West Ottawa's Kalyna Pyk starts swim season fast, one year removed from devastating injury
PARK TWP. - The annual West Ottawa-Zeeland swim meet is a great matchup to start a season.
Two of the top 10 teams in the state each year, swimmers can see the summer work in action against some of the fastest swimmers in the state.
Last year, Kalyna Pyk missed out on the meet when a knee injury from a summer tubing accident sidelined her for several meets.
Pyk, now a healthy senior at West Ottawa, was able to swim in the meet this year, and thrived, winning both of her individual events to lead the Panthers to a 106-80 win over Zeeland on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at home.
"It was hard because I wasn't there to help my team last year. This year was nice because I could do that," Pyk said. "My knee twisted and it hurt really bad. Definitely no tubing this year. It took a while to get back into things last year. it was learning to kick again and finding that rhythm."
Pyk fought through the pain and made a strong comeback last year, qualifying for the Division 1 state meet.
"It felt good that I gave my best, and now I have one more year to put my final mark on the team," she said. "I am definitely more positive because you need to be positive to swim fast."
West Ottawa coach Steve Bowyer was extremely pleased with how Pyk battled back and showed her focus to the rest of the team.
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"Coming into her junior year, she had her sights set on some (big things) so to start the season with an injury, she was not training the way she could have been, which does impact the rest of the year," Bowyer said. "But she did a great job training through the injury as best as she could and got back on track. I know coming into senior year being a leader, you have those expectations and we are off to a much better start."
Pyk won the 50-yard freestyle in 25.16 and the 500 freestle in 5:29.64.
"It is the second meet back, so the times weren't great, but it is where I need to be for the start of the season," she said. "It will be a good season for all of us."
Bowyer thinks Pyk is back on track.
"She is swimming faster than she was halfway through last year and hopefully that is a sign of some big things to come," Boywer said. "I don't think top eight is out of the question. Her goal will be able to get back for top 16 in both of her individual events."
Pyk teamed with Makenzie Baldwin, Liliana Perez and Baylee Davis to win the 200 medley relay (1:51.11).
Pyk, Samantha Bolt, Ella McNeely and Baldwin won the 400 frestyle relay (3:48.53).
Baldwin won the 200 freestyle (1:59.53). Davis won the 100 butterfly (1:04.72).
Zeeland's Madison Ensing won the 200 IM in 2:09.96 and won the 100 freestyle in 52.70, ahead of Baldwin (54.30).
Ensing teamed with Abigail Brinks, Jenna Meyer and Ariyah Gettings to win the 200 free relay (1:43.68). Brinks won the 100 backstroke (1:04.64). Gettings won the 100 breaststroke (1:11.31).
Zeeland's Emmerson Meyering won diving with 184.75 points.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: West Ottawa's Kalyna Pyk starts swim season fast after knee injury
