By Dan D’Addona.
It is going to be tough to top 2016 for the DeLoof family.
Three DeLoof sisters — Ali, Gabby and Catie — led Michigan to the Big Ten championship, made the NCAA championships and qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials, where all three got to compete in the same event
Then Ali capped her spectacular 2016 with world and American records. She won gold as part of Team USA’s 200-meter medley relay (1:43.27), setting a world record on the second night of the 2016 FINA Swimming World Championships on Dec. 7 in Windsor, Ontario, less than an hour from the DeLoof home in southeast Michigan.
In addition, DeLoof set an individual American record in the 50-meter backstroke, swimming 26.12 on the leadoff leg (along with Lilly King, Kelsi Worrell and Katrina Konopka). She went 26.57 during the morning’s preliminaries. The old record was 26.13, held by current Georgia swimmer and U.S. Olympian Olivia Smoliga. DeLoof also took sixth in the 100-meter backstroke (56.80).
“From winning the Big Ten championship to getting in the top 10 at NCAAs, it was the goals we have had since I came to Michigan,” Ali said. “To win Big Tens and go from not placing at NCAAs to the top 10 was amazing. Going into trials, everything was falling into place. Being able to do that with my sisters was awesome.
“I was part of a relay that won a world record, and that is just off the chain,” Ali said. “It was unreal to be able to feel that experience with Team USA. It was awesome. Coach Mike Bottom told me I was a world record holder for life. It hasn’t fully sunken in yet, but I am slowly getting there.”
With the meet less than an hour from the DeLoof’s Michigan home, there were plenty of DeLoofs and DeLoof supporters at worlds.
“It was awesome. It was really nice to have the family support. My sisters came and my parents were at every session,” Ali said. “Plus my high school friends were able to come, which was great, because they have never been able to see me swim.”
Ali wasn’t the only DeLoof with a stellar 2016.
Michigan is ranked No. 4 behind Gabby, Catie and the fourth DeLoof sister, Jackie, who is a freshman.
The Wolverines are counting on the DeLoofs as they aim for a second consecutive Big Ten title.
“They are key. They have to lead this team and understand we are doing this for Michigan,” Bottom said.
Gabby is a junior and been a part of two Big Ten champion relays and has earned All-American honorable mention honors three times.
But her biggest asset to the young Wolverines (25-of-30 on the roster are non-seniors) will be experience and leadership.
“With everyone leaving I am definitely getting close to the freshmen and helping them learning the ropes of Michigan swimming,” she said. “But my role also is to make sure that everybody has fun.”
Fun is something the DeLoofs have enjoyed together throughout the year.
“It has been exciting,” Catie said.
The sophomore was a two-time All-American honorable mention as a freshman and has been through a Big Ten season, the NCAA meet and trials for the first time — all in one year.
The Wolverines started the season strong with an unprecedented triple-header meet against Louisville.
Events were not decided until just before each session, leaving coaches and swimmers to make quick adjustments.
“It was so fun. Not knowing what you are swimming, going in with an open mind is going to help make us successful,” Gabby said. “It will help in the long run, definitely at Big Tens and NCAAs. I don’t swim anything the first day of Big Tens and the second day, I do the dirty double.
“It is great preparation for swimming when you are tired. Personally, I swam pretty well. I was a second off my best time in the 100 back, which was very surprising for me considering I am a 200 person. We have put in a lot of work and it is all starting to show.”
Catie agreed.
“It was a little different,” she said. “We always practice sudden change, so pulling events out of a hat was something we were prepared for. It was exciting.”
It is going to be tough to top 2016 in the DeLoof family.
“I don’t even have any words. It was so thrilling,” Gabby said. “We are taking all of that energy from Big Tens and NCAAs and trials and definitely putting it straight into our season this year. We are hoping it is going to carry on throughout the year.”
nice
2016 was off the chain! Ali