By Jenna Baker
Staff Writer
It may have taken 19 years, but the wait was definitely worth it.
“As a coach, you always dream of having a great season like we had,” girls’ swim coach Mick Homan said. “I was so proud of this great group of hard working young ladies.”
Homan, who has been the coach for five years, saw his co-op swim team complete a perfect 12-0 season while capturing the school’s first OK Rainbow Conference championship. At the conference meet, Shores had 392 points, easily ahead of Wayland’s 337.50 points.
“In my 31 years of coaching, this was the first team to ever go undefeated and win a conference swim title,” said Homan of the team made up of swimmers from Shores, North Muskegon, Western Michigan Christian, Reeths-Puffer and Muskegon Catholic Central. “The hard work, dedication, commitment, and pride paid off.”
Throughout the season, the team that is referred to as the Turtles was considered the underdogs since day one, Homan said.
“No one has ever given us any sort of respect or a chance to be successful in this sport,” he said. “This team showed everyone that they are a team to be respected and to watch for, now and in the future.”
Caroline Carlson, a sophomore from Shores, contributed to the team’s win in the conference meet. She placed 10th in the 200 free and eighth in the 500 free.
“As a program, we have been trying for so 200 many years, and finally seeing that hard work being paid off feels amazing,“ Carlson said. “I was more excited than nervous at the start of the race because all I was thinking about was winning.”
Also contributing was Shores freshman Robyn Hunt who gained two personal records at the conference meet. She placed eighth in the 200 Free and fifth in the 500 Free.
“Knowing we had just gone undefeated (in the regular season) helped relieve some of the stress going into the (conference) meet,” Hunt said. “We have never come close to winning conference, and winning it felt amazing.”
Along with all the team’s hard work, they had a little fun too. Homan made a bet with his team that if they go undefeated and win the OK Rainbow, he would get a tattoo of a turtle.
“I guess I’m getting a turtle tattoo for Christmas,” Homan said.