2026 Michigan High School Athletics Association Division 2 Boys Swimming and Diving Championships
- March 13-14, 2026
- Ypsilanti, MI
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
Birmingham Seaholm senior and Indiana commit Elliot Rijnovean said he simply wanted the challenge of doing something historic.
At the last two Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 Boys State Championships, Rijnovean won both the 100 fly and 100 back.
He once again swam the 100 fly this year, winning his third straight championship in a season-best time of 47.97.
But there was a different twist, as he decided to swim the 50 free instead of the 100 back, where already owns the state record of 46.72 he set back in March at a league meet.
“I was trying to go for the state record in the 50 free since I already had it in the 100 back,” Rijnovean said. “It was a fun challenge that I ultimately failed at, but still enjoyed taking on.”
Indeed, Rijnovean didn’t set the state record in the 50 free, but he did win the event in a time of 20.31 to finish his high school career with six individual titles.
The overall state record in the 50 free is 19.86 set in 2019 by Cam Peel of Spring Lake. The Division 2 state meet record is 20.09 set in 2011 by Clay Youngquist of Battle Creek Lakeview.
While Rijnovean was the individual standout of the meet, the team title belonged to Byron Center.
Last year, Byron Center finished runner-up to a Detroit U-D Jesuit team that won its first state title in school history. This year, the roles were reversed, with Byron Center claiming its first title by 22 points over U-D Jesuit.
“Feel good,” Byron Center head coach Holly Morren said to the State Champs Network. “Swimming fast and having fun. That’s what it’s all about. Just focusing on ourselves. We know what we’ve done all season and we have a group that’s been together for a long time working hard for it. Just super proud of them. Always knew they were capable of it. It’s really fun to be here experiencing it now.”
Byron Center was first in four events, getting individual wins from senior Carter Nelson in the 500 free (4:31.06) and junior Ryder Nichols in the 100 breast (55.56). Both were in personal best times.
Byron Center also won two of the three relays.
In the 400 free relay, the team of Caleb Meginley (24.79), Nichols (24.82), Jackson Schumuker (22.81) and Graeden Standforf (21.16) won in a time of 1:33.58.
The 200 free relay was taken by Byron Center’s team of Standorf (21.87), Schumuker (21.32), Brady Beauch (21.12) and Lucas Ritsema (20.43) in a time of 1:24.74.
U-D Jesuit junior Charlie McCuiston, an Arizona commit, also had a strong meet. He won the 200 free in 1:38.01 and was a part of U-D Jesuit’s winning team in the 400 free relay.
The squad of Jack McCuiston (46.44), Miles Lobley (49.05), Cooper Masters (47.64) and Charlie McCuiston (44.37) won the event in a time of 3:07.50.
Other individual winners were:
- Birmingham Groves senior Nathan Stebbins claimed the 200 IM in a personal best time of 1:49.46.
- Battle Creek Lakeview senior Peyton Elder won the diving competition, finishing with 495.85 points.
- Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central senior Lucas Witham captured the 100 free in a personal best time of 44.84.
- Dexter junior Anthony Kopinski won the 100 back in a personal best time of 51.05.
Team Standings — Top 5
- Byron Center, 338
- Detroit U-D Jesuit, 316
- Dexter, 173
- Portage Central, 164
- Birmingham Groves, 144
Kudos for giving it a shot