The Ottawa Hills Men’s Swimming team had an outstanding weekend at the D3 State Meet in Ypsilanti this weekend. Sophomore Robert Pall broke a 31 year old school record in the 50 free with a time of 22.36 and placed 14th in the meet. All three relays placed in the top 25 and had season best times as well. Ottawa finished 30th in the state, scoring points at a state meet for the first time since 1991.

Robert Pall

Union 59  vs Calendonia 50

Union plays GR Christian at District Finals

Date: Friday, March 8th
Time: 7pm
Locations: East Grand Rapids

The Ottawa Hills men’s swim and Dive team is capping off its best season in decades by sending 6 swimmers to the MHSAA Division 3 State Meet at Eastern Michigan University on March 8 and 9. The team qualified in 3 relay events and sophomore Robert Pall qualified in both the individual 50 free and the 500 free. On the relays with Pall are seniors Andrew Lowe, Isaac LaGrand and Gerrit Beltman, along with sophomores Jack Culp and Michael Pall. Sophomore diver Shane Mason will be competing at MHSAA Diving Regionals at East Grand Rapids High School on Tuesday March 5. The top 12 divers from the regional competition will move on to the State Meet.

The Bengals had their most successful season to date, with a dual meet record of 6-4, placing 2^nd at the Polar Bear Classic, 3^rd at the Ottawa Invitational and 3^rd at the OK Rainbow Conference Meet. Robert Pall broke the Conference record in the 500 free with a 5:07.47. Ottawa also had 5 All-Conference swimmers: Robert Pall, Michael Pall, Gerrit Beltman, Andrew Lowe and Isaac LaGrand.

From Left: Michael Pall , Jack Culp, Robert Pall, Andrew Lowe, Gerrit Beltman, Isaac LaGrand

Team Placed 3rd place overall (329pts)

State Qualifiers names and events in RED below.

200 Medley Relay: Jack Culp, Larenz Rivero, Nate Sherman, Jonathon Selmon – 4th place

200 Free: Andrew Lowe – 3rd, Gerrit Beltman – 6th, Nate Sherman – 12th

200 IM: Isaac LaGrand – 7th, Jack Culp – 9th

50 Free: Robert Pall – 1st (D3 State Qualifying), Michael Pall – 9th, Shane Mason – 14th, Jonathon Selmon – 16th
Diving: Shane Mason – 10th

100 Fly: Michael Pall – 4th, Nate Sherman – 7th, Larenz Rivero – 12th

100 Free: Andrew Lowe – 2nd

500 Free: Robert Pall – 1st (new Conference record, D3 State Qualifying), Rand Mustafa – 14th, Jacob Hartness – 16th

200 Free Relay: Andrew Lowe, Gerrit Beltman, Michael Pall, Robert Pall – 1st (D3 State Qualifying)

100 Back: Jack Culp – 5th, Gerrit Beltman – 6th, Matt Christensen – 14th

100 Breast: Isaac LaGrand – 3rd, Larenz Rivero – 8th

400 Free Relay: Andrew Lowe, Gerrit Beltman, Isaac LaGrand, Robert Pall – 2nd (D3 State Qualifying).

All Conference Swimmers: Robert Pall, Michael Pall, Andrew Lowe, Gerrit Beltman, Isaac LaGrand

Sam Beal won the 200m dash (22.41 FAT),Teyland Avery finished 5th in the 60m dash, girls 4×200 relay took 8th (Ottawa Hills track members are Chantel Lister and Satorie Spicer), and boys relay took 3rd overall (Ottawa Hills track members are Rashard Bivins, Sam Beal and Teyland Avery).

Overall, the Grand Rapids F.I.R.E./Grand Rapids Track Club have 2 State Champions and 8 who are All State — Ottawa Hills have 1 State Champion and 5 who are All State.

Ottawa Hills Students Qualify for State and National Indoor Track Meets

 Student athletes from Ottawa Hills High School have qualified for the Michigan Indoor Track Series State Championship Meet and the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation New Balance Nationals Indoor Meet. The state meet is being held on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Central Michigan University. All qualifiers from GRPS compete for the Grand Rapids F.I.R.E./Grand Rapids Track Club.

 The girl’s state 4x200m relay team is Satorie Spicer, Chantal Lister, Kendra Akins, Sharnell James, and Kyaira Roberts. The boy’s state qualifying team in the 4x200m relay is Teyland Avery, Sam Beal, Tevaughn Hill, Jacorri Millbrooks, and Rashard Bivens (Alternate).
 
Individual state qualifiers in the 400m dash are Chantal Lister and Jacorri Millbrooks. 60m and 200m dash individual state qualifiers are Sam Beal and Teyland Avery. Due to the Michigan Indoor Track Series rules, students can only compete in one individual event at the state championship. Beal will run the 200m dash, in which he is currently ranked first in the state. Avery will compete in the 60m dash; he is currently ranked 6^th overall.

 The national meet will take place in New York City on March 8-10, 2013. Both Beal and Avery will run the 60 meter dash in the championship division. Beal and Avery will be joined by Teyvaughn Hill and Jacori Millbrook for the boys 4×200 relay in the emerging elite division.

Girls basketball has come to an end and there was certainly madness in the GRPS Middle School tournament. On Saturday, March 24, Southwest Community Campus rallied the entire game to defeat CA Frost in the Theme School Championship. Next up was Alger going against an undefeated Riverside squad who kept it close until closing minutes when Riverside pulled away to win the Base School Championship. To end Saturday’s championship tournament, SWCC and Riverside battled until the very end with outstanding performances from both sides. It was SWCC who took it all and reigned as City Champions for the 2012 season.

Congratulations to all Theme and Base schools on a successful season, let’s do it again next year!