Hours of training pay off as Jade competes among the state’s best swimmers
By Grayden Lubbers
The Hamilton High School girls swim team showed us an impressive performance at the 2007 Division 3 State Swim and Dive Championships on Nov. 17 at the Holland Aquatic Center. Competing against some of Michigan’s top swimmers, the Hawkeyes finished fourth overall with 195 points and brought home several strong individual and relay performances.
One of the biggest contributors to Hamilton’s success was senior Jade Evink, who competed in both the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke. Evink had established herself as one of the team’s top swimmers throughout her high school career, and she capped it off with an outstanding performance on the state’s biggest stage.
In the 100-yard butterfly, Evink touched the wall in 1:01.69, earning a seventh-place finish. While the event featured some of the best swimmers in Division 3, Evink’s result placed her among the top competitors in the state and added valuable points to Hamilton’s team total.
Her best race was the 100-yard backstroke. Swimming against talented competition, Evink finished second with a time of 1:00.07. The only swimmer ahead of her was Maeve McHugh of Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood, who claimed the state title with a time of 59.00. Evink’s runner-up finish was one of Hamilton’s top individual performances of the meet and showed her ability to compete with the best swimmers in Michigan.
While Evink’s results in the pool were impressive, her impact on the program went much further than times and finishes. According to her head coach, she played a major role in helping establish the culture of Hamilton’s young varsity swimming program.
“She was a hard worker, a wonderful leader, a lot of fun to be around, and very talented. There is no doubt in my mind that Jade helped set the bar in the first three years of Hamilton Varsity Swimming,” said her coach, Eric Talsma.
That praise reflects the influence Evink had on her teammates and the program as a whole. Her leadership, work ethic, and success in competition give young swimmers an example to follow and help Hamilton continue to grow as a program.
Evink wrapped up her high school swimming career with an impressive showing at the 2007 state championships. She finished in the top seven in the butterfly, earned second place in the backstroke, and helped Hamilton secure a strong finish among the top teams in Division 3. It was a memorable end to her high school career and a performance that still stands out in Hamilton swimming history.
