Title IX at 50: Pioneer's Joyce Legendary in Michigan, National Swim History
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 9, 2021
Michigan has had no shortage of achievers in the swimming pool over a half-century of girls swimming & diving sponsorship by the MHSAA. But nearly two decades after her last high school race, Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Kara Lynn Joyce's achievements remain among the highest of standards.
Joyce starred on the 2001 and 2002 teams that were the second and third, respectively, of Pioneer’s nine straight champions in Lower Peninsula Class A and then Division 1 (with that reclassification in 2002). She was part of four race champions both years – in the 100-yard freestyle and as part of the 400 freestyle relay at both Finals, while as a junior in the 50 and as part of the 200 medley relay and as a senior in 200 freestyle and 200 free relay.
Her name remains an incredible 16 times in the MHSAA girls swimming & diving record book, including seven times on the all-Finals lists (for performances from all Classes and Divisions combined). Her 50 (22.04 seconds – leading off a relay) and 100 (48.59) freestyles in 2002 remain all-Finals record, as does the 200 freestyle relay (1:32.77) she swam with Margaret Kelly, Leigh Cole and Jennifer Merte that season. Her winning 1:46.34 in the 200 as a senior is second all-time at the Finals only to another future Olympian, Canton’s Allison Schmitt, who finished nine hundredths of a second faster five years later.
Joyce’s 50 remains fifth all-time in the national record book, and her 100 ranks 13th on that list. Pioneer’s 2002 200 freestyle relay ranks sixth nationally.
Joyce went on to swim at University of Georgia and then during the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics. She won four silver medals, two each as part of 400-meter freestyle and 400-meter medley relays.
That 2002 Pioneer team is still considered arguably the most dominant in MHSAA history. The Pioneers claimed that first LP Division 1 title with 476 points, by 275 over the rest of the field. No LP Division 1 team has broken 400 points at a Final since.
Joyce has become a strong voice in leadership training for teenage girls in athletics. In 2017, she founded Lead Sports Co., which serves as a “home base for teenage girl athletes, parents and coaches with comprehensive online courses in Leadership, Confidence, Sports Psychology, and more.”
Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard.
Previous Title IX at 50 Spotlights
Nov. 2: Royal Oak's Finch Leading Way on Football Field - Read
Oct. 26: Coach Clegg Sets Championship Standard at Grand Blanc - Read
Oct. 19: Rockford Girls Set Pace, Hundreds After Have Continued to Chase - Read
Oct. 12: Bedford Volleyball Pioneer Continues Blazing Record-Setting Trail - Read
Oct. 5: Warner Paved Way to Legend Status with Record Rounds - Read
Sept. 28: Taylor Kennedy Gymnasts Earn Fame as 1st Champions - Read
Sept. 21: Portage Northern Star Byington Becomes Play-by-Play Pioneer - Read
Sept. 14: Guerra/Groat Legacy Continues to Serve St. Philip Well - Read
Sept. 7: Best-Ever Conversation Must Include Leland's Glass - Read
Aug. 31: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way - Read
PHOTOS Ann Arbor Pioneer celebrates the Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship; Olympian Kara Lynn Joyce stands middle, just below the trophy. (MHSAA File Photos.)
EGR Adds to Team Title Tradition, Divine Child's Dziobak Finishes Career Finals Sweep
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
November 22, 2025
HOLLAND – East Grand Rapids won six events, including a sweep of the relays, on its way to earning a third consecutive Lower Peninsula Division 3 championship in girls swimming & diving Saturday at the Holland Aquatic Center.
Butch Briggs' Pioneers totaled 373 points to outdistance runner-up Bloomfield Hills Marian (228). St. Joseph (171) placed third, followed by Holland Christian (162) in fourth and Hudsonville Unity Christian (151) in fifth.
Led by University of Arkansas commit Ellery Chandler, East Grand Rapids was able to pull away from its closest competitors early during the final day of the two-day competition.
Chandler was extremely pleased with her performances Saturday after the star senior earned individual victories in the 100-yard butterfly (54.11) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.78) along with completing a leg on the Pioneers' winning 200-yard medley relay (1:44.65) and 200-yard freestyle relay (1:36.74).
"I dropped all my times today from Friday's preliminaries. It was exciting to win my individual events, and it was great being a part of our two victorious relay teams,” Chandler said. “Coming into the state meet this weekend, I was looking to see if some records were attainable in my events. Getting a couple of those were among my goals.”
Chandler, along with juniors Meredith Sperling and Addie Hein and freshman Catherine Sowerby, combined to break the Division 3 Finals record in the 200 medley. Chandler also eclipsed meet records in both of her individual events, the breaststroke during Friday's prelims with a time of 1:01.60.
Joining Chandler and Ivy Chu on the Pioneers' winning 200-yard freestyle relay were senior Nora Camfferman and freshman Della Avendt. Hein also collected a first for the Pioneers in the 200-yard individual medley (2:06.74). Sperling and Sowerby teamed up with sophomore Nalah Mamatela and Chu, a junior, as the Pioneers took first in the meet's final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:32.82).
Briggs had plenty of praise to dish out regarding his team afterwards.
"Ellery gets her share of the first places, but our freshmen class really stepped up and were huge in our success this season," said Briggs, who on Saturday completed his 52nd season coaching at East Grand Rapids.
"We have a very deep team and a squad that got along with one another very well without any drama. There were a few events in which we had three state placers in. That piles up a ton of points for you. It was such a fun season, and I can't say enough good things about these kids. My assistant coach runs the little kids' program for me at East Grand Rapids. Coaching continuity has had a great deal to do with our success as well."
Holland Christian junior Camryn Siegers was named Most Outstanding Swimmer in the meet by the coaches association following her individual wins in the 50-yard freestyle (22.79) and 100-yard backstroke (53.37), the latter a meet record.
Hamilton junior Josi Popma scored 399.40 points to earn first in diving, edging Chelsea junior Anna McCallister (397.90).
Popma admitted she battled nerves coming into Saturday's final round.
"I came in today feeling really stressed and didn't think I could do this. I just had to remind myself to just go out there and approach it like I do every other day and be confident,” Popma said. “Just being with my friends and teammates and keeping a positive attitude are what carried me through.”
"It's been a long road for Josi,” Hamilton head coach Liz Vandewege said. “As a freshmen she qualified for state and was overwhelmed by the moment, and last year as a sophomore she proved she could move up the ranks. During the offseason she worked hard to get a bigger list of dives to compete with Anna (McCallister), who is a great diver. She really improved her technique this year, is really strong and has lot of God-given abilities to spin."
Dearborn Divine Child senior Ella Dziobak won her fourth consecutive Finals title in the 500-yard freestyle (4:56.20) while also claiming a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.10).
"This was a real fun way to wrap up high school swimming by winning the 500 a fourth time,” said Dziobak, who will continue her swimming career at Purdue University next fall. “I could see all of my teammates cheering for me before the race started, and that got me fired up. I definitely excel in the distance events more than the sprints. I swam my fastest time of the year in the 200 as well, so that was nice too.”
Dearborn Divine Child head coach Kevin Hafner was pleased to see Dziobak come away with her fourth title.
"Ella puts in a great deal of time in this sport. … She is a tremendous young lady and has a real good head on her shoulders while coming up with her own game plan and executing it very well," Hafner said.
Wayland senior Laney Wolf captured first in the 100-yard freestyle (50.60).
(Photos by High School Sports Scene.)