By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
HOLLAND—Wayland senior Laney Wolf ended her high school swimming career the same way she started it.
As a state champion.
Wolf, who won two individual Division 3 state titles as a freshman and another as a sophomore, took home the top prize in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.6 at the D3 Finals on Saturday, Nov. 22.
Wolf also finished second in the 50 free at 23.2 and was part of two relay teams that finished in the top eight, meaning she earned All-State four times.
That performance by Wolf helped Wayland secure a top-10 finish as a team, with the Wildcats placing ninth with 97 points. Hamilton finished one spot higher, snagging eighth place with 107 points.
Plainwell was 24th with 16 points, while Otsego and Allegan tied for 31st with three points.
For Wolf, her State Finals resume in her individual events now looks like this: two state titles in the 100 free; two state titles in the 50 free; two runner-up finishes in the 50 free; and two third-place finishes in the 100 free.
In her relays this year, Wolf joined with Ariana Longstreet, Stella VanWyk and Sybil Williamson to place fourth in the 200 free relay at 1:39.94. Wolf, Kaeli Whip, VanWyk and Williamson placed seventh in the 400 free relay at 3:44.04.
Wolf wasn’t the only local state champion this year.
Rather, Hamilton diver Josi Popma also took top honors in her event, scoring 399.7 points. That edged out Chelsea’s Anna McAllister by just 1.5 points.
In an interview with the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Popma admitted to being nervous heading into the finals.
“I came in today feeling really stressed and didn’t think I could do this,” she said. “I just had to remind myself to just go out there and approach it like I do every other day and be confident.
“Just being with my friends and teammates and keeping a positive attitude are what carried me through.”
First-year Hamilton coach Liz Vandewege praised Popma’s performance.
“It’s been a long road for Josi,” Vandewege said. “As a freshman, she qualified for state and was overwhelmed by the moment. Last year as a sophomore, she proved she could move up the ranks.
“During the offseason, she worked hard to get a bigger list of dives to compete with Anna (McCallister), who is a great diver. She really improved her technique this year, is really strong and has lot of God-given abilities to spin.”
Popma’s Hamilton teammate, Maya Miller, missed out on earning All-State in diving by one spot, as she finished ninth with 326.75 points.
Longstreet finished 11th in diving (308.25) for Wayland.
Alyssa Volkers was another standout performer for Hamilton.
In addition to placing second in the 200 free at 1:54.41 and taking third in the 500 free at 5:14.13.
Volkers also helped the Hawkeyes earn All-State in the 200 free relay. Joining with Keira Volkers, Adaline Garvelink and Paige Kleinheksel, Alyssa Volkers led Hamilton to seventh place in the event at 1:41.11.
For Plainwell, freshman Sophia VanHeest had a strong showing at her first State Finals. She was ninth in the 500 free (5:22.28) and 10th in the 200 free (1:59.4).
Otsego senior Hope Stender was 14th in the 200 free at 2:01.55, while Allegan senior Elize DeLaet placed 14th in the 50 free at 25.07.
“Eliza capped off her high school swimming career with an outstanding performance at the State Finals,” Allegan coach Carol Gephart said. “Her strong showing at the state meet reflects years of dedication, leadership and commitment to the Allegan girls swim program.”
