After winning all seven of their meets, the girls varsity swim team continues to work towards the MAC Red Championship on Nov. 4th.

Captains Brooke Lezotte, Sienna Clark, Sofia Kapla, Sophie Schuetze, Phoebe Handwork and Ella Pazuchowski, all ’23, have all helped their teammates to continue working hard towards their goal of continuing the 20-year-long South tradition of being MAC Red Champions.

Schuetze is a three-time individual MAC champion, twice in the 200 individual medley and once in the 100 butterfly, and has recently committed to continue her swimming career in Division 1 at the University of Cincinnati.

“I’m really excited to swim at the collegiate level, but I’m also extremely sad to leave the amazing support and family of the South girls team,” Scheutze said.

Scheutze said she began her swimming career at four when her older siblings were knee-deep in their competitive swimming careers at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (GPYC) and has stuck with it since.

“I started competitive swimming when I was 4, at GPYC,” Scheutze said. “My parents threw me along with my two older siblings who were already on the team. I’ve tried other sports but nothing stuck or felt as natural as swimming.”

Clark also continued her family legacy shortly after she learned to walk. Through her 13-year career, she’s faced numerous injuries as well as mental barriers. In the previous season she won the MAC Red title for her teammates, but also for herself.

“Being the MAC champion was important to me because I was struggling to come back from a shoulder injury, as well as mental health barriers, and I proved to myself that I could still do it,” Clark said.

To deal with high pressure before meets, Schuetze says the team will often loosen up by singing and dancing.

“My favorite South tradition is pre-meet mosh pits in the locker room,” Scheutze said. “It’s a fun way to get the team together and get the energy high.”