Meeker Marlins swim their way to a great season

MEEKER I The Meeker Marlins Swim team, sponsored by the ERBM Recreation and Park District, concluded their summer swim meet schedule with the High Country League Championship meet in Eagle, Colo., this past Friday. All Meeker swimmers swam their personal best times at the meet, a goal each swimmer reaches for during the season.
The young team started their season with their first meet on June 22 at the Eagle Vail pool, where they competed against five other teams. The work they put into practice transferred to fantastic times.
On July 13 the Marlins returned to the Eagle Vail pool to compete with six other teams. Here the Marlins got a chance to show that hard work pays off, with many swimming their best times.
n Hailey Knowles in the girls 8 and under 25-yard butterfly
n Rainier Foreback in the boys 7-8 25-yard backstroke
n Austin Lopez in the boys 25-yard backstroke
n Ridge Williams in the boys 9-10 25-yard backstroke
n Barbara Jex in the girls 11-12 50-yard breaststroke and 11-12 50-yard freestyle
n Wagner Brown in the girls 6 and under 25-yard freestyle
n Vivian Brown in the girls 25-yard freestyle
n Hailey Knowles in the girls 7-8 25 yard freestyle
n Liam Deming in the boys 25-yard freestyle
The Marlins swam competitively at the Fraser, Colo., meet July 20. Of the 34 events the Meeker swimmers were entered in, 25 placed in the top six, proving once again that they are a hard-working team. What amazed coach Shelly Rogers and assistant coach Jody May was not the number of top six finishes, but the fact that every single swimmer achieved their best time in every event they swam. Those swimmers were:
n Chase Blaisdell in the boys 7-8 25 fly and 25 back
n Addie Joy in the girls 9-10 25 fly, 25 free and 100 IM
n Sierra Williams in the girls 11-12 50 fly, 50 breaststroke and 50 free
n Hailey Knowles in the girls 7-8 25 back and 25 free
n Liam Deming in the boys 7-8 25 back, 25 breast and 25 free
n Austin Lopez in the boys 7-8 25 back and 25 free
n Kelsay Atchely in the girls 9-10 25 back and 25 free
n Ridge Williams in the boys 9-10 25 back, 25 breaststroke and 25 free
n Barbara Jex in the girls 11-12 50 back, 50 breaststroke and 50 free
n Brynlee Williams in the girls 7-8 25 breaststroke
n Elijah Deming in the boys 9-10 25 breaststroke, 25 free and 100 IM
n Jennifer Kincher in the girls 9-10 25 free, 25 breaststroke and 100 IM
At the championship meet (results not in yet), all swimmers achieved best times and were joined by Harrison Foreback and Zach Umphries who both swam the 25 back and 25 free, posting excellent times!
The team will finish up their season with an awards banquet on Thursday, Aug. 16. Coach Rogers and assistant coach May were very proud of the improvement the kids demonstrated this season. “Their stroke technique improved immensely, as did their endurance, a sure sign of success on race day. In addition, the swimmers challenged themselves by choosing to enter into the more difficult races instead of going for the “easy win,” Robers said. Both coaches are excited about the future for the Meeker Marlins and are looking forward to the spring season.