“The kids did OK for this time of year,” Flivvers head coach Jim Lindstrom said. “We were down a few swimmers for different reasons and that affected the outcome somewhat. We only had nine boys against their 15, with three of them just learning how to swim.”

Kingsford has three returning Upper Peninsula champions on its roster this season, and all three picked up where they left off last season with multiple wins against the Gremlins.

Iron Mountain sophomore Bryce Johnson collected a pair of individual wins in the 100 butterfly (1:03.57) and the 100 backstroke (1:02.05). Last year’s U.P. fly champ, Johnson also helped the Kingsford boys to victories in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays – which also included Kingsford seniors Sam Lamirand and Quinten Smith and junior Thomas Gibbons.

Kingsford sophomore Allison Deuter, who totaled more points than any other U.P. swimmer last season and claimed the 50 freestyle title, swam to wins in the 50 free (26.77) and 100 fly (1:08.00). She also helped the Flivvers to wins in the 200 medley relay and anchored a come-from-behind win in the 400 free relay.

Kingsford sophomore Allison Deuter swims to a victory in the 100 butterfly Tuesday. Deuter also posted an individual win in the 50 freestyle.

Kingsford junior Ella McLean, the defending U.P. 100 breaststroke champion, was fastest in the event against the Gremlins with a time of 1:19.19. She was also part of the relays wins with Deuter, those victories also including Kingsford junior Kailey Matuszewski and Kingsford sophomore Aubree Peterson.  

Johnson, Deuter and McLean’s swims Tuesday were all enough to ensure U.P. qualification again this season. Matuszewski added a win and U.P. time in the 200 IM (2:41.10) with McLean also qualifying in second place (2:41.76). Matuszewski’s second in the 100 breaststroke (1:21.80) also earned U.P. qualification. Peterson won the 500 free (6:23.43) to earn a qualifying time there and also posted a first in the 200 free (2:21.50).  

Gibbons won the boys 200 IM with a U.P. time at 2:25.04. He also posted a first and qualifying time in the 100 breaststroke (1:11.36). Smith and Lamirand also qualified again for U.P. Finals. Smith was first in the 50 free (25.46) and second in the 100 free (59.69) behind Lamirand (58.67). Lamirand also took first in the 200 free (2:19.58).

“It was an early season meet and we have a lot to work on,” Lindstrom said. “With the way the new swimmers are coming along and the rapid development of our second year swimmers, we will be in good shape for the finals in February.”

Kingsford is on the road for its next several meets, not returning to the NLYMCA Dickinson Center pool until a meet against Westwood on Tuesday, Jan. 13.