Swimming

shot at trying to have the best times possible, which is what these girls have worked all season to try and achieve,” Hodgson said. “

If things happen to open back up on Dec. 9, that gives them just two weeks. I don’t know what you can do in two weeks. It would certainly challenge my coaching skills. It’s such a short period of time. To bring these girls all the way to their peak performance, then stop them entirely for three weeks, then ask them to get it back in two weeks, that’s extremely difficult if not impossible.”

Knowing that his swimmers were in peak form as of last weekend, Bloomfield Hills swim coach David Zulkiewski worked with his administrators and the MHSAA to get his girls a chance to swim in their

own pool prior to Wednesday’s order taking place.

“We were fortunate. Our administration was very supportive and we took advantage of our two days. We had a Monday practice and then we did a time trial (Tuesday night),” Zulkiewski said. “Just to give the girls a chance to race in their own pool, I knew that would mean a lot. It was just our girls. Many other teams weren’t as fortunate. My administrators have been great all season, getting us pool time in August and working with us all season. Our girls got to race and we had a heck of a night.”

With individual workouts being allowed during the shutdown, some swimmers may be able to maintain somewhat of a normal training routine if they have access to a pool. That creates a challenge to have all things equal for competitors once the order is lifted.

“Unfortunately, it’s prob

ably not a level playing field for everyone during this time,” Zulkiewski said. “Some communities are more fortunate than others where some girls may have access to a pool for their own individual workouts that other communities don’t.”

This stoppage is just the latest challenge for swimmers during 2020. Their season was delayed in the beginning due to indoor workouts not being allowed. Teams were forced to train in outdoor pools, or even just on land if pools weren’t available.

During the season, many events went without spectators and bigger events had to be altered. This year’s Oakland County Championship was a satellite meet with no more than four teams at one location around the county.

“I am really proud of our girls. I am very happy with how they have handled the whole season. We had to start the season outdoors,

swimming at 6 a.m. while wearing masks when not in the water. It was pitch black outside, so you’d be lucky to see the whites in their eyes between the masks and the hooded jackets they would be wearing,” Zulkiewski said. “Our girls found the best of it every day. They trained hard while training safely. The girls competed without spectators, which can be hard, but they really just upped their support for one another. The girls really rallied around each other.”

Through it all, Bloomfield Hills was able to win an OAA White championship in 2020, while Birmingham Seaholm captured the OAA Red title.

The Maples are the defending Division 2 state champions and among the top contenders to win the title again this year.

“That’s the motivation we are using, that we have a chance at another state title,” Hodgson said of keeping his team driven

during the stoppage. “I think it’s the perfect apple to throw out there for our team to keep them motivated during this time. The girls have work to do and they know that. They can’t become lethargic and just sit on their butts for three weeks.”

Coaches and swimmers are trying not to think about the possibility of the finals never taking place, but Zulkiewski knows that the girls have had more of a season than many may have originally expected.

“I am grateful for everything the MHSAA has been doing. I am tremendously grateful for everything Bloomfield Hills is doing for our kids. Across the state, my hat goes off to all the coaches and parents and athletes for what they have done,” he said. “We had to get real creative this year and we were able to do it safely. I am very proud of what we have gotten out of this year across the state.”