For the final full team meet of the 2022-2023 season, the Laker swimmers and divers traveled to Zeeland on Friday (2/24) and Saturday (2/25) for the two day OK Rainbow Conference Championship. Across the two day meet, the Laker swimmers achieved 88x personal best performances; 8x swimmers are officially qualified for the MHSAA Division 3 State Championship; and both Johnny Wachter and Noah Fletcher earned All-Conference honors. 

All the athletes below achieved the following well-earned accolades:
 

• Garrett Abel (Sophomore) - PB in the 200 Free; PB and 14th in the 500 Free (Dropped :22.95!)
• Adetunji Adams (Sophomore) - PB in the 50 Free and 100 Free
• Kyle Bajt (Junior) - PB in the 50 Free; PB and 17th in the 100 Free
• Ryan Bonney (Junior) - PB in the 50 Free and 100 Free
• Matthew Daudelin (Sophomore) - PB in the 50 Free; PB in the 200 Free; PB and 11th in the 100 Fly; State Qualifier for the First Time!
• Kyle Eacker (Junior) - PB and 12th in the 50 Free; PB and 11th in the 100 Free
• Ryan Fisher (Sophomore) - PB in the 50 Free; PB, State Cut, and 6th in the 100 Back
• Noah Fletcher (Sophomore) - 4th in the 200 Free; 6th in the 100 Free; All-Conference Honors
• Patrick Goran (Freshman) - PB in the 50 Free and 100 Free
• Fisher Halsey (Sophomore) - PB in the 50 Free; PB and 8th in the 100 Breast
• Liam Krass (Freshman) - PB in the Free
• Bradon Kucharski (Sophomore) - PB and 15th in the 200 IM; PB in the 100 Back
• Lando Mendoza (Freshman) - PB and 17th in the 500 Free (Dropped :25.21!); PB in the 100 Breast
• Nathan Navarre (Junior) - PB in the 50 Free; PB and 11th in the 100 Breast
• Tyler Nutt (Freshman) - PB and 9th in the 200 IM; PB in the 100 Back
• Max Porter (Sophomore) - PB in the 200 Free; PB and 16th in the 500 Free
• Cornel Rauwerda-esprit (Senior) - PB in the 50 Fly, 200 Free, and 100 Free
• Sebastian Ruiz (Sophomore) - PB in the 50 Free
• Tomas Ruiz (Senior) - PB and 16th in the 50 Free; PB in the 100 Free
• Alex Strauss (Freshman) - PB and 15th in the 200 Free; PB and 16th in the 100 Free
• Johnny Wachter (Junior) - Conference Champion in the 50 Free; SB in the 100 Free
• Lucas Walsh (Sophomore) - PB in the 50 Free and 100 Free
• Lucas Williams (Freshman) - PB in the 200 Free and 100 Free

(Complete Results for Prelims and Finals = Viewable under "Team Files")

Coach Zacek shared his thoughts about the championship: "Despite the clear challenges some of our boys faced with lingering illness from the previous couple weeks, this was a great way for the full team to go out. We weren't perfect, and our top relay was disqualified as a result of a false start, but we bounced back very well. Whether it was during Friday's prelims races or Saturday's finals races, 23 out of 24 swimmers hit at two or more personal best race results. We also now have a total of eight athletes on our state team: Johnny Wachter, Noah Fletcher, Ryan Fisher, Kyle Eacker, Nathan Navarre, Tomas Ruiz, Matthew Daudelin, and Alex Strauss. Our diver, Jonah VanDreumel, also has a chance to qualify for diving at Thursday's Diving Regionals. All in all, despite the challenges, there's a lot to celebrate here. The state championship is just around the corner, and we're getting thrilled to see what happens to fully end the season!"

Though most of the Laker swimmers are now done until next season, the aforementioned 8x members of the state team will continue to practice for two more weeks before traveling to Oakland University for the MHSAA Division 3 State Championship. Should be an exciting way to close a great season!  

Go Lakers!