The numbers and fortunes for the Macomb High girls swim team appear to be on the rise as the new season begins.
While Rylee Mackey graduated from last year’s team, the remaining eight members of the squad return for 2026. They are joined by seven newcomers including five freshmen, giving coach Tonya Hamer a roster of 15 swimmers.
Seniors Ridley Lewis and Catlyn Cousins return for their final seasons.
“They both were wonderful new additions to our team last year and grew quickly as swimmers,” said Hamer.
Lewis served as a manager for the boys team in the winter. That gave her an opportunity to continue working on her conditioning.
Hamer noted Lewis, a strong breaststroker, was “coming in ready to go.”
And Hamer stated that Cousins, whose forte is the backstroke, is “always pushing herself, wanting to improve and try new things.”
A pair of juniors in Lucy Buchanan and Hannah Zhang return to the program for their third year.
“They enter the program with a lot of experience and have continued to grow,” said Hamer.
Zhang is the top breaststroker, along with the 50 and 100 free, while Buchanan excels in the butterfly.
“Both of them, I can put just about anywhere,” said Hamer. “But I do try to highlight both their strengths and what they enjoy doing whenever I can.”
The third junior, back for her second year, is Jazmyn Nateras.
“She has grown exponentially (as a swimmer) and continues to make progress,” said Hamer.
Three sophomores return. Lilian Goc is one of the program’s more versatile swimmers.
“She discovered last year that she loves distance swimming and asked to be put in the 500 free,” said Hamer. “That’s another event that swimmers don’t usually ask for.”
Hamer said that Goc loves freestyle, but can do other strokes as well if asked to do so.
Kallie Merrill is another strong swimmer who has been slowed by injury, but working her way back to top form.
Leah Waldrop, a newcomer last season, also returns.
According to Hamer, Waldrop’s time in the 100 free is already faster than it was at the end of last season. She is also developing really good breaststroke skills.
“Her hard work is really paying off,” said Hamer.
“They really vibe well together,” said Hamer of the girls. “And I think they like our coaching style as well. We really do focus on supporting each other as a team, but also personal growth as a swimmer and at just being good human beings.”
Hamer said that outside of practice, the members do a number of activities together.
“I think their friendships and cohesiveness as a team is really what brought them all back,” said Hamer of the returners.
Joining the program are sophomores Lucy Willett and Vanessa Root, along with freshmen Kendra Nateras, Adeline Tedrow, Abigail Westen, Samantha Musser and Nora Severs.
The newcomers include three who swam in the YMCA Dolphins program, who according to Hamer are “bringing some experience and some really good times with them that we can build on what they already know.”
As for the other newcomers Hamer said that they were “very quick learners and have been really coachable.”
The schedule provides the swimmers with a number of opportunities to try different events.
“We want to try to get all of our swimmers in various events,” said Hamer. “One of the things that we mention at the beginning of the season is with freestyle being the foundation, you are going to have really stiff competition when it comes to getting a spot in that 50 freestyle and that 100 freestyle when it comes to our fastest times.”
“If you can learn and be willing to try distance swimming or the backstroke, the butterfly or the breaststroke, the more versatile you are, the more room I have as a coach to play with those positions and guarantee that you’ll get a spot,” she added.
“The nice thing about swim is that everybody is going to get to swim,” said Hamer. “But the ones that can swim a variety of strokes and distances are the ones that are typically guaranteed a full schedule at a meet.”
The uptick in numbers gives the team increased depth heading into dual meet competition.
“It’s going to give us a more competitive edge as we go into the season,” said Hamer of the added numbers.
While results are important, to Hamer there’s more to swimming.
“For me, I want them to love swim,” she said. “I want them to push themselves and recognize that they can do hard things and then that will translate into life skills.”
“It is very fun to win,” Hamer added. “ But it is incredible when you see a kid go from struggling to make their way from one end of the pool to the other and maybe getting a 50 free in over a minute, and then when you see them the first time they get it under a minute. That is cause for celebration.”
“It may not translate into points for our team,” she added. “But it’s a win as far as I’m concerned because they can see what they can accomplish with the work that they put in and where that perseverance will get you in life.”
An annual highlight for the team is its annual MHS Invitational Meet set for Saturday at the Fellheimer Pool beginning at 11 a.m.
