8-26-2016 12:51pm

Gallery: Saline Wins 6 of 9 Events at Huron Relays

The Saline girls won six of nine events as they opened their season at the 15th annual Huron Relays Thursday at Ann Arbor Huron.

“I think we swam well and looked pretty good for our first time out. It’s an important meet. We get to see where we stand against some of the best teams in the state,” Saline coach Todd Brunty said. “This meet helps us figure out what we need to work on over the next few months.”

Saline started the day by winning the diving competition, holding off a challenge from a strong Huron team.

The swimming events started at 6:30 p.m. In the opening event the team of Riley Jones, Lauryn Kruse, Emily Klemptner and Emily Laing finished fourth in the 200-yard medley relay (1:54.75). Saline’s B team of Cassie Anderson, Emma Loveland, Madeline Robison and Sarah Burchart won their heat in 1:55.35.

Then the Hornets went on a tear.

The girls won the 400-yard freestyle relay by eight seconds. Winning the race in 3:31.32 were Maddie Luther, Lisa Gross, Lizzy Spears and Johanna Jorgenson. Saline’s B team won their heat in 3:51.8, which would have been good for sixth in the top heat. Sydney Kermath, Robison, Anderson and Jones swam for Saline.

Saline then won the 400-yard IM Relay in4:05.22, beating Skyline by 2.41 seconds. Luther, Maddy Murphy, Klemptner and Spears swam for Saline.

The Hornets kept rolling with a win in the 200-yard fly relay. Saline finished in 1:49.7, beating Northville by 2.72 seconds. Gross, Paige Wilson, Kruse and Murphy swam for the Hornets. Saline’s B team won their heat in 1:57.85, which would have placed fourth in the top heat. Swimming for Saline were Robison, Marissa Gerber, Alexis Ploutz-Snyder and Kelsey Robinson.

Next up the Hornets took the 200-yard backstroke relay. Saline won in 1:50.51, .33 seconds faster than Northville. Separs, Anderson, Jones, and Murphy swam for Saline.

Saline was fourth in the 800-yard freestyle relay. Saline swam the race in 7:56. Skyline won in 7:47..49. Luther, Jorgenson, Kermath and Burchart swam for Saline.

In another close race, the Hornets defeated Pioneer by .38 seconds in the 200-yard breaststroke relay. Saline won in 2:12.45. Swimming for Saline were Kruse, Loveland, Laing and Klemptner.

Saline finished the meet by taking third in the 200-yard freestyle. Saline finished in 1:41.21. Brighton was first in 1:40.63. Swimming for the Hornets were Gross, Jorgenson, Laing and Burchart.

The outlook for Saline remains the same in 2016. Brunty said Saline should be one of several teams in the hunt for a trophy in the state meet.

“We’ve got several talented swimmers. We need to work on getting them in the best possible shape and we need to work on our depth a little bit,” Brunty said.