The Gunnison High School swim team, though small in number, had a strong start to the season. Across two meets last week, the girls placed in the top three in six events.
Even though the swim team only consists of five swimmers and two divers this year, coach Tami Maciejko insists that they are very talented.
The Cowboys competed in their first meet of the season, the 2025 GSHS Friday Night Invite, this past Friday, Dec. 5. The Cowboys placed in the top three in four out of the 12 events, winning two of them outright.
Talented freshman Gracen Corey led the way, winning both of her individual events. Corey swam a 26.16 in the 50 yard freestyle and a 2:07.69 in the 200 yard freestyle. Corey also had the fastest 50 yard split time, 26.87, in the 200 yard freestyle relay. Corey is a very talented freshman that should be swimming in the state meet by the end of the year, said Meaciejko.
Elora Jones swam both the 500 yard freestyle and the 100 yard backstroke on Friday, placing top three in both events. She swam a 6:32.92 in the 500 yard freestyle, good enough for second. She placed third in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:15.10. Jones, who swam in the state meet last year, is looking to be an important contributor for the team this year on her way back to the state meet.
Kelsy Chodorowski and Jade Hannah also swam for the Cowboys as well on Friday. Chodorowski swam both the 100 yard butterfly and the 100 yard breaststroke, which she placed seventh in with a time of 1:22.54. Hannah swam the 50 yard and 100 yard freestyle events. In the 50 yard freestyle she dropped 14.19 seconds from her last time and in the 100 yard freestyle she dropped 5.29 seconds.
The girls then traveled to Grand Junction, Colo. on Saturday, Dec. 6, to compete in the 2025 Girl’s Relay Meet. Each of the girls swam in two individual events and two relay events.
Corey once again led the way for the Cowboys, placing second in both of her individual events. In the 50 yard freestyle she swam a 26.45, a race in which she was barely out-touched by a senior from Montrose. Corey also swam the 50 yard backstroke, finishing with a time of 32.38.
Chodorowski and Jones both swam the 50 yard breakstroke, finishing 14th and 12th with times of 39.49 and 38.84. Chodorowski also swam the 50 yard butterfly in which she placed ninth with a time of 33.62. Jones placed eighth in the 50 yard backstroke with a time 38.22. Hannah swam the 50 yard butterfly and the 50 yard freestyle, finishing with a time of 1:02.83 in the 50 yard freestyle.
The girls also swam the 100 yard freestyle and medley relays at the meet. They placed sixth out of 10 teams in each race. They swam a 1:08.49 in the freestyle relay and a 1:21.79 in the medley relay.
Next up the Cowboys will be hosting nine teams this coming Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m.
Jack Sellner can be reached at jsellner@orourkemediagroup.com.
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