The Detroit Lakes girls swimming and diving team made a strong showing at the Class A state championships, held at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center from November 13 to 15, 2023. Four athletes represented the Lakers, with Grace Hamm taking the lead by participating in all three of her events.
Their competition began with the 200-yard medley relay on November 14. The team finished in 19th place, improving by three positions from their seeding, with a time of 1:57.83. This early performance set the tone for the individual competitions to follow.
Hamm then transitioned to individual events, starting with the 200-yard individual medley (IM). She swam to a time of 2:18.94, placing 19th overall and finishing just one position ahead of her initial seed. Her determination continued to show as she advanced to the 100-yard butterfly, where she secured a spot in the consolation final on November 15 by finishing in 15th place with a time of 1:00.50.
In the consolation finals of the 100-yard butterfly, Hamm showcased her skills by achieving a third-place finish. She recorded a time of 59.69, cutting nearly a second off her preliminary time. This effort brought her to an overall 11th place in the event, highlighting her growth and competitive spirit as the season concluded.
Together with teammates Marian Martin, Emily Peterson, and Sophia Karlgaard, Hamm’s performance at the state championships underscored the team’s dedication and hard work throughout the season. Each athlete contributed to a memorable experience, marking a significant chapter for the Detroit Lakes Lakers in state-level swimming.
