By: Jordan Frantz

Freshman swimmer Michelle Dean is not someone who takes competition lightly. Whether Dean is slamming school records or earning a trip to the Swim and Dive State Championship, she is always finding a way to succeed. Dean is setting the bar high early for the future of Bellbrook Swim. 

Dean is currently the record holder of four school records. She owns the 200 yard backstroke, 200 yard individual medley, 100 yard butterfly, and the 200 yard freestyle records. Three Dean broke were between eight to ten years old. 

“Michelle has already established herself as one of the top swimmers to ever attend Bellbrook,” head coach of the Swim and Dive team Rob Johnson said. “Michelle is focused and determined. She is able to set goals for herself and then ensure she puts the work in to get there.”

Dean not only is the owner of four school records, but she has also established herself as the best female swimmer in the SWBL. Dean competed in six events throughout the swim season in the SWBL and placed first in every single event she swam in. 

Five of the events Dean won were no-contest. She won the 200 yard individual medley by 22 seconds, the 200 yard freestyle by 15 seconds, the 500 yard freestyle by 13 seconds, the 100 yard butterfly by 12 seconds and the 100 yard backstroke by 8 seconds. Dean also won the 100 yard freestyle by one second. 

The SWBL Swim and Dive Conference Tournament was where Dean was able to showcase her skills at a high level. She performed exceptionally well and was awarded the SWBL Top Female Performer. 

“I swam well at our conference meet, “ freshman Michelle Dean said. “It does suck when you’re tired, burned out, or have little motivation, but as Michael Phelps once said, that’s what separates the good from the great.”

“Her focus on what needs to be done is what separates her from the rest,” Johnson said. “ Everyone wants to swim faster but she recognizes what is needed to make that happen.”

Dean’s success at the SWBL Conference Tournament gave her a trip to the District Meet Championship. At districts, Dean placed second in the 200 yard freestyle and fifth in the 100 yard backstroke. 

However, Dean was able to break her own school record in the 200 yard freestyle by three seconds. Her times were above standard and they earned her a trip to the Swim and Dive State Championship. 

 “I couldn’t be more happy with my performances at districts,” Dean said. “I will be going into state seeded third for the 200 freestyle excited as this will be my most competitive meet yet.”

“I love swimming so much because of my friends and opportunities to meet new people, regardless of how overwhelming the sport can sometimes be,” Dean said.

Dean will compete on February 21, between 9am-1pm at the Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio. If Dean advances, she will swim February 22 in the Division I State Swimming Finals.