Grand Haven teen completes 21-mile circuit around Higgins Lake

After the first two days, most of Miles Evink’s family on vacation didn’t expect that he would finish a 21-mile swim around the outside of Higgins Lake.

That was even after his mother, Mary Jane Evink, told him that he had done plenty to satisfy the family tradition of swimming out to what they call “Treasure Island,” an isle in the middle of the lake – about 1.5 miles offshore.

However, that didn’t stop Miles. The 17-year-old who competes on the Grand Haven High School swim team set out to complete a seven-day, 21-mile journey swimming around the lake.

Miles could have just swam to the island, but he says he isn’t fond of the idea of swimming in deep water. Many of his family members, all prominent high school swimmers, made it a tradition to swim to the island on vacation.

“When I first got into competitive swimming, everyone in my family was like, ‘When are you going to swim to the island, Miles?’” he said. “And I was like, ‘Maybe next year.’ Last summer, I said to myself, ‘This is the year I am going to make the change.’”

His grandfather, Don “Pogo” Correll, has lived on Higgins Lake for years. The family has a long history and tradition of spending time on the lake during the summer.

Correll and Miles woke up early in the morning each of the seven days to plan and execute the swim. Miles swam at least 3 miles each day for about two hours a day. He said 90 percent of the time he was freestyle swimming, then he would breaststroke and tread water to rest his muscles. One day, with the help of the wind and some waves, he traveled 3 miles in just one and a half hours.

“You might think that the physical aspect was the challenging part,” he said. “But, for me, it was more the mental part because you’d be swimming along and not realize how far you are going. I’d be swimming for what felt like hours and I’d look up and I had only gone like 100 meters.”

Most days, just Correll followed Miles in a boat to make sure the teen was safe, had drinking water and didn’t get hit by other boats. On the final day, his family surprised Miles and all came out to see him finish the last mile and a half.

“I was able to swim all the way back to our dock,” he said. “I walked onto the dock and they were waiting for me with some nonalcoholic champagne. I was extremely satisfied.”

Miles said he knew he had to do something to satisfy the family tradition, but he didn’t plan to make it a seven-day trip. One of the first days there, he decided it was a good way to keep training and stay in shape while on vacation. Other than plotting the trip with Correll, he didn’t train for this swim, specifically.

The milestone was also a way to honor his grandmother, Mary Jo Correll, who died in January 2019.

“She always loved the lake and was always caring for it,” Miles said. “I loved her so much, so I wanted to do it for her, as well.”

This was also a way to show people that the lake can be enjoyed in an environmentally safe fashion. Miles said the cleanliness of the lake is important to him and his family. Along the route, he picked up two e-cigarettes, 20 golf balls and whatever else he could find to do his part in cleaning the lake.