By Faith Fessenden (Class of 2027)
Edited by Mr. Zane Harding (OCS Journalism Advisor)
Our Onekama Journalism program has the unique opportunity this school year to cover our co-op athletic programs with Manistee directly through our co-op athlete, senior Faith Fessenden. Coverage will be presented in third-person formatting to reflect conventional sports writing practices.
On Saturday, August 22, Onekama's co-op with the Manistee girls swim team started off their season by attending an invitational at North View. They competed against six teams: Ludington, North View, Wayland Union, Hamilton, Grandville, and Hudsonville. The team of six had five swimmers compete that day, Faith Fessenden (Onekama Sr), Emily Marquardt (Jr), Leah Szynski (So), Raquel Gilliland (So), and Skylar Ferreira (Fr), in a total of 6 events.
Leading off with the 200 yard Medley Relay, the team placed 13 out of 15 teams with a time of 2:39.02. The team consisted of Marquadt, Ferreira, Fessenden, and Syzynski. Fessenden later competed in the 100 yard Free, with a time of 1:19.05, placing her 30 out of 39. She later competed in the 50 yard Breast, with a time of 42.87, placing her 20 out of 30.
The following Saturday, August 29, the swim team headed to Ludington to participate in a relay meet against Traverse City, Fremont, Cadillac, and Ludington. Fessenden, Ferreira, Szynski, and Gilliland started the meet by competing in the 200 yard Breaststroke Relay placing 4 out of 4 teams, with a time of 3:05.08. The girls then took on the 500 yard Crescendo Relay; Ferreira led the race swimming 50 yards, followed by Marquardt with 100 yards, Fessenden with 150 yards, then anchored by Syzynski with 200 yards. The team placed 2 out of 5 teams, with a time of 6:41.58. The team ended the meet in the 200 yards Free Relay, with a team consisting of Gilliland, Ferreira, Marquadt, Fessenden; they placed 5 out of 8, with a time of 2:12.91.
Then, on Wednesday, September 2, the team headed down to East Grand Rapids to compete against East Grand Rapids, and Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Fessenden started the meet in the 200 yard Free, placing 8 out of 10, with a time of 2:48.82. She then competed in the 100 yard Free, placing 8 out of 12; she finished the race in 1:16.56, a season best by -2.49. Manistee then competed in the 200 yard Free relay, with a team consisting of Ferreira, Gilliland, Fessenden, and Marquardt; the team placed 3 out of 5, with a time of 2:16.71. Manistee finished off the meet in the 400 yard Free relay, the competing team consisted of Ferreira, Marquadt, Fessenden, and Syzynski. The team finished with a time of 5:17.86, placing them 5 out of 6.
The following day, Thursday, September 3, the team hosted a duel against Ludington. Manistee started off the meet in the 200 yard Medley relay, with a team consisting of Marquadt, Fessenden, Syzynski, and Ferreira. The team placed 1 out of 1 with a time of 2:38.28. Fessenden then competed in the 50 yard Free. She placed 5 out of 8, with a time of 32.88, making it a personal best by -4.59. Next, she raced in the 100 yard Free, placing 1 out of 4, with a time of 1:13.90, a season best by -2.66. Manistee then ended the meet in the 200 yard Free relay, with a team consisting of Gilliland, Syzynski, Sorenson, and Fessenden. The team placed 2 out of 2, with a time of 2:09.21.
Fessenden and the Manistee swim team are back in action tomorrow, September 19, at the Varsity Swim Invitational at Spring Lake. The invitational begins at 9:00 AM.