Marian senior swimmers Sophia Schott, left, and Kailyn Swantek will be taking their talents to the collegiate level in the fall: Schoot to Northwestern and Swantek to Pittsburgh. (Courtesy of Tammy Eberhard)
Don HorkeyFamily’s ultimatum: apply or else
Mike Venos had no choice but to apply for the head swim coach position at Farmington Hills Mercy.
The vacancy occurred earlier this year when Shannon Dunworth, who had coached the Marlins for 12 years, resigned to move to Texas.
Venos, 52, who is the coach at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice for 17 years and has directed the Warriors to consecutive Catholic League titles in every one of those years along with five state championships, was getting all kinds of encouragement from Mercy alumni and parents to take the job.
Nowhere was there more intense pressure than from within his own family.
“My mother, my aunt, my sister-in-law, my wife and my daughter are all Mercy graduates,” he said. His wife Angela was a diver and daughter Kelsey a swimmer. “I don’t think they would have talked to me again if I didn’t apply.”
Venos was hired, of course, and now directs two of the most powerful swim programs in the CHSL and the state. A month ago, Mercy won its 26th CHSL title in a row.
Marian makes Mercy better
Although it may not want to, Bloomfield Hills Marian can boast about a not-too-enviable record in the CHSL girls swim annals: finishing runner-up to Mercy year-after-year-after-year, etc.
The Marlins have two major winning streaks in swimming: 23 times in a row (1967-89) and 26 years straight (1991-2016). That adds up to 49 wins in the last 50 years. The missing link? 1990, when Marian won. Otherwise, in the overwhelming majority of times, the Mustangs have had to be satisfied with second place.
Marian coach Bill Thompson (17 years, three state championships: 2007-08-14) put his spin on all of this at the CHSL finals last month: “Mercy wouldn’t be as good if not for us. We provide great competition.”
He may have a point. Mercy and Marian each won six events, but the Marlins had 29 finishers in places two through eight, compared to 21 for Marian. Sixty of their 104-point victory margin came in diving, where Marian had no entries.
Thompson’s pep talk: “I tell them to be the best they can be with what God has given them.”
CHSL makes Cranbrook better
“It’s a wonderful experience,” said Steve Graf, the athletic director at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, about the school’s inclusion in season-ending CHSL playoffs. “The kids and families have embraced (full membership benefits).”
In fall sports, the Cranes won the C-D title in the Prep Bowl, finished runner-up in boys soccer and girls field hockey, and third in girls swimming.
“I think being in the league has made us better. The coaches and players are working harder,” Graf said.
Brother Rice could be facing a daunting challenge when the boys assemble for the CHSL title in March. The Warriors are three-time defending Division 1 state champs, as is Cranbrook Kingswood in Division 3. Warren De La Salle finished runner-up in Division 2, and Novi Detroit Catholic Central always is in the thick of contention.
New swim coach for CC and NDP
For the last three years, Venos also coached the girls swim team at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. Dunworth also coached the Catholic Central swimmers for 11 years. (If you’re wondering how that’s possible, girls swimming is a fall sport and boys swimming a spring sport in Michigan). The vacancies at both schools were filled by the same person, Shawn Kornoelje.
The former Oakland University men’s and women’s assistant head swim and dive coach for the past 11 years, Kornoelje brings more than 27 years of experience coaching swimmers at the high school, collegiate, national and Paralympic levels.
Don Horkey may be reached at [email protected].
