Hornets Fly Past Trojans at Saline

With all due respect to the SEC Red, the Saline Hornets girls' swim and dive team views most of their conference meets as extensions of practice. Fortunately, this is a team that practices hard.

hosted Monroe Thursday night and won every swimming event to claim a 136-50 victory.

"I like the way the girls are swimming right now. They're really tired. We swim hard every day day before school. That's where our focus has been. They're busy with all the things going in school and in life. So they're tired. But they came out tonight and swam well," said coach Todd Brunty.

Senior Co-Captain Nikki Flynn echoed Brunty's comments.

"I think we are a bit tired. But we've been through this before," said Flynn.

Comparing this year's team to last year's state champs, Flynn said she likes the way the team is gelling.

"I think we've got real chemistry. It's a lot of work, but we're having a lot of fun, and I am excited about where we are headed," Flynn said.

The Hornets have a couple of tough SEC matches coming up. They're at Huron on Oct. 20. Saline hosts Skyline, likely the best competition in the conference, on senior night, Oct. 27.

"We're looking forward to that one," Flynn said. "It's senior night, and we know Skyline is coming in here trying to win."

Saline opened Thursday's meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay. Finishing the race in 1:54.42 were Serena Yan, Sammy Richart, Paige Sieffert and Flynn.

Saline took the top four places in the 200 yard freestyle. Cristina Czyrka was first in 1:56.73. She was followed by Maddy Frost, Emily Lau and Sarah Noonan. Czyrka, Frost and Lau best the state cut.

Katie Rogers was first in the 200-yard individual medley, where Saline went 1-2-3. Rogers finished in 2:13.35, more than eight second faster than the nearest competitor. Melanie Schroeder and Alex McPherson took second and third.

Hannah Lau was first in the 50-yard free style, finishing the race in 26:35.

Nikkie Kermath was Salines top diver, finishing third. Monroe's Emily Tubbs won the event with a final score of 213.20.

Erika Glatz captured the 100-yard butterfly, where Saline took the top four places. Glatz won in 1:04.63. She was followed by Sam Winchester, Melyssa Aben and Emily Farsakian.

Flynn was the winner in the 100-yard freestyle, finishing in 54.91. Serema Yan and Paige Sieffert finished second and third, respectively.

Ellie Brigger won the 500-yard freestyle in 5:53.00. Finishing second was Sydney Hoffman.

Saline took the 200-yard freestyle relay, finishing the race in 1:41.77. Kate Rogers, Maddy Frost, Alex McPherson and Melyssa Aben swam for the winning team.

Arianna Brown won the 100-yard backstroke in 1:08.23. Sam Tommelleo was second in 1:11.03.

Sammy Richart was first in the 100-yard breastroke, completing the race in 1:11.37.

Saline capped the day by winning the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:52.14. Swimming for the Hornets were Hannah Lau, Sam Winchester, Sarah Noonan and Nikki Flynn.