MEEKER | The Meeker Marlins traveled to the final meet of the year in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 3-5. The Scottie Ascherman Summer Seasonal Swim Championships travel around the state, being hosted at different locations for each year, and are for seasonal swimmers from across the state.
Coach Shelly Rogers concentrates on individual improvement and building confidence for each swimmer.
“It was fun seeing the kids drop times in their events as the season progressed,” Rogers said. “I love seeing the smiles on their faces when I tell them they just swam their best time!”
Swimming with seasonal kids from across the state lets the kids know how they stack up against the state, and each competitor is allowed to participate in 10 swims so long as they make the qualifying time.
Dexter Chinn, Tucker Chinn and Judd Harvey all qualified for 10 swims, but swam a few less as they were not allowed to swim up in age for this meet. Hailey Knowles, who had been swimming against mostly year-round competition, had a successful meet as did her sister Addie Knowles, both of whom dropped time in the majority of their races.
Team support is a huge part of each meet. In Colorado Springs that included four swimmers from Rangely, Patrick Scoggins, Timothy Scoggins, Emily Scoggins, and Peyton Armstrong. Rogers, who was acting as the Rangely team coach, soon found they had a team of 11, as the kids were boisterously supporting each other.
Looking forward to next year, there will be four participating in 13 and older—Harvey, Joe McKay, Knowles and Kate Lockwood—allowing the team to finally participate in mixed relays. Miles and miles of swimming will be done, skills and times improved and strength gained.
“Swimming is one of my passions and I am already looking forward to next season,” said Rogers. Seasonal swimmers have state mandated earliest swim dates, allowing for the competition to be equal in practice time as possible.
Contact ERBM for further inquiries if you have children that might enjoy swimming on the Meeker Marlins team next year.
By TIFFANY JEHOREK | Special to the Herald Times
