The laps have been swam and the Lady Panthers are in shape.
Its time for some competitive swimming.
Montezuma-Cortez High School returns much of its girls swimming team from last season. Only 14 are suited up, but second-year coach Ann Hight has liked what shes seen.
Were looking for all the girls to drop some times, Hight said. If these girls get faster and they have a great individual experience at the meet, thats what this high school team is about. I have a great group of girls. I think well have a really good season.
Senior four-year swimmer Meggie Curtis will be a co-captain again this season. She looks to be strong in the 100-yard backstroke, and will compete in the 200-yard Individual Medley relay and 200-yard freestyle.
I selected her as my captain for her leadership qualities, Hight said about Curtis. She isnt the fastest in the pool, but shes definitely the leader of the team. For that reason, shes my captain.
Senior Arlina OCamb is the other captain. Last season was her first year swimming, not just competitively, but in general. Hight feels OCamb has made the greatest strides in skill on her squad.
She has made an impressive improvement, Hight said. So much so, that shes very inspirational for the rest of the team. She came on last year with no experience. Shes come a long way.
Since catching the swimming bug last season, OCamb will swim the 100-butterfly and see time in the 200 IM this year.
I practiced a lot and did cross training. Its made such a huge difference from last year, said OCamb, who would like to swim in college. Ive also been running to be more in shape for this. Id like to get below 40 (seconds) in the 50-free.
Dolores sophomore Emily Harris advanced to the finals in the 100-yard butterfly at the 5A/4A Southwestern League championships last year. Expectations are high for Harris.
I expect her to move up. Not just make finals, but hopefully podium, said Hight about Harris, who also swims the 50-yard freestyle and will compete in the 200 IM.
The freshmen class includes Elana Cope, Madison Vandivibber and Selena LaPaz. All three bring experience as former Cortez Leopard Sharks. Dolores freshman Amanda Kill looks to be valuable as well.
Im excited to have them on our team, Hight said. They have many years of experience.
Two former Towaoc, Four Corners Aquatic Team swimmers are Marlena Atene and Kaile Bancroft. Atene, a junior, has taken a couple years off of swimming in high school. She feels the hardest part of adjusting to the M-CHS level is getting in physical shape and trying to keep up.
I just want to get back to where I was. Back into shape and back into winning, Atene said. Its kind of hard, because I wasnt in shape when I first came. Im starting to get back into it. Its all right.
Atene will swim in the 100-butterfly and some of the distance freestyles (100, 200 and 500).
The Lady Panthers wont hardly travel next week. The first meet is at Durango on Friday, Dec. 2, and M-CHS will host seven teams the next day at the Cortez Recreation Center beginning at 9 a.m.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
