Maples Take 3rd Place at State Meet
Ypsilanti, MI – November 26, 2025 – The Seaholm High School Maples girls swim and dive team turned Eastern Michigan University’s Jones Pool into their stage this past weekend, securing a thrilling third-place finish at the 2025 MHSAA Division 2 State Championships with 260.5 points. In a meet defined by razor-thin margins. The Maples’ blend of relay dominance, individual breakthroughs, and unyielding team spirit shone brightly, earning them 34 points from the 200 medley relay alone and consistent scoring across multiple events.
Under the guidance of coach Karl Hodgson and assistants Dan Yuhn, Kristin Ruud and Matt Egbers, the Maples entered the two-day event (November 21-22) with eyes on the podium. They delivered, sweeping into finals in every relay and sending 14 swimmers to score in individual races. The meet featured state records and ties, with Seaholm freshman Payton Garn making headlines by co-winning the 100 breaststroke.
The Maples kicked off the championships with a silver-medal performance in the 200-yard medley relay, clocking 1:46.96 for 34 points—second only to Grosse Pointe South’s 1:45.22. Junior Leah Isaksen powered the backstroke leg setting a strong tone. Sophomore Payton Garn followed with a steady breaststroke, junior Layla Stephens exploded on butterfly, and junior Madailein Howard anchored with a blazing freestyle split. Their prelim time of 1:47.63 had already locked in the A-final berth, showcasing the quartet’s chemistry.
In the 200-yard freestyle, the Maples’ depth was on full display. Sophomore Noelle Schneider claimed fourth place in 1:54.18, her powerful turns and final surge earning 15 points after a prelim fourth of 1:55.17. Stephens doubled up with a ninth-place finish at 1:58.66 (prelims 10th, 1:58.63), while senior Rebecca Turner (13th, 1:59.37; prelims 14th, 1:59.89) and senior Samantha Memmer (12th, 1:59.22; prelims 16th, 2:00.23) added crucial points in the B final, their endurance paying dividends in a grueling event.
The 200-yard individual medley brought more highlights, with freshman Natalie Rijnovean touching ninth in 2:11.13 (prelims 10th, 2:12.10) and junior Sophie Layer 12th in 2:11.38 (prelims ninth, 2:11.51). Isaksen also competed here, placing 13th in finals with 2:14.22 after a strong prelim ninth of 2:12.15, her versatility across strokes underscoring Seaholm’s well-rounded attack.
Freshman Rowan McDowall made her mark in the 50-yard freestyle, advancing to prelims with a 14th-place 24.89, while Howard (11th prelims, 24.76) and Garn (third prelims, 23.84) pushed through to finals—Garn snagging bronze with 23.81. In the 100-yard freestyle, freshman Lucy Sowle scored in prelims (16th, 1:02.24) and finals (16th, 1:02.98), her steady pacing a bright spot for the underclassmen.
Noelle Schneider continued her stellar meet in the 100-yard Freestyle, taking ninth in finals (52.83) after ninth prelims (53.33). McDowall added to the tally with 19th in prelims (55.16), joined by freshmen Mae Ruthenberg (28th prelims, 56.21) and Sofia Beattie (34th prelims, 56.66), whose efforts in the pool built momentum for the relays.
The 500-yard freestyle tested the Maples’ stamina, with Turner leading the charge at eighth in finals (5:21.52; prelims eighth, 5:17.79), Memmer 14th (5:20.80; prelims 12th, 5:19.83), and Stephens 15th (5:21.26; prelims 11th, 5:18.67). Freshman Layla Woerner (21st prelims, 5:26.67), freshman Mila Skubik (30th prelims, 5:34.93), and sophomore Naomi Godwin (33rd prelims, 5:35.85) all contributed valuable experience, their splits showing promise for future seasons.
Seaholm’s relay prowess peaked in the 200-yard freestyle relay, where Schneider, McDowall, Beattie, and Howard took bronze in 1:39.36 (32 points; prelims fourth, 1:39.75). The 400-yard freestyle relay closed strong with another third-place finish (3:32.81; prelims third, 3:33.92), featuring Rijnovean on lead-off (backstroke specialist showing range), Schneider, Stephens, and Garn— their balanced splits sealing 32 points.
In the 100-yard backstroke, Isaksen earned silver with 56.83 (prelims third, 56.80), her great swim added 17 points. Layer followed with eighth place (59.16; prelims sixth, 58.88), and Rijnovean added 10th in finals (59.58; prelims ninth, 59.68).
Freshman, Payton Garn Breaks School Record
Payton Garn’s star turn came in the 100-yard breaststroke, where she tied Birmingham Groves’ Livvy Kamp for first in a blistering 1:02.76—earning 18.50 points and breaking the school record. Woerner placed 12th in finals (1:07.26; prelims 1:07.99), and senior Emily Henderson scored 15th (1:09.18; prelims 13th, 1:07.96), her veteran presence steadying the breaststroke corps.
Junior Allie Lentine represented Seaholm on the diving board, placing 11th with 249.60 points in the 1-meter event— a solid showing amid a field topped by Rochester Adams’ Morgan Rea (431.75).
Strong senior leadership guided this young Seaholm squad to a total team effort. Every Maple who touched the water or board left her mark, from A-final podiums to B-final battles, proving Seaholm’s program is built for the long haul.
As the Maples dry off and reflect, third place feels like a launchpad. With so many underclassmen scoring, the 2026 season already buzzes with potential. Congratulations, Maples—you’ve made Seaholm proud! For full results, visit mhsaa.com.
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Maples Swimmin Women know how to succeed! Way to go!
It was an amazing weekend with some terrific times. This is a young team with 8 freshmen! The leadership of our current juniors and seniors not only made this year successful, but they have laid the foundation for this young group to do exciting things for the next 3 years! Thank you to coaches Karl, Dan, Kristin and Matt for leading the way. Thank you to Dr. Roberson for coming to support us!