Six members of the MHS boys swimming team wrapped up the 2025–26 season at the Division 3 State Championships at Holland Aquatic Center on March 13–14, 2026. As expected, they lived up to their reputation as “Karns’ Closers,” competing with strength, resilience, and emotional endurance while overcoming personal challenges along the way.

Connor Fish is the MHS Paralympic State Champion in two events, capturing titles in both the 50 and 100 Freestyle, improving his 100 Freestyle time by an impressive five seconds with a finish of 2:09.36. Coach Karns first connected with Connor when he was a student at MMS and saw more than just a swimmer—he saw someone who would bring joy, encouragement, patience, and love to the team, qualities he hopes to see in all of his athletes. 

Ryan Robinson qualified in the 200 Medley Relay (butterfly) and two individual events—the 100 Backstroke and 100 Butterfly. During his backstroke start, the foot wedge jammed. Although Ryan pulled on it with all his strength, the officials blew the whistle before he could get it to function properly, causing him to have a slow start. The referees granted him a retry, but summoning the same strength and focus after giving everything just moments before is nearly unfathomable. Ryan went on to qualify for the finals in both the backstroke and butterfly, finishing 12th in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 54.25. As he prepared for the backstroke final, tears filled both Ryan’s and Coach Karns’ eyes, knowing it would not only be Ryan’s final swim of his high school career but also Karns’ final event as a coach. Ryan had the honor of serving as the official closer, finishing 15th in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 58.06.

A.J. Coats battled through three tears in his shoulder all season but remained determined to train through the pain to qualify for the 100 Backstroke and the 200 Medley Relay (backstroke). During his race, the same foot wedge that jammed for Ryan also malfunctioned for him. Although officials acknowledged the malfunction, they did not see him fully lock into place and therefore did not grant a retry. Despite the heartbreak, A.J. chose to stand tall on the deck and cheer on his teammate. The next day, he picked himself up, walked back out on the deck, and was granted an unofficial retry to record an accurate time. His official time with the malfunction was 1:00.24, but his retry came in at 58.07. It may not be official on paper, but it counted in our hearts.

Austin Fish battled a tremendous illness during the final month of the season but somehow found the strength to step up as the final swimmer on the 200 Medley Relay (freestyle), helping the team qualify for the State Championships. Without his leg of the relay, the team would not have qualified. How he was able to perform at that level while battling such illness is remarkable. He pushed through for his team, and their gratitude for his dedication and sacrifice is immeasurable. 

Easton Dale never wavered under the pressure of being the team’s primary breaststroke swimmer. As the only returning athlete with experience in this challenging event, he was essential not only for the 200 Medley Relay but also in qualifying individually for the 100 Breaststroke, finishing the preliminaries with a time of 1:08.25. His dedication and quiet determination were an inspiration to the entire team.

Freshman D.J. Wilson faced the immense challenge of stepping onto the team as one of its youngest members. When he needed support, Coach Karns offered grace and compassion, teaching the team the importance of lifting each other up both in and out of the pool. Because of this encouragement, DJ was able to qualify in the 500 Freestyle as the only freshman, finishing the preliminaries with a time of 5:16.22. 

By the end of the State Championships, there wasn’t a dry eye among parents, swimmers, and coaches. This team taught us what it means to be a family—to show compassion through pain, empathy through struggles, camaraderie through challenges, and love through both victories and goodbyes. These athletes are more than swimmers; under the guidance of Coach Meg and Coach Karns, they have grown into remarkable young men. Thank you, coaches, for building more than just a swimming team—you’ve shaped a family, a community, and a legacy that will last far beyond the pool.

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