By Kelly Smith
Special to Clarkston News
HOLLAND — The Clarkston Boys Swim and Dive team continued post-season competition with the MHSAA Division I State Championship held at the Holland Aquatic Center March 14-15.
Five members of the team qualified for the championship: Braeden Covintree, Blake Davidson, Ben Guzal, Jack Smith and Jon George.

The team of Covintree, Davidson, Guzal and Smith competed in the preliminary 200-yard freestyle relay and finished in 27th place with a final time of 1:31:76.
“I am so proud of the growth the guys have shown throughout the season,” said Haley Grisdale, head coach, adding the team started at 1:37, five seconds off a state cut, and worked down to a 1:31, the fastest time over the years since the 2016-2017 season. “There has not been a swimmer qualifier in over three years. Then, to have four swimmers qualified and one diver is a big deal.”
In addition to the relay, Covintree competed in the preliminary 200-yard freestyle, coming in 18th place with a personal best time of 1:46.23.

He also competed in the preliminary 100-yard butterfly, with another personal best time of 53.28, which qualified him for the final B team. On Saturday, he dropped time again, swimming the 100-yard butterfly in 52.52, finishing in 11th place and qualifying for sectionals.
Guzal also competed in the preliminary 100-yard backstroke, coming in 25th place with a personal best time of 55.69.
“I am super happy with our teams progress at the state meet. Sometimes it is tough to go even faster two weeks after league meet but our individual swimmers did. Braeden had best times in both the 200 free and 100 fly. Ben had best times leading off the 200 free relay and in the 100 backstroke. Braeden’s finish in the 100 fly was great. He moved up from 27th to 11th. Dropping over two seconds is phenomenal,” said Grisdale. “Overall I’m super happy with the guys progress throughout the season and team performance at state meet finishing 28th overall with 5.5 points.”
In 1-meter diving, George competed in the preliminaries, coming in 26th place with 135.05 points.

  Clarkston Athletics, Swim and Dive