Junior Thomas Gibbons and Iron Mountain sophomore Bryce Johnson each collected a pair of individual wins, while sophomore Allison Deuter turned in the Flivvers other championship swim. The Flivvers swept the 200 medley relays.

The Flivver boys, with just six boys qualified at the meet and no divers, finished an impressive runner-up to Marquette for the team title 298-200. The Kingsford girls scored 209 points and finished third behind Marquette (311) and Houghton (226.5).

“Our boys team had a really good meet,” Flivvers head coach Jim Lindstrom said. “When you go in with only six boys and come out second with 200 points and five U.P. titles, it is hard to come up with anything bad about their performance.”

Gibbons and Johnson owned their individual events all season long and Saturday was no exception. Gibbons posted comfortable margins in winning the 200 individual medley by six seconds in 2:16.29 and then was five seconds faster than anyone in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:04.37. Both swims were personal bests and his first U.P. titles after coming in second in both swims last year.

Sophomore Allison Deuter (top) and Marquette’s Kaytlin Roell come to the finish of the 50 free. Roell edged Deuter by six hundredths of second, but Deuter later claimed the 100 free title.

“I’m really happy to have two titles as a junior and extremely happy with our medley relay team win and being only two seconds off the pool record,” Gibbons said.

“He had two personal bests today, especially in the breaststroke,” Lindstrom told MHSAA.com. “He brought a 1:08 down to a 1:04. He’s really doing well.”

Johnson successfully defended his title in the 100 butterfly, setting a personal best with a 58.73, the only swimmer under a minute. He won the event last season with a 1:03.50. He also was the only swimmer under a minute in the 100 backstroke with a 58.44, another best. Last year Johnson took third in the backstroke.

“It feels like a dream come true and really makes excited about my next few years to come,” Johnson said.

“Just dominating, him and Thomas,” Lindstrom said.

Iron Mountain sophomore Bryce Johnson celebrates after winning the 100 backstroke title.

Deuter clocked her best high school time to win the 100 freestyle in 57.33, just ahead of Marquette’s Logan McFarren who tapped the pad at 58.78. Her defense of her 50 free title came down to the wire, with Marquette junior Kaytlin Roell clipping Deuter at the finish 25.74 to 25.80. Last season it was Deuter ahead of Roell 25.43 to 25.61.

“Winning a U.P. title is a huge accomplishment for me,” Deuter said. “I’m proud to see my early mornings and late nights in the pool and gym paying off. I’m excited because I have two years left to show my commitment and passion for this sport, and I’m excited for what comes next for me and my team.”

“She doesn’t miss a practice,” Lindstrom told MHSAA.com. “Even if school is canceled and they can’t have practice, she goes to the Y anyway. She’s been swimming since she was 6 years old. She’s really determined, and she’s an overall good swimmer. She could have won an individual medley race if the team didn’t need her to be in the 50 freestyle.”

Junior Ella McLean finished first in the 100 breaststroke, an event she went undefeated in this season after winning the U.P. title last year. Nobody has been close to McLean in the race this year, including Saturday when she posted a 1:12.75, which was four seconds faster than the field. But unfortunately for McLean, and in controversial fashion, she was disqualified from the race for a “downward butterfly kick”, giving the win to Isabeau Woodward of Sault Ste. Marie. McLean also had a second place finish in the 200 IM with a 2:35.56 and a personal best.

The swimming portion of meet, delayed until the afternoon on account of the diving finals having to shift from Friday night to Saturday morning due to a snowstorm, started with a pair of Flivver wins. Junior Kailey Matuszewski, McLean, Deuter and sophomore Aubree Peterson swam a 1:59.31 to take down Marquette (2:04.39) in the 200 medley relay.

Next it was Johnson, Gibbons, senior David Arcand and senior Quinten Smith earning the boys 200 medley title in 1:45.25 to Marquette’s 1:48.77.

Other podium finishes for the Flivver girls included Matuszewski who went second in the breaststroke with a person best 1:18.23 and a fourth in the 200 IM. Peterson took third in the 500 freestyle and her fourth in the 200 free (2:14.24) was a personal best. Sophomore Gianna Novara took sixth in the backstroke with a personal best 1:16.45.

For the boys, Lamirand went third in the 200 free (2:00.37) and fourth in the 100 free (54.36), both personal best times. Smith took fifth in the 50 free and was sixth in the 100 free, which was a personal best time of 55.83. Arcand swam to third in the 100 fly with his personal best time of 1:02.57.

Johnson, Gibbons, Smith and Lamirand were just a second behind Sault Ste. Marie for the 400 free relay title, finishing 3:43.71 to the Soo’s 3:42.23.

“The season went by fast and I am extremely proud of these kids who for the most part work hard every day and do their best every meet,” Lindstrom said. “As a coach you can’t ask for anything more.”