Speedos fourth in Montrose
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado
ASPEN – Gordon Gerson likened the Aspen Speedos’ past rosters to Swiss cheese.
Those holes are shrinking, however, as talent emerges in virtually every age group. And the favorable results are pouring in.
Despite being vastly outnumbered during this past weekend’s meet in Montrose, Aspen held its own. Max Bryant won all eight of his events to propel the Speedos to a fourth-place finish.
Host Montrose, which had 64 kids competing – 43 more than Aspen – ran away with the team title. Maverick Aquatics of Grand Junction and Team Sopris rounded out the top three.
“For the kids that went, it was an excellent experience,” coach Gerson said. “I really see a team developing. We have a confluent cloth of kids who are beginners, kids who are better than that, and kids who are better than that. … Things are finally working. That can only bode well for the future.”
Here are the weekend’s highlights:
• Bryant’s weekend sweep included an impressive performance in the 200 breastroke in which he outlasted former state champion Matt Hulstine, of Craig.
Bryant also broke a pool record in the 50 backstroke.
• Claire Collier logged seven wins and one third-place finish. She also established a new pool record in the 50 backstroke.
“It obviously was a nice meet for Claire,” Gerson said. “I can’t remember the last time she won seven events in one weekend.”
Collier also teamed with Kelcie Gerson, Hannah Peterson and coach Jenny Fadale-Roeder to win the 200 medley relay.
• Everett Olson, who turned 11 in August, acquitted himself quite well in a new age group, winning four times, finishing second three times and third once.
Olson also logged a state-qualifying time in the 200 backstroke.
“The step up from 9-10 to 11-12 is a big one,” coach Gerson said. “This shows his swimming is coming along. His strokes have improved, his endurance has improved and his attention to detail in practice is really improving.”
• Kayla Tehrani won four times, took second twice and third twice, further establishing herself as one of the more dominant 8-and-under swimmers on the Western Slope, Gerson said.
• Peterson won two races and finished in the top five six other times.
• Micah Sanders-Silva won the 8-and-under 100 freestyle and 25 butterfly and also finished second three times and third once.
• Sophia Perry picked up a win in the 25 freestyle.
• Nathan Cherry won the 9-10 200 individual medley, finished second five times and third twice.
• Emily Driscoll finished in the top five eight times, highlighted by a win in the 800 freestyle.
• Eleven-year-old Cole Petersen was victorious in the 11-12 200 freestyle and second in the 100 backstroke.
“I love to see kids winning events when they’ve still got a year to go in their age group,” Gerson said.
• Thomas Mellenthin bested the field in the 8-and-under 25 breastroke and compiled two other top-three results.
• Lelia Arthur finished second once and third twice.
• Kelcie Gerson, who has been battling a variety of ailments in recent weeks, still managed to log four second-place finishes.
“This meet is not really a point of emphasis for us, but I was happy with the turnout,” Gordon Gerson said. “We’ll be going to Glenwood in two weeks. That’s the sort of meet where we’ll expect everyone to attend.”
jmaletz@aspentimes.com, @jmaletz
