With the summer swim season quickly winding down, several local swimmers traveled to Montrose on July 7-9, to compete in the Montrose Marlins Invitational.
Among the most successful locals at the 16-team meet was 14-year-old Mesa Verde Aquatics Club team member Trent Bagge, who finished first in his age division in the 50-yard freestyle (24.76), 100-yard freestyle (54.23), 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.35), 400-yard individual medley (5:08.63) and 1650-yard freestyle (20:18.21). Bagge also finished second in the 200-yard butterfly (2:40.84).
Also earning multiple top finishes at the meet was 14-year-old Cortez Leopard Sharks’ team member Victoria Duran, who placed first in her age division in the 200-yard backstroke (2:28.57) and 200-yard individual medley (2:30.67). Duran also finished 2nd in the 200-yard freestyle (2:08.85) and 3rd in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:48.96).
Other top-three finishers competing for MVAC included 9-year-old Erin Lawrence, who finished first in the 50-yard backstroke (38.76), second in the 50-yard breaststroke (47.38), second in the 200-yard freestyle (2:54.48), second in the 50-yard freestyle (35.51), third in the 100-yard freestyle (1:20.28) and third in the 100-yard individual medley (1:33.62).
MVAC team member Tessa Jackson competed in the girls 8-and-under division and finished third in the 50-yard backstroke (52.59), third in the 50-yard breaststroke (58.97) and third in the 25-yard breaststroke (26.92). Her her 9-year-old brother, Tyler Jackson, finished second in the 25-yard butterfly (26.65).
Rounding out MVAC’s top finishers, 18-year-old Samantha Bagge, placed second in the 1650-yard freestyle (21:32.62), 12-year-old Alyssa Barner, finished third in the 200-yard backstroke (3:03.91), 9-year-old Jared Michael Gripp came in second in the 100-yard butterfly (2:17.10), 8-year-old Sawyer Muhonen, placed third in the 100-yard breaststroke (2:24.10), 15-year-old Caleb Podgornoff, finished third in the 50-yard breaststroke (35.98), 12-year-old Caroline Podgornoff, placed second in the 50-yard butterfly (31.21), and 8-year-old Jayden White, finished first in the 25-yard backstroke (23.11).
Top-three finishers for the Leopard Sharks included 16-year-old Ryan Cutrone, who finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.84) and 1650-yard freestyle (19:45.67), 15-year-old Tyler Cutrone, placed first in the 50-yard breaststroke (31.08) and third in the 400-yard individual medley (5:03.90), 13-year-old Cody Farias, finished second in the 500-yard freestyle (6:09.57), third in the 200-yard freestyle (2:13.77) and third in the 50-yard breaststroke (37.94), and 14-year-old Cold Gropp, who finished third in the 500-yard freestyle (6:10.34).
As a team, Mesa Verde Aquatics Club placed sixth overall with 1362.5 points, while the Cortez Leopard Sharks placed ninth with 910 points. Montrose finished first in the 16-team meet with 4119 points.
With the regular season now complete, swimmers from the Cortez Leopard Sharks and Mesa Verde Aquatics Club will move into the postseason, which will begin with the Western Slope Championships in Grand Junction on July 14-16.