ROCKFORD ATHLETICS I HOME OF THE RAMS

The Rockford Rams Girls Swimming & Diving program are once again champions of the OK-RED Conference after winning the Conference Championship on Saturday. This is the second conference championship in a row for the Rams and head coach Samantha Velting and the third championship (2021, 2024, 2025) in five years. Four individual Rams finished as OK-RED Conference champions on Saturday: senior Izzy Suidinski (200 Individual Medley, 100 Breaststroke), freshman Raya Arnett (50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle), senior Ava Zubrickas (1 Meter Diving), and sophomore Paelyn Wright (100 Backstroke). Rockford also took home top honors in the 200 Medley and 400 Freestyle Relays, as well as second place in the 200 Freestyle Relay. Eleven Rams finished with 11 total top-three finishes in individual events, and ended the weekend with 46 individual swims or dives at finals. Over the two-day competition, eight Rams had season best times or scores, 59 all-time bests, three varsity letter awards, and four new MHSAA Division I State Championship meet cuts. The Rams scored 499 points at the championship meet, followed by Grand Haven with 449, Hudsonville with 385, Grandville with 358, East Kentwood with 135, and West Ottawa at 111. Rockford now looks ahead to the Regional Diving Meet for divers to earn a berth to the State Championship Meet, along with several swimmers who already have their cuts. Going into the State Championship meet, Rockford is now ranked No. 6 in the state in Division I. The Rams currently boast four top-10 times or scores in Division I: Raya Arnett, 50 and 100 Freestyle, Ava Zubrickas, 1 Meter Diving, Paelyn Wright, 100 Backstroke, Izzy Suidinski, 100 Breaststroke, along with two top-10 ranked relays. The Diving Regional meet is Thursday, November 13th, at Northview High School. Qualifiers from there join their swimming brethren on Friday-Saturday November 21-22 at Oakland University.