COUNTY BOUNTY
Five sites to host competitors for annual meet that has format change
What’s better than a Macomb County swimming and diving meet?
How about five of them?
Top performers who’ve met qualifying standards will head to five sites Friday and to L’Anse Creuse North Saturday to compete for championships and medals in the 12 traditional events.
Since COVID-19 rules limit the number of teams that can be in one place, coaches came up with a system to continue the long-standing part of the boys season.
“It gives everybody another chance to race,” Dakota coach David Smith said. “That’s huge. We lost six weeks (to the COVID-19 delay).”
Tracy Kalinowski, the coach at Lakeview, said the county meet gives competitors a grander stage than a dual meet.
“A big meet gives you a whole different mindset,” Kalinowski said. “It changes your attitude.
“The kids will be excited to be there.”
Four teams will be at Anchor Bay, Chippewa Valley, Ford, L’Anse Creuse North and Warren Woods-Tower. Swimming starts at 6 p.m. Friday at all sites.
Divers will compete at L’Anse Creuse North starting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
When the competition is complete, coaches will merge results to determine winners and other finishers plus team standings, said Mike Owensby, the coach at L’Anse Creuse North.
Here are team assignments:
• ANCHOR BAY: Anchor Bay, Dakota, De La Salle, Romeo
• CHIPPEWA VALLEY: Chippewa Valley, Eisenhower, Fraser, Lakeview
• FORD: Ford, Lake Shore, Mott, Stevenson • L’ANSE CREUSE NORTH: L’Anse Creuse North, South Lake, Sterling Heights, Utica
• WARREN WOODS-TOWER: Center Line, Cousino, L’Anse Creuse, WWT
No spectators will be allowed at any swimming site, coaches said.
Two spectators per diver will be allowed at LCN, coaches added.
The top eight finishers in each individual and relay event will receive medals.
A Senior of the Meet will be selected.
Dakota is the defending team champion.