At the aquatic center, the boys swim and dive team had their long-awaited season opener. The season was supposed to start about two months ago, but with COVID-19 running rampant throughout the state, it had been postponed. The boys had been practicing for a few weeks and were finally able to compete last night, with the meet coming against the combined team of Forest Hills Northern and Eastern.

Unfortunately, the team is on the shorter side this season. With 14 boys overall, 12 of them are swimmers, and two are divers. Although for last night’s meet, two of the swimmers had been contact traced, so the team was down to only 10 swimmers. Those numbers did not stop the team from coming out and having a great first meet.

Wasting no time, during the first event of the meet, the A relay team of freshman Reed Dixon, junior Benji Zorn, senior Avery LeTourneau, and sophomore Isaac Stewart already achieved a Division 2 state cut time. The relay team swam a time of 1.41.99, going just over a second under the cut time of 1.43.19. 

Adding to the excitement, in the very next event, captain Avery LeTourneau came out and accomplished another state cut, this time in the 200 freestyle. Avery swam a time of 1.49.04, just under the state cut time of 1.49.79. 

The team’s two divers both had great first meets as well. Placing first was junior Cole Hysong with 265.05 points with junior Will Becker following close behind him in second place with 213.25 points.

“It felt good [to be competing again] because I competed well for the first meet this year, and it was nice to just be able to dive again,” Cole said.

The boys had some other great races as well. Sophomores Ben Rogala and Gavin Cai placed first and second in the 50 freestyle. With times of 23.55 and 24.13, the two are starting their season off strong.

With several other great swims for the evening, the team ended their season opener with a win, beating FHNE with a score of 104-81. The boys will face off the Wildcats at Jenison this Saturday at 11:30.