For the fourth year in a row, East Grand Rapids Girls Swim and Dive has once again earned a state championship.

The girls didn’t have much competition at the Division 3 meet that took place at Holland Aquatic Center Nov. 21-22.

“Marian was probably our biggest competition,” Chandler ‘26 said, with the second-place team falling 150 points behind them, but the East girls worked hard to get there. 

“Butch said we were favored to win,” Captain Nora Camferman’26 said. “But, he also said the only thing that could stop us was us.”

Every member of the state team was set up for success by their very knowledgeable and present swim coaching staff of Butch Briggs, Josh Dolecki, Gwen Barnes, Jordan Craig, and dive coach Ian Blackstock. The girls’ dedication to each other and the sport, combined with their work ethic, ultimately led them to dominate at the state level.

With 13 swimmers making it to the finals, as well as three divers at the State Meet, the girls were set up for success and to score well. Maya Eckhert and Meredith Gass also landed in the finals, with Gass making it to the podium.

Captain Ellery Chandler ‘26 has left her mark on Michigan swimming, with a new D3 record in the 100 fly, 100 breast, and 200 medley relay, where she swam the fastest 50 fly split in state history. 

Chandler just signed her letter of intent this past week, as she will continue to compete at D1 University of Arkansas.

Junior Addie Hein and elected captain for the 2026 season, defended her 200 Individual Medley title by out-touching the competition in an exciting race that Hein had worked all season for.

The 200 Medley relay, consisting of Meredith Sperling ‘27, Hein, Chandler, and Catherine Sowerby ‘29, made history by crushing the previous Division 3 record, capping off a great season.

The girls’ swim and dive team’s tradition of excellence carries on as they closed out another memorable and notable season.