The Skyline boys swimming team suffered devastating losses due to the exodus of last year’s strong senior class. Evan McKelvey (‘22), Ben Kurniawan (‘22), and Matthew Lee (‘22) played part in all six of Skyline’s state titles last year. To add to these losses, only two freshman swimmers joined the team this year. Although the team is not in their prime yet, they are improving every day, largely due to juniors and seniors stepping forward into leadership roles. “We are putting in the laps and dropping seconds a fraction at a time,” says Senior Captain Jack Staunton (‘23).

The Eagles have promising athletes and experienced coaches who have coached Skyline for 15 years as well as swam with the University of Michigan: Mo-Jo Murrett, Paul Griffith, and Kent Tschannen. “We have great coaches that each have unique coaching styles,” says Captain Lewis McCammon (‘23). “These different styles allow for new training methods to combine with the old to create a hybrid training program unlike any other.”

A solid start to the season has led to a 8-2 record – very strong in this highly competitive sport. The Eagles hope to take down their biggest rivals, University of Detroit Jesuit, Seaholm and Pioneer in the State Championship this year. “We have strong events including the 200 individual medley, and the 50 freestyle, but have room to improve in events such as the 500 freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay,” says Captain Ben Edlund (‘23). 

The lighthearted side of the team dynamic shows as McCammon interjects: “That’s cap – we don’t have any bad events. We are G.O.A.Ted.”

The team has already qualified six swimmers for the state team, with several more looking to follow before the MHSAA Division 2 State Championship on March 10th. The current qualifiers include: Staunton in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 100 breaststroke; Edlund in the 100 freestyle; McCammon in the 100 breaststroke; Lucas Caswell (‘24) in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly,and 200 individual medley; Andi Xi (‘24) in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle; and Owen McKelvey (‘25) in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

While the state meet is the long term goal for the team, they still have to get through the SEC Red Conference Championships. Currently they are trailing Pioneer. This year’s Seniors have never taken down the cross town rivals and are looking to give them a run for their money. 

“We are still the David to their Goliath,” says Caswell. “We know how that story ended but our story isn’t even close to over. All I hope from my teammates is that they do all they can given what they know and do all they can to beat the guy next to them. It’s going to be a dogfight.”