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Aspen Speedos finish second against rival Glenwood

Jon Maletz
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado

GLENWOOD SPRINGS – Aspen Speedos head coach Gordon Gerson was encouraged by his team’s performance this past weekend in Glenwood Springs – from the scores of personal bests to having a record number of swimmers (33) compete in a road meet.

Still, Gerson admitted Tuesday that he was not completely satisfied.

“They’re our arch rivals, and you always want to beat your arch rival,” Gerson said of Team Sopris. “I won’t go Vince Lombardi on you, but you’d always like to win. That’s a big part of it.”



While Aspen swimmers posted the top score in six of 10 age groups, their lack of depth proved to be the difference in the race for the team title against Glenwood, which had 47 competitors take to the pool.

“It wasn’t that close. If you made me guess, it was something like 700-500,” Gerson said. “My speech during one-on-ones with them was that they did a great job, now go get some of your friends to join.




“Everybody is improving. That’s really what it’s all about.”

Perpetual standouts Max Bryant and Kelcie Gerson led the Speedos, winning all four of their events to secure the top spots in their respective age groups. So, too, did Michael Zimet and Sam Richie.

Claire Collier won three events and finished second in the other, finishing with the most points in her age group.

Other notable performances came from Emily Driscoll, Austin Ferguson, Christian Kelly, Libby Reagan and Sophia Rodriguez, who each posted personal bests in all four events they swam. Brady Rogers posted top times in the two events he swam.

“The kids just keep doing the work and getting faster. In the long run, that’ll pay off,” coach Gerson said. “Most of these guys [have their sights set] on Feb. 19’s and 20’s Western Slope Championships. Of course, Max and Kelcie have got some bigger fish to fry down the road.”

This weekend, Bryant, Kelcie Gerson and three teammates – Zimet, Collier and Jack Bowers, who did not compete in Glenwood – are slated to take on swimmers from 10 states in the Carmel [Ind.] Swim Club’s Winter Invitational in Indianapolis.

The action kicks off Friday with distance events.

“We’re hoping for a lot of best times, hopefully some new [qualifying] times for some of the bigger meets and scoring points and representing well,” Gordon Gerson said.

“I’ve only seen the [starting list] for Friday, and Max is seeded second in the 400 [individual medley], so hopefully he can move up one spot. … We’re excited about it.”

jmaletz@aspentimes.com