Fraser’s Addison Lasley swims during the MAC White Division meet on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Marysville. Lasley helped the Ramblers win the tournament by winning the individual medley and 100-yard freestyle. (George Spiteri, Media News Group)
Fraser’s girls swim team had a great season, but one thing was missing before Saturday.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen my girls have fun,” coach Daniel Berrywoody said after the Ramblers took first place in the hard-fought Macomb Area Conference White Division tournament in Marysville. It was fun,” he said. “They’ve been so nervous all year. It’s great, so you see some of the nervousness go away and you see more smiles.”
Frazier and Chippewa Valley ended in a stalemate, tied for the MAC White dual meet championship.
The Ramblers won the district tournament with 253 points. Romeo finished second with 246 points, followed by Chippewa Valley with 234 points, Marysville with 223 points and Utica with 222 points.
Romeo sophomore Alyssa Chambers was selected as the swimmer of the meet. Berry Woody was named Coach of the Year and Marysville won the Sportsmanship Award.
“It was a match that lived up to expectations,” Romeo coach Sue Trash said. “Other divisions have had very high and low scores, but this was a balanced match. There were participants from each school in every event. We need a sectional competition where anyone can win. ”
The lead changed hands several times during the meet, but Fraser took the lead for good in the 500-yard freestyle, taking third and fourth place (Quinn Savage and Kate Gauvin). In freestyle, Chippewa Valley’s Julia Weber won in a close competition with a freshman from Utica. Ella Sam. Weber’s winning percentage was .06.
The Ramblers competed in the 500m freestyle tied with Romeo.
“They really wanted this,” Berrywoody said. “They always wanted to have the best time, which is a great quality, but sometimes having big goals gets in the way of having fun. I told them, ‘I don’t care about race anymore. Please don’t.” I worked hard for a year to get here. Listen to music, get well, whatever, but what I want to see today is a smile. ”
“They lacked confidence. I want them to have confidence and seeing that today made me feel good too.”
Fraser University sophomore Addison Lasley was the county champion in the 100-meter freestyle and one of three double winners at Saturday’s meet. She won the 200m individual medley (2:24.00) and 100m freestyle (56.45).
“The 200IM was one of my best races and I was happy with it,” Lasley said. “The 100 free was just around the corner. Joe Roosa (of Marysville) is a good swimmer. I love those types of races because they bring out the best in me. Watching races like that… is interesting and entertaining and even more fun to be a part of. There are a lot of good people here, so all the races were very close.”
Lasley said it meant a lot to be the division champion.
“This means all our hard work during the season has paid off,” she said. “I’m proud of everyone on this team.”
Berry Woody has been working with Lasley since she was about 8 years old.
“She always had high energy and was a great competitor,” the coach said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing her at the state tournament.”
There were other great performances from the Ramblers.
“Annabeth Brehm had a great performance in the 100 breaststroke and finally made the state cut,” Berrywoody said. “Our sophomore Michaela Chandler had a great day yesterday. She dropped two seconds in the 50 free to finish in the top six today and dropped four seconds in the 100 free. “
Berry-Woody sees good things coming for Fraser.
“We’ve had a lot of freshmen step up this year,” she said. “It’s great to see them develop for three more years. I’m excited to see what the future holds. I think this is what they needed and I think they’ll have more confidence going into next season.”
Chambers, the county champion in the 200-meter freestyle, won the 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke. She also swam in two championship relays, anchored the 400-meter freestyle relay, and led the 200-meter medley relay.
“It wasn’t my best time, but it was the time I was looking for heading into the competition,” she said. “My hard work in practice paid off. I’m happy with my time and my contribution to the team. My goal was to beat state time.”
Chambers qualified for the state meet in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke events.
Chambers had to come back on the anchor leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay, which the Bulldogs won in 3:54.30.
“I’m happy to do that for the team,” Chambers said. “At that time, we didn’t know if we could do it.”
It took a strong effort from the rest of the team (Sarah Jesperson, Victoria Lovellell and Isabella Greco) to make Chambers’ anchor leg meaningful.
“She’s the anchor you want,” Trash said. “We knew that if the other three guys did their job, we would have a chance and they all had the best times. It was a great way to finish the tournament.
“The entire team exceeded expectations. The dual meet season was a little tough, but they were incredible at the championships. I’m so proud of all of our swimmers and divers.”
The meet’s other double winner was Utica’s Alaina Collins, who came from behind on the final leg to win the 100 butterfly (1:04.35). Collins also won the 100 breaststroke by .18 over Frazier’s Brehm. It was the most competitive event of the tournament, with the top four competing to the end.
Chippewa Valley’s Marissa Warm won the diving event with a score of 317.75. Warm finished fourth in the county meet.
“The whole county could have been a little better, but the individual dives were better today,” she said. “I cleaned them up and became more focused.”
Warm was in the lead after qualifying earlier this week.
“I just tried to stay on top of everything and make sure I was diving the way I knew how,” she said.
The other individual winner was Marysville’s Lusa, who defeated Chippewa Valley’s Emily Zanolli in the 50-meter freestyle.
Chippewa Valley’s team of Rachel Kincher, Webber, Zanoli and Brooklyn Sims won the 200-meter freestyle relay in 1:45.79.