A strong meet from start to finish helped Cranbrook Kingswood High School repeat as Michigan High School Division III State Champions. They would end the meet 130.50 points ahead of Chelsea High School. In 2014 Cranbrook Kingswood was only able to edge out Chelsea High by 23.76 points, so this year’s meet proved to be much more of a runaway victory.
All three relays contested had the winners post times that were faster than the standing Michigan High School Division II State Meet Record. Cranbrook Kingswood was able to claim two of these records as their 200 Medley and 400 Free Relays came out victorious. The team of Mitch Buccalo (23.84), Giorgio DelGrosso (25.92), Andrew Guan (22.98), and Frankie Misra (21.15) stepped up first to reset the 200 Medley relay (1:33.89) and beat a late charging Chelsea High School (1:35.37). Ending out the meet Andrew Guan (47.02), Frankie Misra (46.65), Alessandro Guttilla (46.54), and Mitch Buccalo (45.94) would blast to a 3:06.15 time in the 400 free relay ahead of East Grand Rapids.
The powerhouse sprinting relay from East Grand Rapids was able to break up the relay sweep from Cranbrook Kingswood and claim a victory in the 200 free relay. Braden Wiener (22.64), Jack Filion (21.64), Christian Bart (21.41), and Andy MacGregor (21.08) stopped the clock at 1:26.06. This tight race between the top three teams would see Chelsea High School finish second (1:26.60) and Cranbrook Kingswood fall to third (1:26.87).
Starting off the night for individual events Andy MacGregor was able to claim his first victory of the night with a 1:40.96 200 free. Following closely behind Cranbrook Kingswood would see swimmers finish in the 2nd– 4th place position (Alessandro Guttilla-1:41.50, Andrew Trunsky-1:43.74, Andrew Guan-1:44.02). After starting off the night on a strong foot, MacGregor was able to continue this momentum with a victory in the 100 free (46.09). This would put his ahead of second place finisher Joey Manager (47.02).
Mitch Buccalo would reset the first of three individual Michigan High School Division III State Meet Records when he pushed to a 1:50.55 200 IM. Buccalo would build to an early lead with the fastest opening 100 of the field, and this would end up being a lead that he would never relinquish. East Grand Rapids freshman Christian Bart would end the race in second (1:53.30).
The second individual Division III record of the night would be claimed by Alec Nyboer in the 100 fly (49.15). The junior from Hamilton High School would be the only swimmer to break the 50 second barrier in either prelims or finals. Chelsea High School Senior Sam Almhiemid would close out his individual high school career with a second place finish (50.29).
Joey Puglessi set a new Division III meet record during prelims of the 100 back (50.38). During a tight finals race Puglessi found himself in third when he flipped at the 50. The junior showed a lot of grit and buckled down in the closing 50 to surge ahead and claim the State Title. Detroit County Day’s Brendan Gatward finished as the runner-up (51.38).
Other Division III State Title Winners
- 50 Free-Joey Manager (Chelsea High School, 21.27)
- 1 Meter – Joe Smith (Chelsea High School, 492.95)
- 500 Free-Andrew Trunksy (Cranbrook Kingswood, 4:37.12)
- 100 Breaststroke-Giorgio DelGrosso (Cranbrook Kingswoord, 56.58)
Top 5 Overall Teams
- Cranbrook – Kingswood 430
- Chelsea High School 299.5
- East Grand Rapids 248
- Hamilton HS 215
- Grand Rapids Christian High School 124