This year’s Lake Orion High School girls swimming and diving team is senior-rich, and ready to challenge for an OAA II league championship.
Coach Darin Abbasse returns senior state qualifiers Perri Mitchell, and Emily Roesch.
Also returning are seniors Stephanie Humes, Nicki Dolan, Emily Childers, Molly Wilkop, Morgan Cook, Chelsea Hollander, Julia Findling, Alex Kudla and Jillian Demont.
Returning juniors are Amanda Falls, Lauren Barber, Michele Tracy and Amanda Abramczyk.
Sophomore and 2004 state qualifier Emily Loerch is back, as is state diving qualifier, sophomore Jenna Dorey.
Abbasse said the team, with 42 girls this year, also has promising freshmen, including Janessa Giddings, Liz Eesely, Chelsey Booth, Sara Simic and Emily Ribitch.
Divers for the team this year are Dorey and senior Brianne Eluskie.
Diver Taylor Liechty, a junior, is currently out with an illness.
‘We have 40 swimmers and two divers,? said Abbasse. ‘We’ve had 40-50 girls on the team for the past three years.
‘The difference this year is, our kids are coming in with more competitive swimming experience and knowledge.?
Abbasse credits this to competitive swim programs like the United States Swim School Association (USSSA) Liquid Lightning team, which practices at the Lake Orion Natatorium.
‘We have more experienced freshmen than we’ve had before,? he said.
Last year, the Dragons finished third overall, in the championship and in duel meets.
‘We graduated four state qualifiers,? Abbasse said. ‘But I’m confident we have the talent on this team to replace those people, with the same, if not better, opportunities.?
Roesch qualified last year in the 200, 500 and 400 free relays.
Mitchell qualified in the 200 medley, 50 free and 400 free relay.
Loerch was a qualifier in the 200 medley relay.
‘We’re in our second year of a two-year rotation in OAA II,? said Abbasse. ‘How we do this year will determine if we move up to OAA I.?
The Dragons will face Troy Athens, Rochester, North Farmington, West Bloomfield and Andover in OAA II.
‘I expect us to be competitive,? Abbasse said. ‘The team goal is to get a league championship, and qualify as many swimmers and divers possible for the state finals.
‘Each year, state finals-wise, we’ve grown in numbers,? he said.
‘We’re getting better in the league championship. I’m hoping for a breakout year.?
Abbasse expects his team to be strong in the sprint freestyle events, and has seen improvements in all the other events.
‘There’s no particular event where I feel we’re not strong enough,? he said.
‘With our incoming freshmen and our returning people, we have a stronger team.
‘We’re probably the most balanced team we’ve been in a couple of years,? said Abbasse. ‘And we have good senior leadership, very solid individuals.?