Rangely Hurricane swim team preps for championships as season nears its close

RANGELY I More than 30 kids went out for the Hurricane swim team, and, for almost half of them, this was their first year on the team. Many of them will swim in the Western Slope Championships this weekend in Grand Junction and the season will wrap up with a team party on July 21.

“We have a total of 34 swimmers with 14 of them being first-time swimmers,” first-year head coach Torie Slagle said. “We have a really young team and we are getting better everyday.”
Coach Slagle said five swimmers eight and under will swim in Grand Junction on Friday and 11, (who are) nine and older will compete Saturday and Sunday in the qualifying meet.
Slagle said only Patrick Scoggins has pre-qualified for the Junior Olympics (state meet) in two events, but he does not plan to attend.
Coach Slagle said Rangely did not host a meet this past year but plans are to host a meet next year—on June 4.
“This year we had swimmers compete in Ouray, Craig, Delta, Montrose and Aspen,” Coach Slagle said.
Slagle was assisted by Bethany Green.
“Last year was my first year coaching as an assistant with Beth Scoggins, and this was my first year as head coach,” Slagle said. “I have learned a lot. I love my team and I have enjoyed watching them grow. It really has been rewarding for me.”