Seaholm girls swim earns third at state finals

BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham Seaholm girls swim team has carried a culture of success since the program’s first runner up finish in 1988.

With seven state championships to the school’s name and three-straight from 2019-2021, no team was more dominant in the last three years than Seaholm.

On Oct. 19 at Calvin University’s Venema Aquatic Center, Seaholm ended its championship-winning streak, earning third-place at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 State Championship.

“That was good for us,” Seaholm coach Karl Hodgson said. “We graduated a lot last year, so a third-place finish was about as good as we could do.”

Senior Samantha Clifford, a Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association Dream Team selection in the 200-yard freestyle, led the way for Seaholm at the finals, earning first in the 200-yard freestyle and second in the 100-yard freestyle. Clifford took first and second in both events, respectively, in last year’s state finals as well.

Clifford, who will swim for the U.S. Naval Academy, also broke the school record in the 200-yard freestyle.

“I always had that (record) in the back of my mind,” Clifford said. “I didn’t know exactly what the record was, but I knew I wanted to get 1:48 time; that was pretty exciting.”

A captain this season and a leader throughout the entirety of her high school career, Clifford is a special talent to have on the team, Hodgson said.

“She has all the attributes with the hard work and dedication, but she has something that coaches can’t coach,” Hodgson said. “She has the ‘it’ factor that can take it to a whole other level.”

Junior Kelley Hassett earned first in the 500-yard freestyle, added a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle, and will be a key leader for Seaholm next season.

Hassett said her first-place finish was something she’s had her eye on for a while.

“That was one of my big goals, and that was a big step for me,” Hassett said.

Clifford and Hassett teamed up alongside sophomores Avery Anderson and Abby Stanley for second in the 400-yard free relay, and also earned fourth in the 200-yard free relay with Stanley and senior Chloe Gifford.

Saying the team’s season was successful would be an understatement, as Seaholm went undefeated in dual meets and captured the Oakland Activities Association-Red league title.

Hassett said the seniors played a vital role in not only the team’s growth, but her growth as well.

“The seniors made a huge impact, especially senior Samantha Clifford this year, because she’s been my training partner this year, and she’s really pushed me and made me get better,” Hassett said.

Hassett will be the main senior leader next season, while Stanley, Anderson, junior Lindsay Louwers and sophomore Skyler Jansen will look to be consistent contributors.

Even with a young squad, Seaholm is hungry and ready to return to the program’s championship-winning ways.

“I think it’s exciting to carry on the state team we had this year,” Hassett said. “Obviously, losing the seniors is hard, but I think we have a lot of talent from this year, and, hopefully, we’ll be able to add more.”