Barracudas shine at Montrose meet

MONTROSE — Lauren Jean Fetzko stepped up for the Western Slope League Championships.

The 8-and-under Sopris Barracudas swimmer accrued 96 points in the Feb. 9-10 meet in Montrose, winning the 100-yard individual medley, the 25 and 50 butterfly, the 25 freestyle and 50 freestyle and the 25 breaststroke.

Her efforts, along with several other top performances by her teammates, helped the Barracudas take fourth overall in the eight-team meet.

Charlie Mechling, Hannah Grumley and Zeb Thorsen all had scores similar to Fetzko’s, scoring 83, 80 and 79 points, respectively. Mechling, swimming in the 9-10 girls division, placed first in 100 and 50 breast, took second in the 100 IM and 100 and 200 free, while also finished third in the 200 IM.

In the 11-12 girls category, Grumley was first in the 100 free, second in 50 fly, 50 back, 50 free, 100 and back and third in 100 fly.

Thorsen, a 9-10 boys swimmer finished first in 50 fly, second in 50 free and third in 100 IM.

A number of fellow Barracuda swimmers also finished in the top three. Ashley Roper, in the 11-12 girls division, took first in 50 free, second in 100 breast and third in 50 fly,
50 back, 100 back and 50 breast.

Swimming in the boys 11-12 races, Jack Cassidy ended up first in 200 breast, second 50 fly, 50 back and 100 IM and third in 100 breast.

Raphael Joly, competing in the 15-and-over boys category, had three top three finishes, taking second in the 100 breast, and third in the 200 IM and 200 breast. Michael Wirth took third in two 9-10 boys events, the 100 breast and 50 free.

Kelly Cassidy picked up a runner-up spot in the 13-14 girls 100 breast, while James Sowash (9-10 boys) took third in the 50 backstroke.

Two relay teams also swam to third-place finishes, with one coming in the girls 10 and under 100 free relay (Mechling, Maddi Peltzman, Fetzko and Jessica Tuttle) and the other coming in the girls open 200 free relay (Roper, Grumley, Rebecca
Carcaterra and Lily Thorsen).