"(Going for the third year) feels amazing because we work hard to stay together," said junior Sam Kuipers, who will join juniors Jaclyn Shetterly, Emily Brown and Sarah Hunt at Oakland University for the two-day state finals. "We don’t want to swim with anyone else because we are comfortable and work well together."

In addition to these four, freshmen Rachel Resterhouse and Makenzie Fairfield and junior Erinn Taylor will be making their state finals debut.

Kuipers, Shetterly, Brown and Hunt qualified for the state meet in the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay.

"I am so excited," Kuipers said. "Everyone has been working so hard at practice, and it is such a great experience and such a rush at the actual meet."

Kuipers is also qualified for the individual 100 breast. Shetterly is qualified for 400 free, 200 IM, 100 back, and 100 free.

Taylor and Resterhouse join Brown and Shetterly in the 400 free relay.

"I’m really excited (about going to state) because we are all best friends, and I love them," Brown said. "I know all of our hard work paid off, and we got stuff accomplished."

The six are approaching the state meet by staying focused.

"I know we are going to do the best we can, and I will be happy if we do that," Hunt said.