MEEKER | This past weekend, the Meeker Marlins swim team added another chapter to one of Colorado’s most successful summer swimming programs, capturing their sixth consecutive Colorado State Seasonal Club Swimming Championship during the three-day meet July 31-Aug. 2 at Adams State University in Alamosa.
The title extended the Marlins’ championship streak to six straight seasons, a run built on veteran leadership, emerging young talent and a team-first culture.
“Winning our division for six years in a row is an incredible testament to this team’s culture,” head coach Shelly Rogers said. “It’s not just about how talented these swimmers are — it’s about how they work together as a team and push each other to do their best. Seeing them maintain that level of excellence year after year makes me incredibly proud to be their coach.”
Nearly 300 swimmers from across Colorado qualified for the state championship meet. Meeker was represented by Dexter Chinn, Jonan VonRoenn, Tinlie Strate, Sebastian Baumgart, Isaiah Gianinetti, Aerie Smuts, Fletcher Chinn, Adrian Baumgart, Skadi Borchard, Evie Borchard, Paxton Dupire, Ravae Metz, Wyatt Scott and Quinn Foster.
One notable absence was Tucker Chinn, who competed at the 2026 USA Swimming Western Zone Senior Long Course Championships July 28-Aug. 2 in Fresno and Clovis, California. Swimming against many of the top senior athletes in the western United States, Chinn qualified for seven events and recorded personal-best times in three long-course races as he continued pursuing higher-level competition through USA Swimming.
Despite competing without one of its top scorers from previous seasons, Meeker again rose to the top.
Four Marlins earned top-three high-point honors in their respective age divisions. Sebastian Baumgart claimed the boys 13-14 high-point championship, Tinlie Strate finished third in the girls 15-18 division, while Dexter Chinn placed second and Jonan VonRoenn finished third in the boys 15-18 division.
Baumgart delivered one of the meet’s most impressive performances, winning all 10 of his individual events.
“I didn’t expect a clean sweep because there are a lot of fast swimmers who compete at state,” Baumgart said. “There’s even more competition for my age group next year, so I plan to work really hard between now and then to hopefully stay in the top three. I have a lot of support from family and friends, and an amazing coach, and I’m very thankful for that.”
Strate also turned in a memorable weekend after qualifying for the 800 freestyle during her 1,500 freestyle swim before completing the entire race and continuing to score points throughout the meet.
“Thanks to a great coach and team I was able to go into state feeling prepared for a rigorous 10-event weekend,” Strate said. “It was so much fun watching my team swim into a sixth consecutive state championship where many personal goals were reached.”
Rogers praised the effort shown throughout the roster.
“I am so proud of these amazing swimmers and the whole Meeker Marlins team,” Rogers said. “These athletes show up all summer and they have so much heart. Their hard work and dedication really paid off during the championship meet.”
Veterans Gianinetti, Evie Borchard, Smuts, Fletcher Chinn and Adrian Baumgart each contributed valuable points while recording numerous personal-best swims.
The Marlins’ newcomers also made an immediate impact. First-year state qualifiers Skadi Borchard, Dupire, Metz, Scott and Foster all qualified for the championship meet, with Rogers noting the accomplishment is significant for swimmers in their first season of competitive swimming.
“It is difficult to qualify for state, let alone your first year of competitive swimming,” Rogers said.
The team’s youngest swimmers also celebrated a state title as the 8-and-under mixed 100-yard freestyle relay team of Dupire, Metz, Scott and Foster captured first place.
Dexter Chinn said the younger swimmers embraced the opportunity to help fill the void left by Tucker Chinn’s absence from the seasonal championship.
“Since I was 4 years old, I have been swimming, and now that I am older, I take pride in being the leader for the young swimmers who are rising up,” Chinn said. “This is the first year since I have been swimming where we have not had Tucker to help score points for the team, so it was important for everyone to put their best foot forward and pick up the slack. I was proud of the young swimmers because they did just that.”
The Marlins finished the championship meet with 77 personal-best swims out of 102 races. Over the course of the season, the team also broke 15 program records.
VonRoenn credited the team’s sustained success to the culture Rogers has built.
“The strength of our team is in the determination of each individual swimmer—that strength is the team,” VonRoenn said. “No one member can win with their own determination, but in totality we are champions. Our determination is instilled in us by the greatest coach of all time, Shelly Rogers.”
With six consecutive state championships now secured, the Marlins closed another historic summer season and will return to the pool when preparations begin for the 2027 campaign next spring.
The Meeker Marlins’ older swimmers pose with head coach Shelly Rogers after capturing their sixth consecutive Colorado Seasonal State Championship at Adams State University in Alamosa. Back row, from left: Dexter Chinn, Isaiah Gianinetti, Jonan VonRoenn, Sebastian Baumgart, coach Shelly Rogers, Aerie Smuts, Fletcher Chinn and Tinlie Strate. Front row, from left: Skadi Borchard, Adrian Baumgart and Evie Borchard.
The Meeker Marlins’ younger swimmers pose after helping the team capture its sixth consecutive Colorado Seasonal State Championship at Adams State University in Alamosa. From left are Quinn Foster, Ravae Metz, Paxton Dupire and Wyatt Scott. The quartet also won the 8-and-under mixed 100-yard freestyle relay during the state meet.
