Dear Swimmers and Parents,
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In spite of the fact that I added a completely new set of practices our spring tune-up is full with a healthy waiting list. We will work through the list and try to squeeze in as many of our swimmers as we can …..

Our National Team was nothing short of stellar. The five-day meet is a new challenge for many of our swimmers and we could see exhaustion setting in, but they rallied at every opportunity. Our boys finished tenth and the team finished sixteenth. We are really proud of their performance! Ethan Schwab was a double national champ in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, he was fourth in the 200 IM. Gus MacDonald was third in the 200 breast, fourth in the 400 IM, sixth in the 500 and sixteenth in the 100 breast. Ian Duncan was fourteenth in the 200 back. AJ Farner was sixteenth in the 1000 free and 1650 free. Evan Tack was 15th in the 200 IM.
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Our men’s 400 Medley finished tenth (Ian Duncan, Ethan Schwab, Mayer Krieger, Jack Higgins), our 200 Medley was tenth (Evan Tack, Ethan Schwab, Mayer Krieger, Jack Higgins). The 800 free relay finished eleventh (Angus MacDonald, Ethan Schwab, Evan Tack and Ian Duncan), setting a new team record.

On our girls’ side, Samantha Clifford finished fourteenth in the 200 free and Kelley Hassett was eleventh in the 500 and the girls’ 800 free relay finished fifteenth (Kelley Hassett, Demetra Bicos, Avery Anderson, Samantha Clifford).

Mayer Krieger, Patrick MacKillop, Ian Duncan, Evan Tack, Sam Clifford and Kelley Hassett also qualified for and swam in the “C Finals” (Places 17-24) in various events.

For the first time the Y had a special finals heat reserved for fifteen and under swimmers. Unfortunately it is unscored. Avery Anderson, AJ Farner, Jack Higgins, Skyler Jansen and Charlie McCuiston qualified for and swam in those races.

It is a huge meet. Over 200 YMCA teams were in attendance, fewer than half of the teams scored a single point. The RAYS finished forty-fourth and Farmington was fiftieth. We had twenty-four swimmers qualified and twenty attended the meet. AJ Farner was named our BBD “rookie of the meet.”

Our kids were inspired by a visit from Olympian Cullen Jones, who brought his gold medal to provide a little inspiration.

It was a magical week. Thank you to our national team leader, Bill Clifford, for leading our parents.
See you at the banquet!

Kevin

REGISTRATION FOR RETURNING SWIMMERS IN GOOD STANDING WILL BEGIN AT NOON TODAY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12TH WHEN AN EMAIL WITH THE REGISTRATION LINKS WILL BE SENT OUT.

PLEASE CHECK THAT YOU CAN ACCESS YOUR YMCA ACCOUNT, AND THAT YOUR ACCOUNT IS ACTIVE PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OPENING IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE. ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT REGISTRATION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE YMCA AT 248-644-9036. PLEASE DO NOT SEND AN EMAIL TO BBDQUESTIONS@GMAIL.COM AS OUR PARENT BOARD MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE YMCA REGISTRATION SYSTEM.
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Swimmers will be eligible to sign-up for the age-group based on their actual age on May 31, 2023.

The schedule:
9/10s – Monday thru Thursday, 5:00 to 6:30 @ YMCA – (4/18 to 5/25)
11-12s Monday thru Friday, 4:30 to 6:00 @ Cranbrook – (4/18 to 5/26)
13/14 and 15/17 – Monday thru Friday, 6:00 to 8:00 @ Cranbrook – (4/18 to 5/26)

Thank you to Coach Mike B. for taking these awesome photos at MAGS. Please click below to access the gallery.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/138ofzni9erUSgSaVl1YBoXhY0LFYy89D?usp=share_link

Dear Parents and Swimmers,

Our age-group short-course season has come to an end with an amazing performance at East Kentwood. Our team finished second to Club Wolverine (which is a team that operates out of several cities). Our boys’ team was first. The depth of our team was on display and chronicled below. We are so proud of our swimmers!

Highlights:

Our 13-14 Boys’ (Turner Worth, Nico Bonel-Muras, Quinn O’Neill and Charlie McCuiston) set a Michigan State Record in the 400 free relay.

Our top eight performers were:

9-10
Boys’ 50 free – Brody McCuiston 1st, Eric Dunn 7th, Reid McCuiston 8th
Girls’ 100 IM – Claire Tomasek 4th, Mary Bailey 6th
Boys’ 100 Back – Brody McCuiston 2nd, Ozan Saraydar 6th, Eric Dunn 7th
Girls’ 200 Medley Relay – (Elliana Ker, Mary Bailey, Jane Runyon, and Claire Tomasek) 6th
Boys’ 200 Medley Relay – (Brody McCuiston, Tyler Bassett, Ozan Saraydar, and Eric Dunn) 1st, (Owen Brown, Kai Boylan, Beckham Leith, and Colton Ruks) 4th
Boys’ 100 Fly – Ozan Saraydar 2nd, Beckham Leith 4th, Reid McCuiston 7th, Tyler Bassett 8th
Boys’ 50 Back – Brody McCuiston 1st, Colton Ruks 8th
Girls’ 100 Breast – Mary Bailey 2nd, Claire Tomasek 7th
Boys’ 100 Breast – Tyler Bassett 3rd
Boys’ 200 Free – Ozan Saraydar 4th, Eric Dunn 5th, Beckham Leith 6th
Girls’ 50 Breast – Mary Bailey 2nd
Boys’ 50 Breast – Tyler Bassett 2nd, Ozan Saraydar 5th
Boys’ 100 Free – Brody McCuiston 3rd, Eric Dunn 6th​
Boys’ 50 Fly – Ozan Saraydar 2nd, Colton Ruks 4th, Beckham Leith 5th, Reid McCuiston 7th
Boys’ 200 IM – Brody McCuiston 1st, Beckham Leith 5th
Boys’ 200 Freestyle Relay – (Beckham Leith, Ozan Saraydar, Eric Dunn, Brody McCuiston,) 1st,
Colton Ruks, Carter Helmick, Owen Brown, Reid McCuiston) 4th
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11-12s
Girls’ 50 Free – Catherine Howe 5th
Boys’ 100 Back – Nolan Knudsen 7th
Boys’ 100 Breast – Jon Saraydar 6th
Boys’ 400 IM – Will Schwab 6th
Boys 200 Fly – Will Schwab 5th
Girls’ 400 Medley Relay- (Lyla Collins, Natalie Batey, Catherine Howe, Allie Page) 3rd
Boys’ 400 Medley Relay- (Nolan Knudsen, Jon Saraydar, Will Schwab, Sully Jackson ) 2nd
Boys’ 500 Free – Will Schwab 3rd
Girls’ 100 Fly – Catherine Howe 4th
Boys’ 100 Fly – Nolan Knudsen 4th, Jack Ruud 7th
Girls’ 200 IM – Lyla Collins 7th
Boys’ 200 IM – Will Schwab 7th
Boys’ 50 Back – Nolan Knudsen 5th
Girls’ 200 Breast – Catherine Howe 7th
Girls 200 Free Relay – (Catherine Howe, Lyla Collins, Sofia Beattie, Allie Page) 4th
Boys’ 200 Free Relay – (Will Schwab, Sully Jackson, Nolan Knudsen, Jon Saraydar) 2nd
Girls’ 400 Free Relay – (Catherine Howe, Lyla Collins, Sofia Beattie, Allie Page) 3rd
Boys’ 400 Free Relay- (Will Schwab,Nolan Knudsen, Jon Saraydar, Sully Jackson) 3rd
Girls’ 100 IM – Lyla Collins 8th
Boys’ 100 IM – Will Schwab 8th
Boys’ 11-12 50 Breast J- on Saraydar 2nd, Jack Ruud 8th
Girls’ 50 Fly – Catherine Howe 4th
Boys’ 50 Fly – Nolan Knudsen 6th
Girls’ 200 Medley Relay – (Lyla Collins, Natalie Batey, Catherine Howe, Allie Page) 7th
Boys’ 200 Medley Relay – (Sully Jackson, Jon Saraydar, Nolan Knudsen, Will Schwab) 2nd

13-14
Boys’ 200 Fly Quinn O’Neill- 3rd NEW TEAM RECORD
Boys’ 100 Back – Ben Bricker 4th
Boys’ 800 Free Relay – (Charlie McCuiston,Quinn O’Neill, Turner Worth, Ben Bricker) 1st
Girls’ 400 Medley Relay – (Quinn Norlande, Kassidy Collins,Taylor Robinson, Avery Tack) 6th
Boys’ 400 Medley Relay – (Ben Bricker, Charlie McCuiston,Quinn O’Neill, Turner Worth) 1st
Boys’ 500 Free – Quinn O’Neill 4th
Boys’ 100 Fly – Turner Worth 3rd, Quinn O’Neill 4th
Girls’ 200 IM – Avery Tack 5th
Boys’ 100 free – Turner Worth 4th
Boys 200 Breast – Charlie Michael 8th
Girls’ 200 Free Relay – (Avery Tack,Quinn Norlander, Kassidy Collins, Taylor Robinson) 5th
Boys’ 200 Free Relay – (Turner Worth, Nico Bonel-Muras, Quinn O’Neill, Charlie McCuiston) 1st & NEW TEAM RECORD!! , (Ben Bricker, Charlie Michael, Allern Zhang, Jack McCuiston) 7th
Girls’ 400 Free Relay- (Avery Tack, Sophie Layer, Taylor Robinson, Quinn Norlander) 3rd
Boys’ 400 Free Relay – (Charlie McCuiston, Ben Bricker, Quinn O’Neill, Turner Worth) 1st
Girls’ 100 IM – Avery Tack 5th
Boys’ 100 IM – Quinn O’ Neill 4th, Turner Worth 5th
Boys’ 200 Free – Quinn O’Neill 3rd
Girls’ 200 Medley Relay – (Quinn Norlander, Kassidy Collins, Taylor Robinson, Avery Tack) 6th
Boys’ 200 Medley Relay- (Ben Bricker, Charlie McCuiston, Quinn O’Neill, Turner Worth) 1st & NEW TEAM RECORD! , (Sean Kanary, Charlie Michael, Nico Bonel-Muras, Allen Zhang) 7th

Congratulations! Now we head for Greensboro!

Spring Tune-Up
Thank you for responding to our survey about spring tune-up. Because interest is so great we are working to expand options…it’s a challenge because demand for pools is even greater, Birmingham is working on some of their pools and we lose some of our coaches. Swimmers who completed the season by participating in championship meets will be given priority before we take anyone new. As soon as I get back from Greensboro we will firm things up and get registration going.

Kevin​

Dear Parents and Swimmers,
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Our athletes have been the perennial Great Lakes Zone Meet champions. They haven’t even finished second since 2011. They were in fine form this weekend. The championship banner they won represents thousands of hours of teaching and practice and it manifest itself in many stellar performances. It was great to see so many swimmers compete in their first zone championship as well as those who have been there many times. It appeared that our families had a great time at the pool and away from the pool as well.
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Our Zone Champs:
Brody McCuiston 10 and under 200 IM, 100 back, 100 IM and 50 back
Ozan Saraydar 10 and under 50 fly (and he’s only 9!)
William Quarrier 10 and under 100 breast and 50 breast
Malin Murphey 11-12 50 back
Jack McCuiston 11-12 100 IM
Skyler Jansen 1000 free
Matt Garza 1000 free
Angus MacDonald 200 free
Caroline Lee 1,650 free
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We won several relays. The boys’ 9-10 200 medley relay of Brody McCuiston, Will Quarrier, Ozan Saraydar and Eric Dunn set a new team and Great Lakes Zone record.
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We added two new girls to our National Team: Skyler Jansen and Demetra Bikos! Congratulations!
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Mayer Krieger set a new team record in the 200 fly at the “Day-After” Meet.
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Middle School League Meet champs…Quinn O’Neill 200 free and 50 fly (Bodhi Chinnaiyan was second), Charlie Michael 100 IM and 50 breast (Oliver Grake was the runner-up to Charlie in both races), John Hofley 100 back.
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Now we are set up for the last two meets of the season: MAGS in Grand Rapids and Nationals in Greensboro. To those swimmers who have completed their season…..enjoy your break and follow your teammates.
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Spring Tune-Up:
In spite of the fact that we are in the whirlwind championship season we need to plan for spring and summer. We have had a lot of interest in the spring session which begins in late April and ends right before Memorial Day weekend. Summer begins the Tuesday after Memorial Day. While we know many of our athletes will be doing another spring sport or doing a tune-up with their summer club in the spring, a lot are looking to us. You will be receiving a survey soon asking about your interest in a spring program. We have some pool time, but we will try to secure more if the interest is there, so please answer the survey promptly. Older swimmers who plan to swim in the summer program are expected to train in the spring.
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The success we have enjoyed in the last few weeks is because of the work the swimmers have done over a long period of time. Unfortunately, it doesn’t just happen. Swimming is an unforgiving sport!

Kevin