In nine years as the boys swimming coach at Lake Orion, Paul Fairman has certainly put the program on the map in the state of Michigan.
‘The last three season have been pretty good,? Fairman said of the team’s 17th, fifth- and sixth-place finishes at the state level.
Two seniors from last year’s team, Dave Brown and Garrett Ruhland, are now swimming at the college level (at Miami, OH, and Michigan State, respectively).
Two more seniors on this year’s squad have that potential.
‘I’ve got two really good athletes,? Fairman said of diver Brandon Figurski and distance swimmer Ricky Forrest.
‘It’s pretty much a rebuilding year, other than those two guys,? the coach added, saying the team is gradually moving from being a ‘big meet? team to a team that’s more successful in the dual meet setting.
‘Probably next year, we’ll start competing in the duals,? Fairman said.
The team drops down from the Oakland Activities Association’s Division I to compete in Division II this season.
‘We’ve been in OAA I getting our butts kicked the last couple of years,? Fairman said, noting his team was just more structured for the larger meets.
They hosted new league foe Berkley on Dec. 7, falling 111-75, though they missed Forrest who was out of town.
Figurski, on the other hand, came out in full force, setting a new varsity and pool record with a 312.85 score in six dives.
‘There won’t be many people doing that this season,? Fairman said of Figurski? score.
Figurski didn’t begin competing until January last season, though he went on to capture the state title in Division I.
‘It’s definitely a great boost to start the season,? Figurski said. ‘That was one of my goals to start the season strong.?
Figurski said there’s still plenty of room to grow this year.
‘I think the sky’s the limit,? he said.
Helping Figurski is new diving coach Paul Brent.
‘It’s great for me and it’s great for the kids,? Brent said of having Figurski around.
‘The new divers can learn a lot from him and Brandon’s really taken to them,? he said.
Tom Arusoo, a swimmer at the University of Michigan and a member of the 1968 Canadian Olympic team, also joins Fairman’s staff this season.
With just six seniors on the team of 30, there is plenty of potential for Fairman, Brent and Arusoo to work with.
Fairman said the emergence of the Liquid Lightning program has helped, and the year-round training has certainly benefited a handful of swimmers, like Ben Fritsch.
However, the clear-cut main man in the pool for the Dragons will be Forrest, who has signed with Michigan State.
‘Really, the events he swims, we don’t swim in high school,? Fairman said.
The coach added that he’d like to see some of his relay teams develop as the season wears on.
‘Even with two kids, we’ll be top 20 in the state, maybe top 15,? Fairman said.