Squaring off against the toughest competition that they have faced this season, the Cortez Water Dragons swim club took to the pool for the Montrose Marlins Invitational, June 28-30, and performed well.
Leading the way for the Water Dragons as she has throughout the season was Erin Lawrence, who dominated several events in the girls 11-12 age division and earned top honors in the 50-yard freestyle (29.81), 100-yard freestyle (1:06.99), 50-yard breaststroke (40.54), 100-yard breaststroke (1:28.17), 200-yard breaststroke (2:43.68), 100-yard backstroke (1:14.06) and 100-yard individual medley (1:16.29). Erin Lawrence also finished second in the 200-yard backstroke (2:43.68) and third in the 50-yard backstroke (25.84) and 500-yard freestyle (6:45.82).
Also earning top-three finishes for the Water Dragons in several events was Jayden White, who competed in the girls 9-10 age division and placed first in the 100-yard freestyle (1:22.28), seconds in the 200-yard individual medley (3:29.26) and 50-yard backstroke (44.07) and third in the 200-yard freestyle (3:14.53) and 50-yard freestyle (39.44).
Fynn Anderson competed in the boys 6-and-under age division and finished first in the 25-yard freestyle (24.26). Bodie Fischer competed in the boys 8-and-under division and placed first in the 100-yard backstroke (2:02.67). Taylor Johnson competed in the girls 9-10 age division and placed first in the 25-yard freestyle (17.94) and second in the 25-yard backstroke (22.55).
Other Water Dragons’ swimmers earning top-three finishes in multiple individual events included Dannika Goodall, who competed in the girls 9-10 age division and placed second in the 25-yard butterfly (23.45) and third in the 100-yard backstroke (1:36.01) and 100-yard individual medley (1:34.97). Eleri Brown competed in the girls 9-10 age division and placed third in the 25-yard backstroke (23.72) and 25-yard breaststroke (34.20).
Theta Decker competed in the girls 6-and-under age division and finished second in the 25-yard freestyle (33.39). Anna Tewell competed in the girls 9-10 age division and placed third in the 25-yard butterfly (24.01), and Lucas Decker competed in the boys 9-10 age division and finished third in the 25-yard freestyle (17.36).
Braden Schmittel swam in the boys 13-14 age division and placed third in the 100-yard individual medley (1:14.79). Anna Lawrence took to the pool in the girls 13-14 age division and touched the wall third in the 50-yard backstroke.
The Cortez Water Dragons finished fourth out of the 13 teams that competed in the three-day meet. Aspen Swim Club finished first overall.
Next up for the Cortez Water Dragons will be the Western Slope League Championships in Grand Junction, July 12-14.
