The Leopard Sharks swim club participated in their first year-round season this winter, competing in meets from Grand Junction, to Phoenix and Denver.
After swimming qualifying times in regular season meets, the Leopard Sharks are now wrapping up the winter season with postseason competitions.
Last weekend, Ryan Cutrone, Caisey Duran and Bailey Duran each competed at the Senior State Championship in Littleton, Colorado.
Cutrone qualified in the 200-yard breaststroke, and at the senior state meet, he finished in 31st place with a time of 2:37.43.
Caisey and Bailey Duran each qualified for the 200-yard breaststroke, and Caisey finished in 27th place (2:46.54), just in front of Bailey, who was 29th (2:46.98).
Bailey Duran also swam the 400-yard individual medley, placing 11th with a time of 5:13.20.
The next postseason meet for the club is the 14 & Under Short Course Championship in Thornton this weekend.
The Leopard Sharks’ lone qualifier for the meet is Victoria (Torey) Duran, who will swim in the 200-yard backstroke after swimming a qualifying time of 2:27.56.
Head coach Ian MacLaren said that only around 16 swimmers qualify for each event, so he is expecting tough competition for Duran.
“It’s a great experience for her to go against some solid competition that she doesn’t necessarily see on the west slope,” said MacLaren. “So the goal is to go up to there and step up to the block and not be intimidated and be competitive.”
Finally, the Leopard Sharks will have two swimmers compete at the 14 & Under Silver State meet in Denver, March 4-6.
Delta Suckla qualified for the meet in the 50-yard breaststroke (43.12) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:37.67), and Cody Farias qualified in the 200-yard freestyle (2:25.22), 200-yard IM (2:48.42), 100-yard freestyle (1:14.71) and 50-yard freestyle (34.38), but neither will be attending the meet.
But head coach Ian MacLaren is hoping that the two swimmers that will be competing – Torey Duran and Tyler Cutrone – finish strong.
Each swimmer qualified for multiple events, and at the meet, Duran will swim in nine different races and Cutrone in seven.
By competing in multiple events, MacLaren is hoping his swimmers can tally up points and bring home awards.
“Both of those kids are going to be in play, for conceivably, a high-point award,” said MacLaren. “And I expect them to win several events there.”
Following the final winter postseason meets, the Leopard Sharks will swim in a handful of regular meets, but MacLaren said that their focus will turn towards the summer season and preparing for the summer championships.
