The GHS girls swim team bagged a third-place finish at the hotly contested Grand Junction High School Invite on Jan. 18.
Two podium finishes in relay events and a 35-point performance from senior Jemma Petrie helped the Cowboys pull away from seven rival schools. Now, the girls will increase their mileage and prepare for an upcoming meet in Durango and the looming postseason.
“Most of my freshmen have qualified for state now, and they’ve been swimming out of their league, it’s been awesome,” said Head Coach Tami Maciejko. “I knew we would drop time these last couple of weeks, I just didn’t think it would be that much time.”
Last week, the Cowboys’ strong group of underclassmen secured state qualifying times at the Hornet Invite on Jan. 10. Freshman Audrey Meeuwsen booked her ticket for the 100-yard backstroke and dropped 12 seconds in the 200 IM to claim a state time. Sophomore Maya Petrie joined her with qualification in the 50 freestyle. Elora Jones also snagged a time in the 500 freestyle, and is still hunting qualification in the 100 backstroke.
The top times at the Hornet Invite propelled the Cowboys into an intimidating lineup in Grand Junction on Jan. 18. The GHS senior class led from the front in both the 200-medley relay and the 400-freestyle relay. The medley squad of Catalina Schwab, Jemma Petrie, Kathryn Frey and Maya Petrie put together a commanding performance to earn third place in the opening event of the day. Then, Sam Jones, Jemma, Schwab and Frey teamed up for another third-place finish in the freestyle relay.
Jemma added to the team score with a first-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke to cash in 20 more points for the Cowboys. The combined tally of 279 points tied GHS for third place, ahead of rivals Fruita and Montrose.
“We’re approaching a couple of really hard weeks,” Maciejko said. “Tuesday and Thursday morning practices are not optional anymore, and we’ll be swimming almost 9,000 yards at the beginning of the week, and 6,000 yards at the end. I call it ‘Hell week.’”
Following the strong display, the Cowboys will travel to Durango on Jan. 24 and 25. Then, the girls will compete in the league championship in Grand Junction on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, ahead of the state championship on Feb. 10-12.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@gunnisontimes.com.)
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