Lake Orion’s boys swim squad finished 16th in the state last year, based on the efforts of just two team members.
Ricky Forrest won the state title in the 500-free and took third in the 200-free, while Brandon Figurski took first in the diving competition.
Both were seniors, so both are now gone.
‘We lost all of our state qualifiers and All-Americans,? Coach Paul Fairman said. ‘But we should be a better dual meet team eventually.?
Fairman said Forrest will be tough to replace, because he could carry the team in multiple events. He added, however, that this year’s team could come closer to his goal of having eight swimmers under one minute in the 100-free.
‘We’re off to a better start this year than we were last year,? Fairman said of the team’s work in practice. ‘It should be a fun year. It’s a nice squad.?
Seniors David Kullmann, Kyle Kibbee and Peter Slavin are the team’s top returners, along with junior Ben Fritsch.
‘I’ve got two freshmen that are looking pretty good,? Fairman said of newcomers Peter Simic and Andrew Fritsch.
The coach said those two freshmen are the most promising to enter the program in some time.
‘But one never knows,? he added.
Replacing Figurski, a two-time state champion, will be equally as tough.
Diver Justin Davis returns after placing 13th at regionals last season, and Fairman said the sophomore has a decent chance to qualify for the state meet this season.
Fairman said it’s difficult to determine which teams are going to be the class of the OAA II.
It will be the team’s second straight year as a member of that league.
‘We’re kind of in our second year of a transition,? he said of the team’s movement from a ‘big meet? squad to a ‘dual meet? one.
‘We’re really focusing on the details,? Fairman said. ‘If they don’t do what I ask, they do it over. They’re starting to get the message and they’re doing a pretty good job.?