Aspen’s Bryant claims two more state titles

Aspen swimmer Max Bryant knows his way to the top step of the state podium.

The 17-year-old Aspen Speedos swimmer won two more individual state titles last weekend at the annual State Club Swimming Championships in Grand Junction.

Bryant, a senior at Aspen High School, had won two state championships previously.

“Max won the 400 IM (individual medley), the first event of the first day,” Speedos head coach Gordon Gerson said. “And he won the 200 fly (butterfly) in the last event of the last day.”

Bryant also finished second in the 200 individual medley, third in the 200 breaststroke, third in the 200 butterfly, sixth in the 400 freestyle and eighth in the 200 freestyle to finish a close second in the high-points competition in his age group.

“Max had a very solid meet,” said Gerson, who accompanied Bryant to the U.S. Junior National Swimming Championships in Indianapolis after the state meet. Bryant will swim in three events at nationals over the next week.

Led by Bryant’s powerhouse performance, the Aspen Speedos finished 19th as a team in the state championships.

“This was a solid end to the season for us,” Gerson said. “It’s our second-best ever team finish at state. And we had the most swimmers we’ve ever qualified for state.

“Charlie (Mechling) and Kelli (Callahan) had really good meets,” the Aspen Speedos coach said.

The two girls teamed with Kelcie Gerson and Claire Collier to finish fourth at the state meet in the 400 medley relay in Grand Junction.

“That was our best relay finish ever at a state meet,” Gerson said.

The same foursome finished fifth in the 400 free relay.

Mechling added an individual third-place finish in the 200 IM. Callahan was seventh and Gerson 15th. Mechling also was third for Aspen in the 200 free. She added a fifth in the 100 breast and a fifth in the 200 back; teammate Gerson was eighth.

Callahan was eighth in the 200 breast, 10th in the 100 breast and 11th in the 200 free and the 100 free.

“Kelli was very strong in the night sessions,” Gerson said. “She had her strongest state championships.”

Callahan also recorded a 14th-place at state in the 100 fly.

Kelcie Gerson also hit the podium with a seventh in the 400 IM.

Collier, who will swim at the Colorado School of Mines next year, also picked up a 15th in the 200 butterfly at the state meet, which included outdoor competition at the Lincoln Park Pool as well as indoor competition at the aquatic center at Colorado Mesa University.

Among the younger Aspen Speedos, Maddie Mechling was 11th in the 50 back at the state championships. She also was 15th in the 200 backstroke, ages 12 and under.

Davey Brown was 11th in the 100 freestyle, 12th in the 200 back and 13th in the 200 IM.

“She had a really strong season for us,” Gerson said. “Davey put up some nice swims at state.”

“Everett Olson was there for us. He flew in from California to compete,” Gerson said.

Cole Petersen, Hannah Freeman and Lewis Brown all picked up experience in their first state championships, Gerson said.

“Sevi Multin had some nice swims, too,” Gerson said. He raced in the 100 and 200 butterfly events.

Elan Aviram also competed at state for the first time.

“He’s come a long way this year,” Gerson said.

Gali Aviram swam on a pair of relays for the Aspen Speedos.

dstrode@aspentimes.com