Leopard Sharks summer swim team finishes strong at two meets

Leopard Sharks summer swim team finishes strong at two meets

July 5, 2001

The Cortez Leopard Sharks summer swim team recently took part in swim meets in both Ouray and Grand Junction and several swimmers came away with medals and ribbons.

The Leopard Sharks traveled to Ouray the weekend of June 16 to compete against Gunnison, Telluride, Delta, Ouray, Durango and Montrose. Swimmers placing first through third were awarded medals and fourth through sixth were awarded ribbons.

In the boys 15 and over bracket, Scott Fowler was first in the 50 meter freestyle, 50 meter butterfly and 100 meter individual medley.

Ian Maclaren had a big day as he finished first in the 100 meter individual medley, 50 meter backstroke and 50 meter freestyle in the 13-14 year old boys bracket.

In the boys eight and under bracket, Birdger Trap swam to a second place finish in the 25 meter breaststroke.

In the girls 15 and over bracket, Kelsey Green finished first in the 50 meter freestyle, 50 meter backstroke and 100 meter individual medley. Also in the fifteen and over category, Jessica Millican was second in the 100 individual medley and first in both the 50 meter breaststroke and 50 meter butterfly. LiAnna Tallent was second in the 50 meter backstroke and 50 meter breaststroke.

In the 11-12 year old girl’s bracket, Katie Millican finished first in the 100 meter individual medley and 50 meter butterfly and second in the 50 meter breaststroke. Hannah Maclaren picked up a pair of fifth place finishes in the 50 meter backstroke and 50 meter butterfly.

In the girls 9-10 category, Haylie Cumpton was a strong sixth in the 50 meter breaststroke.

In relay races, the 11-12 girls relay team of Jessie Garbesi, Kate Millican, Hannah Maclaren and Nelsa Burkett took third place in the 200 meter free relay. The relay team consisting of the same girls took fifth place in the 200 meter medley relay.

The relay team of Jessica Millican, Jessamyn Stidham, Kelsey Green and LiAnna Tallent took first place in the girls 15 and over 200 meter medley relay and took second place in the 200 meter free relay.

The next weekend, the Leopard Sharks traveled to Grand Junction where they faced Aspen, Delta, Durango, Steamboat Springs, Rangely, Craig, Rifle, Grand Junction, Gunnison, Montrose, Ouray, Sopris and Telluride.

In the girls eight and under bracket, Teslin Maclaren finished sixth in the 50 meter backstroke.

In the girls 11-12 bracket, Katie Millican was impressive. She took first place in the 50 meter butterfly and in the 100 meter butterfly. Her time of 1:43.34 in the 100 meter butterfly set a new pool record. She also finished third in the 50 meter breaststroke and 200 meter individual medley.

In the girls senior bracket, Jessica Millican took fourth place in the 200 meter breaststroke.

The Leopard Sharks are coached by Jess Stidham, who was mistakenly identified as a male in a previous article, and the assistant coach is Kelsey Green.