Demons Swimming Crowned Southwest Conference Champs

Led by sophomore Amelie Ogilby’s top finishes in the 500- and 200-yard freestyle events, Glenwood Springs varsity girls swimming won the Southwest Conference finals on Saturday.

The dominant Demons ended the two-day event hosted at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction with 478 points, a top finish amongst an 11-team pool. This is the Demons’ fifth Southwest Conference win in the past seven years.

Glenwood Springs head coach Steve Vanderhoof said the Demons swam well all weekend, with many best times for the season.

“We were able to bring three or four swimmers in each event back to finals,” he said. “Bringing the max number of swimmers back in multiple events, along with both our A and B relays, was an overwhelming factor in Glenwood’s victory.”

Grand Junction High School trailed with a 332-point second-place finish, while Durango nabbed team bronze with 326 points.

Ogilby’s triumphs were also accompanied by highlights put forth by junior teammate Bennett Jones. Jones’ meet ended with a first-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke, which captured a new team record.

Jones’ winning time of 59.7 beat former Demon Sarah Dipangrazio’s 1:00.24 set in 2017.

The Demons now head into the Class 3A State Championship meet in Thornton next weekend undefeated. They also take 13 swimmers along with a few alternates.

Jones cannot join the team due to a Colorado High School Activities Association transfer of school rule, making her ineligible to swim at the state meet.

Competing at state include:

Seniors

• Amy Madsen SR — 50 and 100 freestyle

• Emma Price — 200 individual medley

• Ellie MacPherson — 200 individual medley, 500 freestyle

• Ella Lindenberg — 100 breaststroke

Juniors

• Samantha Anderson — 200 and 100 freestyle

• Anna Thornton — 100 and 50 freestyle

• Anna Moon — 500 freestyle

• Macy Wilson — 100 freestyle

Sophomores

• Sadie Hoiland — 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke

• Adelyn Newton — 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke

• Amelie Ogilby — 200 and 500 freestyle

• Valentina Campos — 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly

• Sophie Price — 200 and 500 freestyle

Freshmen

• Jayden Eichler — 100 backstroke