2019 MI Girls D1 State: Farmington Hills Mercy Wins 3rd-Straight State Title

2019 MHSAA Girls D1 State Championships

In a thrilling finals session, the team champion of the 2019 MHSAA Girls D1 State meet was determined by only half a point between Farmington Hills Mercy (Mercy) and Ann Arbor Pioneer (Pioneer). In the end, it was Mercy’s impeccable depth that earned them the state title.

Meet Highlights:

After breaking the D1 200 medley relay record in prelims (1:42.88), the Rockford squad of Sara Kraus (26.44), Masy Folcik (28.27), Rachel Gamm (25.06), and Ashley Lund (22.63) reset their day-old record with the title-winning time of 1:42.40.

Grand Haven senior and future Michigan Wolverine Kathryn Ackerman went on to pick up two individual victories. She first defended her 200 IM title with a new Holland Aquatic Center pool record time of 1:57.61 after breaking it in the prelims (1:58.69). Her finals winning time is now the 20th-fastest time in the nation thus far. Ackerman later on topped the 100 back with a time of 54.70.

Fellow 2024 Michigan commit Claire Tuttle of Hudsonville also snagged two state titles on Saturday. She first won the 50 free with a 22.80 after setting a lifetime best in prelims (22.70). Into the 200 free relay, Tuttle split a 22.53 to guide her squad to the A-final, where they finished 8th overall. After splitting 27.24/27.52 for the 8th-place 200 medley relay, Tuttle then defended her 100 breast state title with a Holland Aquatic center pool record and LTB of 1:00.79.

In the 1-meter diving, Mercy junior Ciara McCliment finished second overall (403.75 pts), just behind Huron junior champion Annie Costello (425.40 pts). McCliment’s state runner-up finish gave Mercy 17 points while Pioneer did not score any divers.

After finishing second in the 200 IM (2:01.53), Mercy teammate Greta Gridley went on to win the 100 free with a 50.53, holding off Pioneer’s Lucy Mehraban (50.86) by three-tenths of a second.

Although getting edged by a half point for the team title, the girls of Pioneer went on to sweep both free relays. First, Lily Cramer, Autumn Bullinger, Amelia Weyhing, and Mehraban won the 200 free relay with a 1:34.75. In the 400 free relay, Mehraban, Vivian VanRenterghem, Holly Pringle, and Cramer then secured Pioneer’s second relay title with a 3:25.31.

More D1 State Champions:

  • Girls 200 Free: Allison Haak (Skyline)- 1:50.65
  • Girls 100 Fly: Emily Roden (Northville)- 55.43
  • Girls 500 Free: Lola Mull (Grand Ledge)- 4:55.02

Top Six Teams:

  1. Mercy — 298
  2. Pioneer — 297.5
  3. Saline — 197.5
  4. Rockford — 179.5
  5. Novi — 132.5
  6. Rochester Adams — 132

 

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coachofficialmi
5 years ago

Diving helps

About Nick Pecoraro

Nick Pecoraro

Nick has had the passion for swimming since his first dive in the water in middle school, immediately falling for breaststroke. Nick had expanded to IM events in his late teens, helping foster a short, but memorable NCAA Div III swim experience at Calvin University. While working on his B.A. …

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