By NOAH PURCELL
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Clarkston’s swim team finished tied for last place, in a field of 25 teams, at the Oakland County swim meet last Saturday at Lake Orion High School. But, the Wolves were still happy to be in the arena. Clarkston qualified in ten of the 12 events at the County meet after qualifying in only four last year.
‘It’s cool swimming here because you get to see all these other really great swimmers. It’s good competition for us,? said senior Erin Richards who shaved two seconds off her previous best time in the 200 freestyle finishing in 2:07.16.
The highest any Clarkston swimmer finished was a 14th place showing by freshmen Lauren Dietz, who posted a time of 1:03.84.
The goal from the beginning of the season for the Wolves has been to qualify as many swimmers as possible for the county meet and try to qualify at least one girl for states. No girl’s swimmer from Clarkston has ever qualified for states.
?(The Oakland County meet) was just who could swim the best when they were tired,? said Coach Kenwyn Chock.
The Wolves showed signs of fatigue at the County meet from a match against Groves? JV on Thursday Sept. 30, which they won by nearly 100 points. Groves? varsity won the Oakland County meet edging out Rochester Adams by 24 points.
Chelsea Hassett and Kandice Keen both swam in four different events for the Wolves at the County meet. Keen was the lone Wolf entered in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle, she also was a member of the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Chelsea was the only Clarkston swimmer in the 50 freestyle, swam the 100 freestyle, and was a member of the 400 freestyle relay and the 200 freestyle relay teams.
Last year the Wolves only qualified for individual events at the County meet. Chock felt that the improvement of the program is showcased by the three relays that Clarkston qualified for.