) D-1

OXFORD

2011: 17^th (30 pts.) D-2

2010: 24^th (2 pts.) D-2

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Tags: High School Girls Swimming & Diving, Oxford Girls Swimming & Diving, Prep Girls Swimming & Diving, Rochester Adams Girls Swimming, Swimming & Diving

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