Records Fall as Hornets Dominate MISCA Meet

The Saline Hornets did nothing special for Saturday’s Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association meet at Eastern Michigan University except to bring their state champion mindset.

“This is an important meet. We know that four weeks from today, we’re going to be at this pool swimming for the state championship.

We wanted to swim with the mentality of a champion,” said coach Todd Brunty. “I think we did that.”

Saline, the two-time defending state champs, won six of 12 events and set two MISCA meet records.

Even with the importance of the meet, the Hornets didn’t stray from their grueling practice and workout regimen.

“This was the best MISCA meet we’ve ever had and we’re not even rested,” said David Boland, who won and set MISCA meet record in the 200-yard medley and also won in the 100-yard fly. “We've been stepping up as a team really well. We've been working so hard in training and this meet today was encouraging for all of us.”

Saline opened the day by winning and setting a MSICA meet record in the 200-yard medley. Adam Whitener, Josh Ehrman, David Boland and Michael Bundas won the event in 1:35.01, a full 2.5 seconds faster than second place Rockford.

Boland won the 200-yard medley in a MISCA-meet record time of 1:52.96, more than a second faster than Canton’s Victor Zhang. Boland also won the 100-yard fly in 50.74. Saline’s James Fisher finished tied for second in 51.99. Bundas was eighth in 53.73. Stefan Koberl was 16th in 54.62. Tom Walls was 17th in 54.86.

Adam Whitener won the 100-yard freestyle in 46.44, nearly a half-second faster than Rockford’s Eric Chisholm.

Saline’s other relay victory game in the 200-free. Boland, Fisher, Matt Stevens and Ehrman won the event in 1:26.59.

Saline’s final victory of the afternoon game in the 100-yard breaststroke, where Ehrman won in 57.51, more than two full seconds faster than the second place finisher.

The Hornets took second in the 400-yard freestyle. Fisher, Bundas, Walls and Whitener finished in 3:12.57. Rockford won the event in 3:11.40.

Ehrman was second in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing in 21.41. Fisher was seventh in 21.77 and Bundas was eighth in 21.91.

In the backstroke, Whitener finished third in 52.27. Walls was 12th in 55.99.

In the diving event held Friday, Sam Blair took third with a score of 396.85.

In the 500-yard, Lucas Allen finished 12th in 4:56.21. Matt Sieffert was 19th in 5:01.85.

Matt Stevens finished 14th in the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.12).

“Our top guys had a great today. Our second tier guys did better than expected. Matt Stevens, Stefan Koberl and Lucas Allen all had state cut times that we didn’t expect. And Sam Blair has developed from a guy who didn’t make it out of regionals last year into a guy who is could be one of the best divers in the state,” Brunty said.