Gallery: Defending State Champs Open Season With Win at Huron Relays

Even with their elite dive squad taking the day off, the Saline swim and dive team began their state title defense by winning the Huron Relays Thursday.

Saline won the event with 414 points. Northville (372), Skyline (338), Huron (338) and South Lyon (330) rounded out the top five in the eight team event. Dexter (326), Pioneer (276) and Brighton (266) also swam.

“It’s a nice way to start the year. I thought we swam well today. We got a couple state cuts that we don’t have to worry about now. And we got some nice performances from some freshmen swimmers who we’re going to need if we want to compete for the state championship again,” Saline head coach Todd Brunty said.

Senior co-captains Allison Eppinga and Amelia Armstrong-Grant led the Hornets to a victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Maddy Murphy and freshman Maddie Luther were also on the winning relay. Saline won in 3:36.36, besting Huron by nearly seven seconds. The Saline “B” team also won its heat in 3:54.34. The team included Riley Jones, Kelsey Robinson, Sam Fox and senior co-captain Olivia McKelvey.

Also winning was the 200 fly relay. Sarah Burchart, Maddy Robison, Gillian Gatecliff and Lisa Gross won in 1:50.18. Once again, Saline’s B team won its heat. The team included Paige Wilson, Kelsey Robinson, Lauryn Kruse and Emily Learman.

The 200 breaststroke relay team of Therese Larson, Lizzy Spears, Emily Klemptner and Armstrong-Grant finished second in 2:07.18. Dexter won in 2:04.39.

The 200 medley relay team of Lizzy Spears, Therese Larson, Sarah Burchart and Lisa Gross was third in 1:50.75. Skyline won in 1:48.23. The 400 IM team of Spears, Emily Klemptner, Murphy and Larson was third in 4:13. Dexter won in 4:04.71. Also placing third was Saline’s 200 backstroke relay team of Eppinga. Cassie Anderson, Murphy and Riley Jones. Saline finished in 1:50.77. Skyline won in 1:47.94. The 800 relay team of Luther, Armstrong-Grant, Burchart and McKelvey also finished third in 8:00.02. Brighton won in 7:55.24. Another third place finish game in the 200 yard free relay, where Gross, Eppinga, Luther and Gatecliff finished in 1:40.78. Northville won in 1:39.09.

Other heat victories came in the 200 yard free relay (Sam Fitch, Mikaela Honan, Paige Wilson and Sam Fox), the 200 yard breaststroke relay (Krus, Robinson, Elise Koberl, Learman), the 800 free relay (Fox, Fitch, Kermath and Honan), the backstroke relay (Sydney Kermath, Robison, Honan and McKelvey) and the 200 medley relay (Anderson, Klemptner, Robison and Gatecliff).

Saline Post 3 Stars

1. Amelia Armstrong-Grant - The Saline senior co-captain helped the 400 free relay team to victory and helped the 200 breaststroke relay team to a second place finish.
2. Allison Eppinga - The Saline senior co-captain swam with Armstrong-Grant on the 400 free relay that won its race. She also swam well for the third place backstroke relay team and the 200 free team.
3. Maddy Luther - The freshman swam the first leg for the 400 free relay team and showed she's ready to be a contributor.

More News from Saline

• SOFTBALL: Saline Roars Back to Earn Split With Dexter Saline split its doubleheader with Dexter Monday to maintain its grip on the SEC Red.
• BASEBALL: Saline Rebounds to Split Doubleheader with Dexter Saline lost its first SEC Red game of the season against Dexter Monday but rebounded for a split to keep the Hornets atop the conference.