A team of four girls at Durango High School shattered two school records last week and hopes to do it again this weekend at the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Class 4A Girls Swimming and Diving Championships.
Elli Earl, Mira Joyner, Anne Mummery and Violet Witchel make up the Durango swim team’s 200-yard freestyle and medley relay teams, and they’ve become a well-oiled machine. The team is made up of two seniors, Earl and Mummery, and sophomores Joyner and Witchel. They have been swimming together for awhile, but that’s coming to an end soon, and they want to go out in a big way.
“These girls are close, and they don’t want to let the others down because they’re so close,” Durango High School head coach Tom Joyner said. “They’ll be doing splits in relays that they haven’t even approached individually. That’s how you can spot a good relay team.”
Or, in this case, just check the school’s record book.
In last week’s district meet in Grand Junction, the girls started by taking first place and breaking a school record in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1 minute, 42.04 seconds. The sophomores put the team on track with solid starts and the seniors cleaned up down the stretch, as Mummery’s 24.95 split was the best in the pool.
“I think we were all just feeling it and we had a great swim,” said Mira Joyner, daughter of Shalley and coach Tom Joyner. “We were all pumped for districts, and that’s usually a meet where everyone swims fast.”
They came back in the 200 medley relay and were carried to a second-place finish by Witchel’s 0:24.91 freestyle split on the back end. More importantly, it was another Durango record that went down in flames thanks to this special group.
As a freshman, Mummery swam on the relay team that broke the previous record, so she knew the exact number (1:54.00) that needed to be beaten.
“That was a great team, but this group has a connection that’s just different,” said Mummery, daughter of John and Mary Mummery. “We didn’t realize that we broke the medley record there for a second, so it was kind of a surprise. When Violet touched I looked up and said, ‘Hey that’s the school record,’ and we all hugged.”
Mummery has already committed to swim at Pepperdine University and is slated to compete as an individual in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke as well as the two relays in her final high school competition.
It will also be Earl’s final meet and, while she’s excited to compete, she is also happy to be guiding her younger teammates and setting an example for them to follow when they’re seniors.
“It’s kind of comforting to know that Violet and Mira still have two years left,” said Earl, daughter of Jim and Sue B. Earl. “They’re going to do so well, and I’m excited to see what they can do when we’re gone and see how many more records they’re going to be a part of. We have some work do to first.”
Earl and her sister, sophomore Jocelyn Earl, will compete as individuals in the 200 freestyle. Elli also qualified for the state’s 100 breaststroke, and Jocelyn is in the 500 freestyle.
Joyner and Witchel also will compete in two individual events to go along with the relays. Joyner qualified in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly, while Witchel is in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle with Mummery.
The relays, however, are a big focus for all of them.
“One of the tough parts about swimming is that sometimes you have trouble hearing or seeing what’s going on when you’re under there,” said Witchel, daughter of John Witchel and Jessica Wheeler. “I know these girls are screaming for me and giving their all so I don’t have to worry. We just go as hard as we can because we know that’s what the others are doing for us.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
What is the relay team’s song?: We listen to a lot of Kanye West.
What is the team’s favorite sports movie?: She’s the Man.
Who is your celebrity crush?: I think we can all agree upon Channing Tatum.
What swimmer do you all look up to?: Michael Phelps.
What are you favorite outdoor activities?: Paddleboarding, boating, anything on the water and skiing, of course.
Where is the worst place to compete in the pool?: Either Montrose or Delta.
Does the relay team have any superstitions?: We don’t shave our legs from Christmas until districts. If someone does, they lose, and they have to wear a swim cap to school.
What are some of your favorite childhood books?: The BFG or Dr. Seuss’ One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
What teachers have had a positive impact on you?: Mr. Burke is very helpful and Mr. Jackson, too.
What is the best restaurant in durango?: East By Southwest.
