Swim sensation Emily Roden stays in fast lane

Staying In The Fast Lane Despite COVID break, future remains bright for swim star Roden

Words by Brad Emons | Photos by Katya Zhavoronkova

After being out of the pool for nearly three months because of the COVID-19 restrictions, Emily Roden was just thankful to return for her first club team practice with the Novi Sturgeons.

And surprisingly the incoming Northville High sophomore didn’t feel like a fish out of water for that initial early June swim at the Novi Sports Club.

“It was good, our coaches started us out pretty light, just ease back into things because we were off for so long,” said the reigning MHSAA Division 1 champ in the 100-yard butterfly. “But it was good to be back with everyone. We had to stay apart. There’s no two or three people in a lane, so it’s not exactly the same. But it’s good to be back.”

The 5-foot-8 Roden is coming off a stellar high school freshman season with the Mustangs where she earned All-State (top eight) honors in four different events at the Holland Aquatics Center including a victory in the 100 butterfly (55.43) and a third in the 200 freestyle (1:51.68).

She also was a part of Northville’s fourth-place 400 freestyle relay with Laurel Wasiniak, Lulu Mans and Lauren Heaven (3:33.02), was well as a sixth-place finish in the 200 medley relay joining ranks with Malayna Mancinelli, Emily Lowman and Mans (1:46.86).

Her last official meet came during the offseason on Feb. 7-9 at Oakland University in the Michigan Open. Representing the Sturgeons, Roden took runner-up honors in the 200-meter butterfly (2:19.74), a seventh in the 100 butterfly (1:05.12) and an eighth in the 200 individual medley (personal best 2:26.72).

For her efforts, Roden was recognized last month as an AllAmerican in the 100 butterfly, and – along with Wasinak, Mans and Heaven – the 400 free relay.

Besides finishing up her ninth-grade classes, Roden discovered some other things during her swimming hiatus. She went on lots of bike rides and started doing puzzles.

“It was pretty crazy, it was hard,” Roden said. “I tried to work out as much as possible, but it was hard to get motivated because I have nothing to train for right now except for keeping up.”

Once she returned to her club team under the direction of coaches Bob Jenroe and Mark Winter, Roden began to feel more at home, but with some new protocols and restrictions in place.

“My practices where cut a little bit shorter, we had to go into two groups, rotate between dry land and actual swimming,” she said.

A SEASON TO REMEMBER

With the girls swim team scheduled to start swimming Aug. 10 pending concerns of COVID-19, Roden will be following up an incredible ninth-grade season. Roden was among eight girls swim nominees statewide for the Detroit Free Press Sports Awards, which was held online on June 18. The nominees and winner were introduced via live stream by Olympic legend Michael Phelps.

“Emily is very humble and modest, friendly, always smiling,” Northville coach Brian McNeff said. “She was pretty quiet during the year being a freshman with a lot of seniors on the team. She didn’t

Emily Roden stood atop the podium during most of her high school meets as a freshman.

try to take anyone’s spot as were talking about times and far as personality. You could what she was thinking about,” tell she had a lot of fun, a lot McNeff said. “She was close to of laughing, a lot of smiling the All-American time and she coming from her, so that was said, ‘So, will this get me top good.” 16 at the state meet?’ We told

And when the chips were on her, ‘Emily, we want you to the line, Roden seemed to excel win.’ Then she said, ‘Oh, O.K.’ as the Mustangs earned an That was kind of cool that she eighth-place team finish at the was just happy to be there and D1 finals. didn’t quite realize how good

She gave an indication of she was going into that meet. Emily Roden thoroughly enjoyed her inaugural high school season. her talents earlier that fall That was kind of refreshing to kinds of sports. Her parents, mom would make me go to when she was the individual see that. She wants to win and Mike and Jodie, did not swim, practices, but I loved going champion in the 100 butterfly wants to do well, but she wants although her younger brother to meets and I loved racing,” (54.97) and 200 freestyle to be a good teammate and have David, heading into the eighth Roden said. “My mother said, (1:51.60) at the Kensington fun with her friends and all that grade, does summer club ‘Emily, you have to keep going Lakes Activities Association stuff, too.” swimming, but also has a strong if you want to get better and meet. She was also champion Swimming for her high interest in music and theater, win your races.’ It took time in both events at the Wayne school team was rewarding in according to Emily. and I think I started improving County meet. more ways than one. “I really loved softball, but I when I was 10, so it took a little

“Her work ethic obviously “It’s one of the best stopped for swimming,” Roden while to get into the groove.” is great, she’s a really hard things that I’ve ever done,” said. “I did gymnastics for a Roden’s all-time favorite worker,” McNeff said. “When Roden said. “I had a lot of while, but I kept getting hurt, swimmer “is of course, Michael it came to the big meets, she expectations, but it’s not the so my mom said, ‘Let’s not Phelps.” And from a distance, really stepped up. We saw same when you’re actually because it’s going to ruin your she also admired the Olympic where she really upped her living it with your best friends swimming.’ I tried golf, but gold medal career of Missy game and wanted to win. There every day. It was so much fun. that was very boring. And I did Franklin, who has since retired. was a lot more determination Being on relays – and winning – basketball and volleyball.” As far as the future, Roden there . . . to be a state it was so much fun.” For Roden, being a hopes to become a high-level champion.” competitive swimmer became a collegiate swimmer, but she

During her inaugural D1 WINNING RACES process and it had to become an is still three years away from championship appearance, Roden began as a competitive acquired taste. graduating. But for now, it’s Roden put it all together. swimmer at age seven with “When I was younger, I just baby steps with the hopes

“Going into the state meet we the Sturgeons, but she tried all didn’t love it as much and my of keeping a fall high school sports season intact despite all the uncertainty. Roden is keeping her fingers crossed that she’ll get to defend her individual state title in 2020 and won’t be swimming upstream. “I sure hope so,” said Roden, who could go down as one of Northville’s all-time swim greats. “I’m pretty sure there will be. I was talking to the athletic director at Northville (Brian Samulski) that there probably will be a season, but there will be a lot of change and a lot of rules. We don’t know if we can do relays and stuff, but As a freshman, Northville’s Emily Roden was the MHSAA Division 1 champ in the 100-yard butterfly. let’s hope that we can.”