Monroe swimming coach Erin Dowen leads two teams to success

YPSILANTI – It was a busy week for Erin Dowen.

The daughter of former Monroe High coach Ron Evans who was a standout in the pool for the Trojans during her high school career has been working hard to rebuild the school’s swimming program since taking over as varsity coach two years ago.

She juggled two youth teams in major meets last week.

Dowen took two girls from her new Monroe Swim Club to the Michigan Age Group meet at Eastern Michigan University and also coached the Monroe YMCA Tide team in the Toledo Summer Swim League Championship Meet.

“It was long one, but a lot of fun,” she said of her weekend.

The Monroe Swim Club started competing this summer.

“Three months ago, I started a summer USA competitive swimming team in Monroe,” Dowen said. “The previous USA team (Southern Michigan Aquatic Club) shut down several years ago which my father, Ron Evans started when I was a kid. It produced top-notch athletes for several decades including many Olympic Trials qualifiers.”

The new club, which had 17 members in its first year, could be on the way to duplicating that kind of success.

Karis Beaton, 12, was the standout for the Monroe Swim Club at the Age Group championships.

She was the state champion in the 50-meter freestyle for the 11-12 age group with a time of :29.65. She also placed sixth in the 200 meters, seventh in the 100, and10th in the 50 breaststroke, 13th in the 50 backstroke and 14th in the 100 breaststroke.

“Karis Beaton had such an amazing summer season,” Dowen said. “MAGS was a wonderful experience for her. She was able to place in all of her six events, which shows how well rounded she is as a swimmer.

“Karis winning the 50 free at MAGS is a huge accomplishment. She trained all summer, dropping over 3 seconds in the 50 to become the state champion. She has been very dedicated to the sport for years. it was a special moment. We are all very proud of her.”

Finley Ruszczyk, 9, made the top 36 in four events including an 18th-place showing in the 50-meter butterfly for the 0-10 age group.

Sophia Smith also qualified, but was not able to attend the meet.

Garren Hoskins, Evan Dowen, Raeya Beaton and Alec Adams just missed qualifying standards.

Most of the competitors in the meet at EMU train in 50-meter pools. The Monroe team practices in the 20-meter pool at Monroe Middle School.

“These kids deserve a new pool,” Dowen said. “Our community needs it. The team had a lot of fun and all improved so much. It was a great summer of swimming.”

Adams helped the YMCA Tide team place third in Toledo Summer Swim League. He won the 100 and 200-yard freestyles with team-record times and also swam on two winning relays.

Jayce Hay set a team record in the 50 freestyle and also won the 200 individual medley and swam on two winning relays.

Karis Beaton won two events and set a team record in the 50 breaststroke.

Also winning events were Cara Fritz, Finley Ruszcyk, Sophia Smith and Theviru Senevirante. Garren Hoskins and Chris Fritz swam on winning relays.

PRO BASEBALL

Hens dip 11 games under

TOLEDO – The Toledo Mud Hens dipped to 42-53 with a 10-3 loss to the St. Paul Saints Sunday.

Catcher Dylan Dingler accounted for most of the Toledo offense with his two-run home run in the first inning. It was his 13th homer of the season.

Windham hitting .251

MEMPHIS – Bryce Windham went 1-for-3 Sunday during a 4-3 win for the Iowa Cubs over Memphis.

The St. Mary Catholic Central graduate is hitting .251 for the season.

BOWLING

Smith makes final eight

DETROIT – Milan’s Maggie Smith reached the final eight in the 18-under girls division of the 2024 Junior Gold Bowling Championships last week.

Her Milan teammates Max Jenness and Jem Carpenter also qualified for the event along with Nick Suemnick and Olivia Demick of New Boston Huron, Abby Hill of Airport and Abigail DeBruyne of Dundee.

GOLF

Clute shoots first ace

MONROE – Joe Clute of Newport shot his first hole-in-one recently at Monroe Golf & Country Club.

He aced the 176-yard No. 16 hole with a 7-iron.

Giant Oak aced twice

TEMPERANCE – Gary Ogden and Ralph Nelson each shot a hole-in-one during the weekend at Giant Oak Golf Club.

Nelson aced the 177-yard No. 9 hole with a 7-wood Saturday and Odgen used a 9-iron to victimize the 98-yard No. 15 on Sunday.

La-Z-Boy draws 90 youth

MONROE – The La-Z-Boy Junior Open continues to grow.

The annual event for young players at Green Meadows Golf Course slipped to just 21 entries in 2021. It more than doubled 43 the next year and climbed to 66 last summer.

There are expected to be around 90 in this year’s event on Tuesday and Wednesday.

ADULT SOCCER

Caruso, Gomez excel

MONROE –  Tyler Caruso and Serafin Gomez scored two goals each to lead Not Fast, Just Furious to a 6-4 win over Athletico in the Monroe Adult Indoor Coed Soccer League at LevelUp Training Sunday.

Steve Bucknor scored two goals for Athletico.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe swimming coach Erin Dowen leads two teams to success