Division Title on the Line in West Bloomfield

It's been a remarkable year for the West Bloomfield High School boys swimming and diving team, but it isn't over. The Lakers will host the Oakland Activities Association White Division meet, beginning with the preliminary round on Wednesday, in an attempt to complete a record turnaround with a division title.

Until this season, there were only two Lakers boys swimming and diving teams which improved its record by more than four wins since the pool opened in 1974. After finishing 2-5-1 in the 2010-11 season, the Lakers now stand at 7-2.

Even so, head coach Bob Crosby's Lakers have their work cut out for them. Farmington/Harrison heads into the meet as the favorites to win after having gone through the dual-meet season without a loss, including a 99-86 win Dec. 15 at home against West Bloomfield. 

However, since then the Lakers have excelled. A 100-85 victory against current OAA Blue Division champion Bloomfield Hills Andover Jan. 19 was led by top finishes from junior Andrew Jacob in the 100-yard and 50-yard freestyle races, as well as a win in the 200-yard medley relay by Jacob, Grant Yarber, Alex Krendel, and John Yurich.

The rest of the field includes Rochester, Rochester Adams, Lahser, and defending White champion North Farmington.

Swimming preliminaries between at 5 p.m. Wednesday, and diving preliminaries continue at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The final round will take place Friday at 6 p.m. Admission is $6 per session.