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Posted on Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.

Saline dominates, repeats as Division 1 champions; Pioneer second, Huron fourth

By AnnArbor.com Staff

It wasn't really a matter of if the Saline High School boys swimming team would win a state title on Saturday, but how many points it could score.

The answer: The most ever.

The Hornets dominated the Division 1 state finals competition at Oakland University, winning eight of 12 events and scoring 384 team points, nearly twice as much as second place Pioneer (197) and the most ever scored at the state championships, regardless of class or division.

Huron came in fourth with 141 team points, nine behind Rockford.

"It was an all-time great day. Do you expect those? No, but with the way they swam (Friday), we knew we had a chance to do something pretty special,” said Saline coach Todd Brunty, who was named MISCA Coach of the Year.

The Hornets' performance during Friday preliminary round -- when they qualified more swimmers for final heats than any other team and set two state meet records in the process -- had them clearly in the driver's seat.

On Saturday, Saline's completed its second straight championship. For a team rich with underclassmen, it’s never too early to be talking about a possible three-peat.

“After last year it was one of those things where we say, 'What’s next?' We talk about it as a team, and as a group we start eyeballing the records,” said Brunty said, who not long after returning home from the state meet was looking up national records to set goals for next year.

“A couple of those guys come back and we have some more youngsters, so we start eyeballing and looking at those things. That’s the way these guys are, you gotta keep raising the bar.”

More Coverage at MLive.com: Rest of the Story | Full Results | Statewide Coverage

Comments

JWarner

Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 12:44 a.m.

Great job Saline! The entire Saline swim community - past and present - is really proud of your accomplishments and hoping for a three-peat! GO HORNETS!

Rita

Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 2:56 p.m.

Huron H.S. would have placed 3rd, but one of their top swimmers was DQ'd in error......