Adrian, Tecumseh boys swimmers ready to take on state meet at Eastern Michigan

Kade Opsal has had a tremendous junior season, breaking records and winning titles and this weekend he'll look to add another title at the MHSAA Division 3 boys swimming state championship meet at Eastern Michigan.

Opsal broke the Adrian records in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100 backstroke with times of 21.0 and 50.20, respectively, and is the favorite to win the state title in both events.

"He has made a ton of improvements in his overall work ethic at practice and his mentality at meets," coach Robert Petkus said. "He also became a captain of the team this season which he stepped up as a great leader for the team. After he won the 50 free at the MISCA invite, it only fueled his desire to train even harder to become a state champ."

Opsal is this season's leader in the pool for the Maples and leads the group of five into Friday and Saturday's season finale.

"This group has come together as a team and all became faster together," Petkus said "A lot more of holding each other accountable for working in the pool and supporting each other at practices and meets. We were unsure how it was going to look after Hadyn's (Gould) departure, but this group came together even stronger.

"The biggest thing I have seen change is their overall support for each other. At no point during meets is someone just sitting on their phone, thinking about their individual races, they are up cheering on their teammates wanting them to swim their best at all moments. They are a lot more positive with each other and to themselves and one the most important things in swimming is being happy. A happy swimmer is a fast swimmer."

Senior Brayden Kilpatrick, juniors Maddox Betz and Noah Judson, sophomore Ian Baker and freshman Lucas Zeckner are also competing at EMU.

Opsal, along with Kilpatrick Judson and Baker, is also competing in the 200-medley relay and 200-freestyle relay while Zeckner, Betz, Baker and Judson are in the 400-freestyle relay. The Maples are seeded ninth in the 400 and seventh in both 200s.

"The 400 relay is something that really came apparent in the last two weeks that we could achieve getting a third relay into the state meet," Petkus said. "Lucas Zeckner threw down some very fast 100 times at SEC that opened up the possibility for them to swim it at the state meet. Maddox Betz, Noah Judson, Ian Baker and Lucas Zeckner are hoping to at least make consolation finals on Saturday in that relay.

"The 200 medley and 200 free relays are with Kade, Brayden, Noah and Ian. Their goal is to finish both in the top 3 in Finals. Maddox Betz also made his first diving state meet."

Kilpatrick is looking to end his Maples' career on a strong note before going to swim at Findlay as he has an eye of Hadyn Gould's 100 breaststroke record.

Kilpatrick is seeded sixth in the breaststroke and 10th in the 200 freestyle.

"He has been swimming fast and hungry to get points for the team," Petkus said. "Brayden's main focus is the 100 Breaststroke where his goal is to make finals and break Hadyn's school record. He is absolutely capable of achieving both of these."

Judson and Baker are also competing individually with Baker ranked 20th in the 100 butterfly while Judson is 23rd in the in the 500 freestyle.

"Baker and Judson are wild cards for us," Petkus said. "They did their full taper down for SEC to make their cuts, from here it is how well they can hold their taper for the state meet."

The Maples have had success in the state meet in recent history and it doesn't look like it's going to change anytime soon.

Adrian will return all but one back to the pool next season and is expecting to inherit some depth with the incoming freshman class.

"We have a strong group of eighth graders coming up next year," Petkus said. "Four of them were part of the MISCA Middle School State Meet runner up 200 and 400-freestyle relays. The incoming freshman should double the size of our team. We are very excited for the future of this program."

Tecumseh also has a pair of swimmers competing with junior Sam Warren, seeded 15th in the 200 freestyle, and Loris DeFore, seeded 29th in the 100 butterfly.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: MHSAA Division 3 boys swimming championship preview

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