Casey Johnson still remembers the cheers of fans screaming in the stands and competing in the Michigan State Meet for 12 and under.
‘When you came up (for air) you could hear them say ‘go? and cheer. It was great,? said Johnson.
Seven swimmers from the Clarkston Sea Wolves program went to Jenison to participate in the competition.
As a team they finished 17th overall.
‘Basically we were 17th best in the state,? said Sea Wolves Coach Kenwyn Chock. ‘It was a ranking of how good we are in the state.?
For the club it was a monumental season as they sent the most swimmers they have ever. In the past they have sent one or two, but not a whole team.
Matthew Culver finished the highest for the boys in sixth place and James Nelson finished in 11th.
Kathryn Culver finished in 25th for the girls and Natalie Vela finished in 69th.
‘The kids worked really hard and we are really proud of them,? said Assistant Coach Kelly Haynes.
‘Most of them I had taught them how to swim, to it was neat to see them compete at a state level. For them to place that high was amazing and showed we are more about quality than quantity.?
Sea Wolves was started 11 years ago to prepare the kids for the varsity program.
For Johnson it is a place he can hone skills in another sport, as he plays for the Clarkston Chiefs and Michigan Bandits.
He has also made friends with his teammate Evan Wessel.
‘So often sports are about numbers and high points, with these boys it was about guts and friendship,? said parent, Gail Johnson, who noticed the boys help each other out even though they both competed in the 50, 100, and 200 yard breaststroke events.
Gail enjoys Sea Wolves because of the flexibility they offer.
‘With the Sea Wolves, kids can choose any meet they’d like to swim and enter as long as they qualify,? said Gail. ‘Also, kids can choose the events they want to swim. Most of the other clubs around here do not allow that.?
The program started with 40 kids and has grown to 100 swimmers.
The Sea Wolves are affilated with the USS Competitive Swimming program and during the summer participates in the Rochester Area Swim League.
‘Next year I would love to go for more state cuts in 13-14 year olds,? said Casey.