Brighton senior Luke Newcomb already knew in March he made the All-America swim list, because he swam an automatic qualifying time in the state meet .
Hartland senior Jack Losert had to wait out the process, which is different for divers than swimmers.
Instead of being ranked by scores during the high school season, as swimmers are ranked by their times, divers have to submit a video to be judged by a panel, which ensures the same set of eyes are reviewing each applicant.
When the process was completed, Losert became the first Hartland diver to earn All-America honors.
Losert is one of 101 divers, including 17 from Michigan, to make All-America.
“I was really surprised when I made the list,” Losert said. “Everyone makes a video and the judges compare all the videos and comprise a list of the best. I was really excited to be featured on that.
“It’s all done with videos, because you can’t go off much else. I’ve heard about the All-American list since I was a freshman from some of the older divers. They told me what you needed to do to get it. I’m really excited to achieve it.”
Losert is the first Hartland boy to make all-state in consecutive years since swimmer Ryan Geheb in 2015. Losert was seventh in the state Division 1 meet as a senior after placing sixth as a junior.
He set school records with an 11-dive score of 394.25 points at regionals and a six-dive score of 263.25 against Salem. Losert won the KLAA’s championship meet.
“I guess with lots of practice, anything is really possible,” Losert said.
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Newcomb made All-America with his winning time of 54.56 seconds in the 100-yard breaststroke at the state finals. His time ranks 26th nationally and No. 1 for Michigan swimmers, The top 100 swimmers per event, plus ties, made All-America.
Newcomb made All-America in breaststroke last year, tying for 60th in 55.34.
“Honestly, I didn’t think much about it until my mom sent me a link last week,” Newcomb said. “I was able to get 26th placing this year, which was definitely a step up from last year. I lowered my best time. I think I chopped off eighth-tenths of a second, which is pretty big for a year. I’m happy with that.”
The automatic qualifying time is 55.44. The fastest time in Newcomb’s event was 52.36 by Jake Wang of Berwyn, Pa.
Newcomb is one of only three Livingston County boys to win multiple state championships, joining recent U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifiers Hunter Gubeno of Howell and Tyler Ray of Pinckney.
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Hartland diver Jack Losert joins Brighton's Luke Newcomb as All-American
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