They took a lion’s share of medals and ribbons at the annual Cortez Invitational Summer Swimming Meet which was held June 9-11 at City Park Municipal Pool. The Leopard Sharks hosted teams from Aspen, Delta, Durango, Grand Junction, Gunnison, North Fork, Ouray, Pagosa Springs, Montrose, and Summit County. More than 200 swimmers participated.

Medals were awarded for first through sixth place and ribbons for seventh-12th.

Haylie Cumpton placed 10th in both the 25-yard freestyle in Girls 7-8 age division and 50 free in Girls U-8. She was ninth in 25 back in Girls U-10. Jessie Garbessi, competing in Girls U-10, won ribbons for 10th in the 50 butterfly in 57.0 seconds, knocking 7.40 seconds off her best time; and in 100 fly.

In the Senior Girls division, Kelsey Green won a medal for a sixth-place finish in the 100 free in 1 minute, 12.54 seconds, knocking 0.76 off her previous best. She just missed a medal by placing seventh in both the 200 breast stroke in 3:39.10, cutting a whopping 8.76 seconds off her best; and in 50 free in 32.13. She finished eighth in the 200 free, 11th in 200 individual medley and 12th in 100 back.

Tessa Haukeness, also competing in Senior Girls, won a fifth-place medal with 3:30.34 time in the 200 breast and sixth place in the 100 breast in 1:35.00, trimming 7.55 off her personal best. She also placed 11th in the 100 free in 1:19.13, cutting a huge 15.78 seconds.

Tucker Hensen, competing in Boys 7-8, placed seventh in both the 25 free in 37.13 and 25 back in 35.87. He cut 10.80 in the free and 16.84 in the back. Jessica Millican, participating in Girls 13-14, took eighth in the 200 back and 12th in 200 breast.

Having a really great meet was Katie Millican, competing in Girls 11-12. She finished third place in the Girls 11-12 High-Point standings while taking home a bunch of medals. She finished second in both the 200 I.M. in 3:20.10, cutting 7.46; and in 50 breast in 46.92, cutting 1.91. She took third in the 100 I.M. in 1:17.65 and third in 100 breast in 1:45.21, cutting 1.83. She brought home fourth-place medals in 400 free in 6:40.80, 50 back in 43.35, 100 fly in 1:36.26, and 100 back in 1:36.74. She medaled by taking sixth in the 50 fly in 40.83. She brought home an eighth-place ribbon in the 50 free.

Alyse Neubert, competing in Girls 11-12, won a ninth-place ribbon in the 100 I.M. and an eighth in the 100 back. Michael Neuert had one of the best days of his life by winning the Boys 7-8 25 back in 24.52. He won the silver medal in the 25 breast in 30.77. He also took home a fourth in 50 breast and sixth in 25 free.

In the Senior Boys bracket, Daniel Puls medaled in several events. He won the bronze in the 200 breast in 3:04.82, fourth in 100 free in 1:06.59, fifth in 100 fly in 1:24.26, and sixth in 400 free in 5:52.41. He won an eighth-place ribbon in the 200 back in 3:15.26.

The Leopard Sharks opened the 2000 season by competing at the Gunnison Invitational June 3-4. In that meet, medals were awarded for first-third and ribbons for fourth-12th.

Cumpton, competing in her first meet ever, won an 11th place ribbon in the 25 back in 33.69.

Green had an outstanding meet as she came in second place in Senior Girls High Point standings. She took golds in four events including 100 free in 1:05.14, 200 back in 2:53.81, 50 free in 28.56, and 200 free in 2:31.09. She won silvers in all the rest of her events including 200 I.M. in 2:54.58, 500 free in 7:19.32, 100 back in 1:19.25, and 200 breast in 3:18.29. Shawndean Hutchison, Girls 9-10, just missed winning a ribbon by placing 14th in 200 free.

Katie Millican also had a great meet as she placed second in Girls 11-12 High Point. She captured a gold medal and set a new pool record in the 200 back in 3:19.71. She won a silver in the 200 breast in 3:19.70, fifth in 100 breast in 1:33.14 and 100 back in 1:31.91, seventh in 100 I.M., and eighth in 100 free and 50 free.

Alyse Neubert won ribbons for a fifth in 100 back, sixth in 100 I.M., seventh in 50 free and 50 back, and 12th in 50 breast and 100 breast. Laura Neubert just missed a ribbon by taking 16th in 100 breast. Michael Neubert won a gold in the 25 back and placed fifth in 25 free.