By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
OTSEGO—When the Otsego boys swim & dive team hosted Wayland on Tuesday, Jan. 31, it wasn’t just the Bulldogs’ final home meet of the season. It was their final meet in their current pool … ever.
Otsego will begin using the district’s new aquatic center next fall, meaning the pool it’s called home for the past 50-plus years won’t host any more meets.
And the Bulldogs sent the old pool out in style with a 102-76 win over the Wildcats.
Longtime Otsego coach Darryl Belton said the evening was bittersweet.
“It is hard to put into words the emotions of the night,” Belton said. “The new pool will be freaking awesome to go to, but I think I will really miss the old place. There are so many memories—most of them good mixed in with a couple of sad ones. But in a way it is home.
“The program is like family and our family is moving from the old home to a new one. I’m excited for the move but sad to be leaving. I know that sounds weird, but it’s true.”
Dozens of former Otsego swimmers came back to say their good-byes to the pool they know so well. It was also Parents Night and Senior Night.
“Part of me wanted to sit in the stands and catch up with everyone,” Belton said. “There were so many alumni and so many parents of the alumni that I was overwhelmed. Another part of me wanted to just sit back and enjoy the show. And then there was the actual reason we were there, and that was to compete and try to beat a very good Wayland team.
“Fortunately, the 2023 team is disciplined and they could tolerate a distracted coach as the boys swam well and put on a show. I guess that is a testament to the seniors and their leadership.”
Freshman sensation Liam Smith led the charge for Otsego, winning the 200-yard IM (1:57.16) and the 100 butterfly (52.73).
Other individual-event winners for the Bulldogs were Ethan Moss in the 50 free (23.88), Alex Foune in diving (195.65), Bryce Meyer in the 100 free (53.47) and Luke Stender in 500 free (5:18.84).
The Otsego 200 medley relay team of Meyer, Jacob Robbins, Seth Barck and Moss opened the meet with a winning performance of 1:52.07.
“We swam and dove very well,” Belton said. “I’m glad this year’s team was able to close the pool with that type of performance. This team has worked hard, and I think they did themselves proud in front of the alumni.”
Wayland’s event wins came from Payton Williamson in the 200 free (1:56.97), Zachary Jenison in the 100 backstroke (56.58) and Travis Koon in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.35.
The Wildcats also won both freestyle relays: the 200 team of Jenison, Williamson, Koon and Henry Oudbier had a time of 1:34.97, while the 400 team of Oudbier, Williamson, Josh Rose and Jenison had a time of 3:31.74.