With an eye on the league swim meet, the Manitou Springs team isn’t letting its modest roster size stop it from succeeding. The Mustangs have had good looks against their league opponents and know, going into the Tri-Peaks meet at Fountain-Fort Carson, that they’re capable of finishing within the Top 3 of the team standings.
“I’d like to be Top 3, and I think it’s pretty realistic based on our size of the team versus other teams’ sizes and abilities,” coach Whitney Nuci said. “We’ve gone against everyone in the league and we’re 2-2. I think Top 3 would be pretty decent.”
She also hopes to hit a few more state qualifying times to give her swimmers a better opportunity when they head to the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center next month.
In the meantime, they’re just trying to compete at their best when given the chance. In a dual meet against Fountain Valley on Jan. 24, the Mustangs took four individual wins and two relay wins in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle.
Summer Tenpas was victorious in both the 100-yard butterfly and the 100 backstroke, while Sophia Hyman took the 100 breaststroke and Selah Combs won the 200 freestyle. Overall, the Mustangs won the meet 77-56.
With leagues and then state on the horizon, the team has been diligently working to maximize its potential.
Perhaps one of the most underrated advantages the team has had is its modest size. But that hasn’t deterred the Mustangs at all this season. It has actually helped the team create a dynamic that the program hasn’t seen in recent years.
“With having a smaller team you get more one-on-one time and you can have a stronger bond and push each other more,” Tenpas said. “(We’ve seen that) in invites. We’re doing well when we’re able to push each other and cheer each other on.”
They’ll cheer each other on Feb. 5 at Fountain-Fort Carson.