GRYPHONS FIND THEIR STRIDE IN SECOND YEAR ON CO-OP GIRLS SWIM TEAM

In 2022, after years of girls participating in a co-ed team during the boys swim season, Greenhills joined forces with Whitmore Lake and St. Catherine of Siena Academy to compete as a co-op girls swim team. Now, in their second season, the athletes are establishing themselves as fierce competitors in the pool and becoming a more cohesive group on the deck.

Captains Maya Comer ’24 and Morgan Mathis ’24 have noticed a significant improvement in the team this season. Times are dropping, confidence is building, and the co-captains attribute much of that to the team’s bonding. 

“We’ve seen a lot more inter-school friendships forming, which gives more of a sense of camaraderie,” said Comer.

This newfound team unity has translated well in the water. At the October 6 Michigan Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (MISCA) meet, Comer, Mathis, Sophia Hazzi ’26, and Whitmore Lake’s Mackenzie Williams set a team record in the 400 freestyle relay with their time of 3:52.54 and qualified for states. 

“I was so happy,” said Mathis. “As an anchor, it feels like it comes down to you, so I wanted to make my relay proud. It was exciting.”

Fellow relay member Comer is no stranger to success, having broken several school records in her four years competing for Greenhills and making the state cut in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke in 2022. But Comer says breaking a record as part of a relay “has a lot more hype to it,” and she looks forward to sharing the experience with her relay team at states later this month, after competing individually last year. 

“It’s not going to be so quiet and lonely,” said Comer. “Now we get to have a team experience at states and have fun.”

Swimmers aren’t the only ones finding their stride this season. In her first year on the team, diver Libby Schuster ’27 is already making her mark. At the September 28 meet against Bishop Foley, Schuster set a school diving record with a score of 185.5, then bested it a little over a month later when she placed fourth at the Catholic High School League (CHSL) diving championships with a score of 305. 

Although Schuster attributes her achievements to “mental toughness and calm nerves,” she was quick to acknowledge the role of her teammates, crediting them for contributing to her success through their constant cheering and support at meets. 

“The team support has been very helpful,” she said. “Having teammates watching and cheering for me at meets, rather than being alone as the only diver, is really nice and definitely contributes to my success.”

With team morale high, the Gryphons are able to put more energy toward refining their skills for postseason competition. Schuster will compete at the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Diving Regionals on November 9, while the swimmers are tapering ahead of the CHSL Championships on November 10–11 and MHSAA Finals on November 17-18.