Despite being in its first season of existence, the Brandon girls swimming team is showing it can hang tough with its peers in the Flint Metro League.
In an Oct. 12 tri-meet at Brandon High School, the Blackhawks split their matchup against Fenton and Lapeer (the combined team from Lapeer East and Lapeer West). The Blackhawks lost to Fenton, 150-133, but defeated Lapeer 181-103.
The Blackhawks snagged five first-place finishes at the meet, three in individual events and two in relays. In individual competition, Kelly Kennedy won the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 2:18.9, while Aubrey King won the 100 yard backstroke in 1:20.41 and Jessica Swineford captured the 100 yard backstroke in 1:28.34.
The two relay teams earning first place were the 200 yard freestyle team of Kelly Kennedy, Alex Lindsay, Kaitlin Grost, and Shannon Penix (2:04.18), and the 400 yard freestyle relay team of Jessica Kennedy, Amanda Dixon, Marisa Westphal, and Kelly Kennedy (4:33.79).
Brandon swimmers earning second place finishes were: Kelly Kennedy (100 yard freestyle) and the 400 freestyle relay team of Penix, Lindsay, King, and Stephanie Peck. In addition, the Blackhawks earned third place finishes in one individual and two relay events, as well as fourth in two individual events.
The meet came on the heels of the Blackhawks? other regular season league meet Sept. 30 against Holly. Brandon defeated the Bronchos 83-80 despite not having any divers at the meet.
‘That was big for us,? Brandon coach Todd Duncan said.
The Blackhawks currently sport an overall record of 3-4 and a league record of 2-1, good for second place. Brandon will host the league meet Nov. 5-6, and Duncan said the Blackhawks will likely be battling with Holly for second place in the meet behind heavily favored Fenton.
Duncan also said the Blackhawks have made great progress from the start of the season, stating if the team as it stands now were to race the team as it stood at the start of the season, ‘we’d blow them out of the water.?
‘We have a group of freshmen that improve each time out,? he said. ‘It’s a great thing ? a lot of the kids are starting to get it.?