YPSILANTI — Ella Cabbage and Kira Adams have competed in pools with and against each other for as long as they can remember.
They also attend schools considered each other’s biggest rival. Cabbage is a Traverse City Central Trojan. Adams is a Traverse City West Titan.
But when they are in the pool together, they are both Traverse City Tritons.
The swimming duo was no doubt rooting for each other during Friday’s Division 1 girls swimming and diving state championship finals at Eastern Michigan University, which will conclude Saturday. Adams’ family was cheering on Cabbage as much as they did her. Same for Cabbage’s family rooting for Adams.
So despite whatever there is between the Trojans and Titans, Cabbage and Adams were not rivals Friday. Only teammates and, above all else, friends.
West and Central are in a cooperative program for swimming along with Traverse City St. Francis. The co-op goes by the moniker Traverse City Tritons.
Adams and Cabbage, both juniors, came into the season listed among the swimmers to watch in northern Michigan. They didn’t disappoint, leading the Tritons to their third straight Coastal Conference title.
Friday’s finals provided them with a very special moment. They both planned to look for each other the second they finished their respective events. They no doubt treasured the opportunity to compete in the finals together.
“One hundred percent, we always do,” Adams said of the chance they will be the first person they see after competing. “We get to warm up with each other at the same time and prepare to race together as well.”
Cabbage agreed.
“I go right after Ella so we’ll be together the whole way,” Adams said ahead of Friday’s action. “We will get to see each other compete — It is very special.”
Cabbage ended Friday in 18th place in what Tritons head coach Megan Petroelje called a “super competitive field” for the 100-yard backstroke. The junior finished her swim in 1:00.71. Adams took 25th in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:10.84.
“Kira and Ella have been great assets to our program,” Petroelje said. “They’ve really grown quite a lot over the past year, and both have really stepped up. That’s been fun to see. They both work super hard, and it was great to see that hard work pay off.”
Unfortunately for the two talented swimmers, neither effort was enough to advance them to Saturday’s field, but they each certainly added to the memories their families captured for future viewing.
“We have videos of Kira swimming and me in the background screaming and vice versa,” Cabbage said. “I wouldn’t want to go to states with anyone else. Our families are really close. It’s really special for it being just the two of us in the finals.”
Adams used the conference finals to meet the MHSAA finals qualifying time in the 100-yard breaststroke. She also competed well in the 200 individual medley, backstroke and freestyle events in 2023. Cabbage had qualified in the 100 backstroke early in the season.
Fellow Triton and diver Coco Johnson made it to the regionals, where she finished in 27th place.
“We are super proud of her for making it in there and to be able to represent our team,” Petroelje said of Johnson’s efforts.
Cabbage and Adams were at last year’s finals. Cabbage was a member of the 200 medley relay that finished 16th, and Adams was an alternate for the relay.
They were really looking forward to getting on the road to the finals this week as they recalled last year’s trip that featured early winter inclement weather at Oakland University. Petroelje was the driver for last year’s qualifiers and was again this year — albeit in far better driving conditions.
“Last year, we had quite a snowstorm on our way down,” Petroelje said after noting the weather forecast for the trip to Ypsilanti. “Unfortunately, it was not the best start. We basically fought the weather all the way down and all the way home.
Petroelje was excited to see Cabbage and Adams perform in a completely different environment than they’re used to, and she was thrilled to have two individual qualifiers. Friday marked the first time in many years the co-op produced two individual finalists. For a long time this season, Cabbage was concerned she was going to be alone.
“Kira slid in at the end, and it was awesome,” Petroelje said. “I am so thankful they get to do this together. It is so much more fun to train with someone and have someone to motivate you and keep you accountable.”
Adams and Cabbage have been teammates since their beginning days of swimming with their club, the Traverse City Breakers.
They trained together as youngsters in the same pools at the Grand Traverse YMCA and the Traverse City Civic Center. Petroelje also coached the qualifiers as Breakers.
While they currently attend rival schools, the don’t think of themselves as rivals in any way shape or form.
“We’ve grown up swimming together,” Adams said. “While some people might see it as a rivalry, it’s really not for us because we’ve known each other for so long.”
Hopefully their senior season includes a return trip to the finals with more Tritons along for the ride.