Royal Oak Senior Earns All-State Honors

Zach Zatina, a senior at Royal Oak High School, finished in eighth place (21.68) in the 50-yard freestyle event at the Division 2 State Meet at Eastern Michigan University to earn the title of All State.

Zatina also finished in 10th place in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 47.65.

“Zach had a great season and career at Royal Oak," said head coach Darrin Millar.  "He came in as a freshman and his first 50 free was a 32:00 and his first 100 free was a 1:12.00.  This was a classic example of setting goals and working hard towards them."  

When Zatina was a sophomore he did not qualify as an individual for state meet but went that year on the Ravens' 400-yard freestyles relay.  As a junior,  he qualified for the state meet in the both the 50 free and 100 free. That year he finished 27th in the 50, and 29th in the 100 free at the state meet, Millar said. 

"As a senior he finished eighth in the state for 50 free and earned All-State honors," Millar said.  "In the 100 free he finished 10th and missed a second All-State honor by .04 seconds.  He leaves Royal Oak as the fastest sprinter to come out of the city."

Zatina's times are faster than both the Kimball record holder (Dave Kerska 1983) and the Dondero record holder (Jeff Travis 2000) in the same events.  He also leaves as a highly versatile swimmer, Millar said.

"We have eight individual swimming events, and Zach is in our Top Ten Club in six of those events," Millar said. "His attributes both in and out of the water are good examples for others.”