Last season didn’t end well – in fact, it didn’t end at all for high school winter sports. And this year begins under a cloud of uncertainty as the MHSAA still hasn’t cleared most winter sports to even begin practicing.
Swimming and diving, however, as left the blocks and the always talented Dexter Dreadnaughts are taking aim at another return to the Division 2 state finals – an event they have dominated, and because of last year, can no longer take for granted.
Michael McHugh begins his 15th season as head coach of the Dreadnaughts and has led the program to FIVE state titles (2012, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019). No, he doesn’t have to look up the dates because each team was not only champion, but special in its own way.
This year’s 2021 Dexter team has the potential to be special as well.
“Our goals are to win the SEC White and place Top 10 at the D-2 State Meet,” says McHugh who has made a habit of accomplishing goals. “We are solid in the IM, backstroke, freestyle and diving. We need to develop in the breaststroke and butterfly.”
Dexter went 10-8 last year and have won six straight (4 outright, 2 shared) SEC White Division titles.
Top returning swimmers who hope to make it seven straight this year include senior captains Zach Norris (individual state qualifier) and Leo Varitek (individual state qualifier). Senior Clayton Kinnard, who was All-State in 2019 but didn’t swim last year, returns to the Dexter pool and gives the Dreadnaughts another solid front-line swimmer.
Junior Cole Warren, who was 10th in the state in diving as a freshman, returns for Dexter. Junior Stuart Bovich, another individual state qualifier, also returns for Dexter.
McHugh is expecting huge strides from both junior Adam Hauser, a relay alternate in 2020, and sophomore Lucas Greatorex, also a relay alternate last year.
Top new swimmers include freshman Matthew Resende (fly/free).
Dexter opens the season on Thursday at Jackson.
