In the end, the Redettes prevailed by earning 377 points to the Blue Devils’ 300. Houghton was a distant third with 157 points, while Kingsford was fourth (141) and Westwood fifth (120). Marquette and the Soo won every event at the meet.

“It’s a treat,” Redettes head coach Nathan McFarren said about the win. “The Soo is so talented. It’s just that it comes down to how you win it as a team and I think everybody knows that’s how it works.

“Everybody’s got to show up, though. Everybody’s got to be there, where they’re supposed to be and when they’re supposed to be there. Everybody is supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there. It’s very special.”

Marquette won five events, including the 400-yard freestyle relay for the second year in a row. Jayme Winn earned two victories for the Redettes in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, while Paige Whaley took the 200 free and Delaney Marchiol the 500 free.

Westwood's Elizabeth Williams flashes a sign in the girls' 50-yard freestyle during the Upper Peninsula Finals swimming and diving meet held at Marquette Senior High School on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

McFarren praised Winn, who definitely lived up both to her name and her reputation in the pool.

“She had a great day,” the coach said. “She’s probably one of the most intimidating and most able to self-motivate and be in the moment and just tear it up. She’s unlike so many competitors, where you need that confidence, and she just shows up.”

Coming up just short of a U.P. title may be painful, but Blue Devils head coach Steve Habuska was happy with how his team performed.

“Today is probably one of the best days in Soo High swimming history,” he said. “When you look at our times and the way our kids performed, to take seven first places on the girls side is phenomenal, including two U.P records. Individuals, two U.P. records and two relays for four U.P. records.

“That’s a heck of a day across the board. From top to bottom, our lineup swam like crazy.”

The Soo won the other two relays, the 200 medley and 200 free, while winning five individual titles. Aliah Robertson took home championships in the 200 individual medley for the second straight year and the 100 breaststroke, while teammate Joanne Arbic repeated as champ in both the 50 free and 100 free. Their other individual victory came Friday when Brianna Jones won the diving with 174.95 points.

Houghton may have finished way back in third and not picked up any wins, but head coach Erik Johnson was feeling positive, especially with both of this teams having a small roster that afternoon.

“For how few kids we had here, they (boys and girls) swam out of their minds,” he said. “That’s the fastest they’ve swam all season in every single event. Everywhere you looked, best time, best time, best time. I’d say it went as well as it could’ve. They really raced their hearts out today, so I’m really proud of them.”

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.