Cortez Water Dragons place fourth in Montrose

Erin Lawrence wins seven individual events at competitive three-day meet

Squaring off against the toughest competition that they have faced this season, the Cortez Water Dragons swim club took to the pool for the Montrose Marlins Invitational, June 28-30, and performed well.

Leading the way for the Water Dragons as she has throughout the season was Erin Lawrence, who dominated several events in the girls 11-12 age division and earned top honors in the 50-yard freestyle (29.81), 100-yard freestyle (1:06.99), 50-yard breaststroke (40.54), 100-yard breaststroke (1:28.17), 200-yard breaststroke (2:43.68), 100-yard backstroke (1:14.06) and 100-yard individual medley (1:16.29). Erin Lawrence also finished second in the 200-yard backstroke (2:43.68) and third in the 50-yard backstroke (25.84) and 500-yard freestyle (6:45.82).

Also earning top-three finishes for the Water Dragons in several events was Jayden White, who competed in the girls 9-10 age division and placed first in the 100-yard freestyle (1:22.28), seconds in the 200-yard individual medley (3:29.26) and 50-yard backstroke (44.07) and third in the 200-yard freestyle (3:14.53) and 50-yard freestyle (39.44).

Fynn Anderson competed in the boys 6-and-under age division and finished first in the 25-yard freestyle (24.26). Bodie Fischer competed in the boys 8-and-under division and placed first in the 100-yard backstroke (2:02.67). Taylor Johnson competed in the girls 9-10 age division and placed first in the 25-yard freestyle (17.94) and second in the 25-yard backstroke (22.55).

Other Water Dragons’ swimmers earning top-three finishes in multiple individual events included Dannika Goodall, who competed in the girls 9-10 age division and placed second in the 25-yard butterfly (23.45) and third in the 100-yard backstroke (1:36.01) and 100-yard individual medley (1:34.97). Eleri Brown competed in the girls 9-10 age division and placed third in the 25-yard backstroke (23.72) and 25-yard breaststroke (34.20).

Theta Decker competed in the girls 6-and-under age division and finished second in the 25-yard freestyle (33.39). Anna Tewell competed in the girls 9-10 age division and placed third in the 25-yard butterfly (24.01), and Lucas Decker competed in the boys 9-10 age division and finished third in the 25-yard freestyle (17.36).

Braden Schmittel swam in the boys 13-14 age division and placed third in the 100-yard individual medley (1:14.79). Anna Lawrence took to the pool in the girls 13-14 age division and touched the wall third in the 50-yard backstroke.

The Cortez Water Dragons finished fourth out of the 13 teams that competed in the three-day meet. Aspen Swim Club finished first overall.

Next up for the Cortez Water Dragons will be the Western Slope League Championships in Grand Junction, July 12-14.