Aspen High swimmers protect home water
The Aspen Times
Courtesy photo |
The Aspen High Schol swim team, short on numbers, finished long on results last weekend.
The Skiers, with a roster of only 11 swimmers, finished second in the annual Aspen Invitational at the Aspen Recreation Center (ARC) pool.
“We are one of the smallest teams in numbers in the league,” Aspen head coach Kathleen Callahan said. “This is a phenomenal finish for us.”
Aspen High swimmers won nine of 12 events at the high school meet, which was won by Glenwood Springs and the Demon’s 30 swimmers.
“The team was led by team captain Kelli Callahan, junior Kennidy Quist and freshman standout Davy Brown,” coach Callahan said. “These girls each won their two individual events and helped their relay teams swim to victory.”
She said the meet was bittersweet for Callahan, a senior at her final home meet.
“I am happy I was able to help lead our team to a victory and grateful to have had my mom coach me for the past four years of my high school career,” Kelli Callahan said.
She won the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterlfy.
She also swam on the winning 200-medley relay along with Davy Brown, Kennidy Quist and Emily Driscoll. Callahan also competed on the winning 400 free relay team with Brown, Quist and Hannah Freeman.
“Kennidy has become a very accomplished sprinter, winning the 50 and 100 freestyle,” coach Callahan said. “She is very talented. I fully expect her to podium at state, although knowing Kennidy, only winning will be good enough for her.”
Quist shared the glory with her teammates.
“I have never been more proud of our high school swim team,” Quist said. “Davy had a stellar meet considering she was recuperating from the stomach flu the day before..”
Davy Brown won the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke.
”I just want everyone to understand that we work hard for this and quantity doesn’t always beat quality,” Brown said.
“Davy will have an amazing high school career in swimming,” coach Callahan said. “Kelli, Kennidy and Davy have qualified in more events than they will be able to swim at state, given they are only allowed to swim in two individual events and two relays.”
Emily Driscoll was on the winning 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay with Hannah Freeman, Taylor Patillo and Lelia Author.
They missed qualifying for the state championships by about one second.
Driscoll went on to place third in the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly.
Freeman was third in the 200 free and the 100 free.
Patillo finished fifth in the 100 fly and eighth in the 100 breast.
“The Easterling twins had a great meet with Lilly finishing 18th in the 100 free and 17th in the 100 breast,” coach Callahan said. “Abby took 13th in the 50 free and 19th in the 100 free.”
Aspen freshman Ashley Springer took 13th in both the 100 back and breast.
Senior Whitney Sherriff, who had never competed before, finished a respectable 18th in the 100 back and 21st in the 50 free.
The team was anchored by Julia Haugen who was 25th in the 50 free and 26th in the 100 Free.
“Overall, this is one of the best meets I have coached in the last five years,” coach Callahan said.
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