Last weekend, the Durango Swim Club won the 2024 Western Slope League Championship for the third year in a row at Colorado Mesa University’s El Pomar Natatorium.
Despite being behind by nearly 200 points on the last day of competition, the team raced until the very end, coming out as the league champions under former Olympic trial-qualifying swimmers turned coaches Darren Maxwell and Haley Benjamin.
DSC won the meet by a margin of 282.5 points with a total of 3,408.5 points. The second place Maverick Aquatics finished with 3,126 points and the Aspen Swim Club was in third with 1,662.5 points.
“We are so excited and proud of our swimmers to get this for the third year in a row,” Durango Swim Club Board President Kristin Thomas said. “We've seen great growth from our swimmers over the season.”
Durango brought 41 swimmers to the meet, with the youngest being six years old and the oldest being 17.
Thomas complimented the team’s effort and spirit for coming together for the comeback. She said some swimmers could’ve left early but stayed to cheer on their teammates.
George Harrington, 10, and Raina Dixon, 14, both won the high point award for their respective divisions, beating out their competitors in the 10 and under boys and 13 and 14 girls divisions. Eleven-year-old Brinley Duran was the highest scorer for Durango with 161 points.
Harrington was first in the 400-meter freestyle and 200-freestyle. He was second in the 50-meter butterfly and third in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. He scored a total of 119 points to win the 10 and under boys high point award.
The 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays consisting of Harrington, Quenton Harvey, Wylie Woods and Clay Smith placed first.
In the 13-14 girls, Dixon placed first in the 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 1500 freestyle, 50 freestyle and 400 freestyle. She placed second in the 200 backstroke and 100 butterfly, scoring 149 points for the team and won the high point award.
She also placed first in the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays with teammates Linzie Bidart, Ava McKown and Elise Nakamoto.
Duran won the 200 backstroke, 100 backstroke and 50 backstroke in the 11-12 girls division. She placed second in the 50 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 400 freestyle and 200 IM, as well as 3rd in the 50 freestyle.
Avery Barnett, Duran, Iris Hersch and Ivy Nakamoto also placed first in the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays.
Other strong showings for Durango included Denny Woods, 16, who placed first in the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke, 50 freestyle and 200 IM. He placed second in the 200 freestyle.
Paxton Paxton-Horn, 16, placed first in the 400 IM, 200 butterfly, 100 butterfly and 400 freestyle.
Woods, Paxton-Horn, Grant Wright and Cole LeRoux placed first in the 200 medley relay and second in the 400 freestyle relay.
Quenton Harvey, 10, also swam hard for DSC, placing first in the 100 freestyle and the 50 butterfly.
Elin Mischler, 17, placed 1st in the 50 freestyle and 2nd in the 100 butterfly.
Joellie Rohde, Cassidy Scott, Olivia Becher and Mischler placed first in the girls 15 and over 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay.
Woods is set to compete in both breaststroke events at the 2024 Futures Championships that will take place July 24-28 in Austin, Texas. The 12 & under DSC swimmers will be competing July 26-28 at the Colorado Swimming Age Group Long Course Championships in Fort Collins. The team will then take a few weeks off before its fall short course season begins.
