Six swim meets down and three more to go! The 2024-25 swim season is in full swing and the Grand Junction swim team has had a very strong start, winning multiple meets with having multiple state qualifying races.
Our combined team of Palisade, Grand Junction, Central and Caprock have had a lot of meets since our last update, including a competition in Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, and Glenwood. Our Tiger athletes have been incredibly successful so far this season, with lots of wins under their belts.
At meets, our swimmers work to achieve State-level times, to compete at the State Competition in February. From Palisade High school, Junior Emily Harden has individually qualified for the 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle. Freshman Kennedy Kostur also qualified in the 100 butterfly. Swimmer Leah Talbot, a Junior at Palisade High school has had a very strong start to the season. Talbot says her favorite part of the season has been, “getting a new experience with many new members of the team as well as the familiarity of the returning team mates.” This season there has been a change in coaching after the retirement of the past coach Denise Thompson. The new coaches, Jen Burntte and Eric Langer, have led the team to many successes in winning meets as well as helping swimmers to get new best times for some of their favorite events. Talbot says her favorite event is the 100 breaststroke and has aspirations of getting a state qualifying time.
The swim team is looking forward to their next home meet. Come support our Tigers on January 18th at Colorado Mesa University!