Swimmers turn their eyes to the state meet

Photo by Bryan Oller

Selah Combs swims the breaststroke during Manitou’s Jan. 26 dual with Colorado Academy.

The Manitou Springs girls swim team fell a little short of their goal of finishing in the top three at the Tri-Peaks League swim meet, but now the focus is simply on what’s ahead this week. The Mustangs will take their modestly sized roster to the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center on Friday, Feb. 11, to begin competing at the Class 3A state swim meet. 

This will be a crucial meet not just for what the Mustangs hope to accomplish this year, but setting the tone for a young roster and what they should expect when competing at this meet.

“We have a young crew going into state, which is a good thing,” senior Aidan Coté said.

“I’m excited for them but I just want them to go in and give it their all. It’s going to be a new experience for 90 percent of them so, as long as they put everything they have in the pool, that’s all that matters.”

Last year, the Mustangs brought home an individual gold medal as Bella Kuzbek won the 100-yard breaststroke. Winning another medal is of course the ultimate goal, but coach Whitney Nuci certainly has other expectations heading into the meet.

“I’m looking more so for solid times and for them to have fun,” Nuci said. “Yes, this means a lot to a lot of them but it’s also a good time for them to bond as a team as well.”

Although the Mustangs didn’t get any event wins at the league meet, they had several notable finishes that they’ll try to capitalize on this week. Summer Tenpas took fourth in the 100 butterfly, Coté took fourth in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 freestyle, and Selah Combs finished sixth in the 200 individual medley. 

The team is traveling to Thornton the evening of Thursday, Feb. 10, as the 3A preliminaries will begin at 10 a.m. Friday. Should the Mustangs make finals, those swims will take place Saturday.