From left, senior Joey Lundholm (Iron Mountain High School), senior Sierra Scott, freshman Allison Deuter, freshman Bryce Johnson (Iron Mountain High School) and sophomore Ella McLean all claimed individual titles at Saturday’s U.P. Swim Finals in Marquette. (Ron Deuter photo)

MARQUETTE — Hard work and determination up and down the entire roster defined the Kingsford swim season, and it set the stage for a super successful afternoon at the MHSAA U.P. Finals in Marquette.

Kingsford crowned five individual champions and won two relays for a total of eight U.P. titles Saturday at the Marquette Senior High School pool, giving the Flivvers the most U.P. champions in a single season since the early days of the program.

“It was the most impressive finals we have had in a while,” Flivvers head coach Jim Lindstrom said. “The girls started it all, nearly winning the first event, the 200 medley relay.

“The boys then won the 200 medley relay and it snowballed from there. The team was really charged up, you could just feel it. We usually taper pretty good, but this was exceptional. There were massive time drops and precision swimming like I have not seen in a while.”

Seniors Joey Lundholm (Iron Mountain High School), Sierra Scott, sophomore Ella McLean and freshmen Bryce Johnson (Iron Mountain High School) and Allison Deuter all claimed U.P. titles for the Kingsford co-op program, with the boys 200 medley and girls 400 freestyle relay teams also claiming U.P. crowns.

Host Marquette, with a much deeper roster than any team in attendance, cruised to the team victories.

The Marquette girls won their 29th overall team title with 347 points.

Kingsford’s girls were second with 252. Houghton (165), Gladstone (146) and Westwood (145) rounded out the top five. For the boys, Marquette amassed 338 points for its sixth straight title, with Houghton (246), Kingsford (223), Gladstone (116.5) and Sault Ste. Marie (115) filling out the top five.

Lundholm won two individual events to cap his stellar prep career, making him a six-time individual U.P. champ.

He completed his high school career having never lost a race at a U.P. Final.

He easily took the 200 IM in 2:09.74 by a full length of the pool, with sophomore teammate Thomas Gibbons in second at 2:22.77. It was a back-to-back U.P. title for Lundholm in the IM, and he did it with a personal best time.

Lundholm, who has posted a lot of comfortable victories throughout his high school time, challenged himself and also won the 100 freestyle, posting an impressive personal best 49.68 to edge out Marquette’s Trevor Crandell by less than a second. The time was also close to a school record.

“It was one of the first events for a long time I didn’t know I was going to win,” Lundholm told MHSAA reporter Jason Juno. “I didn’t really expect to win. I wanted something to get fear in your chest that you might not win it. That’s why I sent in the 100 free today. Incredible race. It was the best of my life. I guarantee you I wouldn’t have gotten that time if Trevor wasn’t there and he didn’t push me. He’s a good guy.”

Lundholm also helped the Flivvers to their win in the 200 medley relay, the squad besting Marquette 1:48.85 to 1:50.00 in that race. Johnson and Gibbons swam ahead of Lundholm with junior Sam Lamirand anchoring the victory.

Johnson pulled off a thrilling upset in the 100 butterfly for his U.P. title. Coming in as the third seed, Johnson topped a Marquette senior and sophomore, posting a personal best 1:03.50 for the half-second win.

“Being a U.P. champion as a freshman feels pretty good but I couldn’t have done it without my coaches and my teammates,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s attempt at a second individual title came up a little short with a third place finish in the 100 backstroke. Johnson had the fastest seed time for that event and lowered it with his 1:01.55 finish, but Houghton senior Beau Haataja took the win in 1:00.62 with Rudyard junior Kieth McDowell snagging second in 1:00.77.

Scott’s U.P. title, her first ever, came in the 200 IM. She edged out senior Mary Hook of Gladstone 2:29.64 to 2:30.50.

“I feel as though I completed a challenge not just for myself but for my team, and I am honored to be able to hold this title,” Scott said.

Scott also narrowly missed a double victory with a second in the 100 free. Marquette sophomore sensation Olive Kruger touched just ahead of Scott, 57.42 to 57.98.

McLean needed her fastest 100 breaststroke for her U.P. title in another super close finish. McLean touched in 1:13.66 with Hook right there at 1:13.85. She also went fifth in the 200 IM. Swimmers who finish first through sixth make the podium at U.P. Finals.

“Being a U.P. champion feels awesome, because I have put a lot of hard work into swimming, and it has paid off,” McLean said. “I also want to thank my parents, teammates, and coaches for their support. They have cheered me on and pushed me to be better everyday.”

Deuter had the second fastest 50 freestyle time entering the final, and a flawless start and good final reach for the wall helped give her the edge she needed to take down Marquette sophomore Kaytlin Roell with her best time ever, 25.43 to Roell’s 25.61.

“Being a U.P. champion feels amazing,” Deuter said. “All my hard work has finally shown and I’m very proud of what I have accomplished as a freshman. I couldn’t have done it without my parents, coaches, and teammates being my biggest support system. I’m excited to see what else I can accomplish in the next three years.”

Deuter, who tallied more points than any swimmer in the U.P. this season, was the seeded favorite in the 100 fly and led the whole way until a little hitch on her final turn opened the door for Gladstone junior Irene Neumeier and Roell. The three went neck and neck in a thrilling sprint to the finish, with Neumeier touching first in 1:02.78, Roell second in 1:03.05 and Deuter third despite a personal best 1:03.83.

Scott and Deuter swam on Kingsford’s winning 400 free relay. Scott swam first with freshman Aubree Peterson second, senior team captain Petra Kaad third. Deuter was provided a slight lead as anchor, and she increased it on the final push, posting s 56.17 split – which was faster than the winning individual 100 free time of 57.42 posted by Marquette’s Kruger earlier in the meet.

Kingsford nearly claimed another relay title in an exciting 200 medley, with Peterson, McLean, Deuter and Scott coming up just short to Marquette, 1:59.32 to 1:59.47 in the opening event of Saturday’s action.

“The girls getting their first relay win in some time was great to see,” Lindstrom said. “This group of boys are just phenomenal. I just can’t say enough about these guys. They are undermanned but it doesn’t stop them. They are a gritty determined bunch, I just wish we had the numbers so they can make a real run at the championship. They really deserve the chance. The eight UP titles show how good this program can be if we can keep our numbers up.”

Other top performances for the Flivvers Saturday included Gibbons just missing a U.P. title in the 100 breaststroke in a controversial finish. It appeared Gibbons hit the wall first, but it must not have been a hard enough touch on the pad. Coaches felt Gibbons was the winner too, but MHSAA rules do not allow for video or photographic evidence review, so Gibbons had to settle for second. His time was listed as 1:06.26, with Marquette’s Isiah Young declared the winner at 1:06.20.

Peterson took a third in the girls 200 free and was fourth in the 500 free. Lamirand also secured third on the boys side of the 200 free and was fifth in the 100 free. Junior Quinten Smith was fourth in the 50 free and ninth in the 100 free.

Kaad added a sixth in the 200 free and a sixth in the 100 free. Arcand took 8th in the 100 free and 10th in the 200 free. Iron Mountain junior Elena Nelson had a ninth in the 200 free and a 10th in the 500 free. Sophomore Kailey Matuszewski posted a sixth in the 100 breast and was ninth in the 50 free. Junior Marely Dixon swam eighth in the 200 IM and was 11th in the 100 back.

Sophomore Olivia Sage finished seventh in the 100 back. Senior Justin Larson registered fifth in the 100 back and 14th in the 50 free. Senior Alex Nieschulz was 10th in the 100 free and 15th in the 50 free. Iron Mountain sophomore Mary Lundholm ended sixth in the 100 free and 11th in the 500 free. Sophomore Emma Strom placed 12th in the 100 free, and Norway sophomore Eli Dube took 12th in the 100 breaststroke.