West Michigan Swimmers take part in Swim Round Mackinac Island
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A gaggle of Zeeland swimmers acquired an opportunity to hit the open water within the Nice Lakes.
Eight swimmers from the Zeeland-based Michigan Swimmers membership participated within the Swim Round Mac occasion, an open water occasion round Mackinac Island.
There have been 371 swimmers representing 29 states from ages 15 to 74. The end line acted as a fundraising occasion by way of merchandise gross sales, auctions and raffles of which the proceeds totaled over $28,000 for the Mackinaw Lady’s Membership.
West Michigan Swimmers who participated have been Lauren Miedema, Jenna Meyer, Abby Brinks, Adeline DeVries, Ben Greshaw, Owen Durham, Isaac DeVries and Owen Stevens.
“Open water swimming is new to me. We had enjoyable performing some coaching within the weeks main as much as it. My leg of the race was 2.75 miles and fairly easy. A few my relay companions had some uneven water in second half of the swim,” Stevens stated. “One factor I observed is that all the swimmers have been actually form and optimistic. It was nice to see swimmers of all ages and ranges supporting one another.”
The occasion was began by Jonathan Vos, a former West Ottawa and Grand Valley State swimmer.
The occasion goes from the Grand Resort to Mission Level on Mackinac Island, a route of 8.2 miles, the identical because the bike path across the island.
“The occasion was truly began on my own and a buddy, Eric Hansen Vos stated. “We swam across the island collectively in 2020. After slightly arm twisting by Mackinac Island resident, Brad Conkey, we determined to create an occasion out of it in 2021. Since then I’ve taken over the occasion because the Swim Director and Eric has branched out on his personal to kind The Mackinac Bridge Swim, which was beforehand ‘The Mighty Mac Swim’ ran by Jim Dreyer.”
One other former West Ottawa swimmer, Drew Scheerhorn, who now coaches at Zeeland and with the West Michigan Swimmers, was a volunteer for the occasion and introduced members of the crew who have been .
The occasion was not a race, however Zeeland swimmers did effectively within the group of 371 who participated.
“I can inform you {that a} relay of 15 and 16 12 months olds from Zeeland swam their approach to the end line earlier than anybody else. I also can inform you, the expertise will possible imply extra to them than any further medal they’d have obtained for ‘profitable,'” Vos stated. “These would simply collect in a pile subsequent to all the opposite medals they have already got, and can proceed to build up.”
“It was tremendous enjoyable attending to swim with my teammates out of season and attending to attempt open water swimming. All of us had enjoyable making an attempt one thing new and getting out of our consolation zone,” Durham stated. “It was all of our first time in moist fits in order that was completely different and the water was fairly chilly. Everybody there was tremendous enjoyable and had all completely different swimming backgrounds in order that was one other factor that made it pleasing. Total, I feel all of us actually loved the entire occasion and would like to do it once more sooner or later.
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