Losing at the Southwestern League championship meet by one point last year stuck with the Durango High School girls swimming team.

The Demons made up for it and then some this year, winning the SWL title with 340 points Saturday in Grand Junction.

Grand Junction came in second with 334 points.

“It came down to the last (400-yard freestyle) relay,” DHS head coach Kathryn Ross said. “We were leading after the 100 backstroke and held on.

Brooke Kniffin led the Demons with two first-place finishes: She won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke.

Annie Mummery finished second in the 100-yard backstroke to Kniffin.

Ellie Earl took third place in the 100-yard breaststroke and qualified for state in the event.

The Demons’ 200-yard freestyle relay of Bryn Joyner, Catherine Dellinger, Haley Warren and Halee Pritchard also qualified for the state meet after coming within one second of the state-qualifying cut at the Demons home meet Jan. 24.

“It was extremely exciting, and I think even more exciting was watching them blow it out of the water,” Ross said. “All of the girls have gone above what I even expected of them.”

The Demons next will compete at the CHSAA Class 4A Girls Swimming State Championships on Friday and Saturday in Fort Collins.

heraldsports@durangoherald.com