10 'Stangs ready to roll in 4A

 

They have a legitimate chance and they’re going to go after it.

Ten Mullen Mustangs will head to the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Complex in Thornton today (Feb. 18) for the preliminaries of the Class 4A girls swimming and diving championships. Finals will be Wednesday, Feb. 19. Both starting times are 5 p.m.

In an odd twist, the middle of Colorado’s three classifications is competing at mid-week as 5A and 3A were last week, but Mustangs head coach Susan Stone is minimally concerned.

“I don’t think so,” she said when asked if the different dates would be a problem, “but we haven’t done it before. We should be fine.”

Mullen and the rest of the teams in the Centennial League had their season-ending gathering shortened from two days to one because of a snowstorm, and Stone speculated that a few of her competitors may have had better chances to advance if it had been over two days, but she said she’s entering with a confident group.

“It’s going to be close, going to be really close,” she said of the Mustangs’ chances in the team chase. ”We feel really good about it.”

Claire Chahbandour, Meagan Compton, Chase Davison, Jill Kulbacki, Mary Macauley, Claire Mochan, Rachel Rowland, Anarose Schwamm, Lindsey Sowitch and Gabrielle Zinis will either solo in or combine two or more of the four strokes -- backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle – to decide the mid-range championships (the Mustangs qualified no divers).

Schwamm is at state for her fourth consecutive year. In the past, she has competed in the 200-yard Individual medley and 100 butterfly, and this will be her fourth attempt in the 100 breaststroke. She said the Mustangs are loose, “very much so, and it’s very fun, especially since it’s my senior year, and isn’t that what it’s all about? I love the Mullen team because everyone makes it fun.”

Sowitch, a junior, will be one of five Mustangs competing in the maximum of two individual races and two relays. She’ll be on the 200 medley and 200 free relays, and in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly. She also won the 200 free at league.

“Especially the 200 IM, where I’ve really focused on it,” Sowitch said of her best chance. “We’re all really excited and I think we have a shot at winning the relays and I think a few girls can win in some events.”

Macauley a freshman, won the 100 backstroke at league and Davison, a transfer from Boulder, adds skill and depth.

Also in her first attempt at state, Mochan, who will be in the 50 free, called it “super exciting. It’s a good team. Our team has been building and growing, and the coaches have done a great job getting us ready.”

Cheyenne Mountain is rated first among teams and two-time defending champion Rampart recently edged the Mustangs for second heading into the championships.

Four years ago, Mullen didn’t score a point in the big meet; a year ago, the Mustangs were fourth.

“We swam great at league and I think we’re ready,” Stone said.

According to the latest psych sheets:

--- Mullen is second in the 200 medley relay, 1:47.57.

--- Davison is 11th in the 200 free, 1:59.90.

--- Sowitch is fourth in the 200 individual medley, 2:08.88.

--- Chahbandour is fourth (24.53) and Zinis fifth (24.77) in the 50 free.

--- Sowitch is sixth in the 100 butterfly, 59.34.

--- Zinis is ninth in the 100 free, 55.41.

--- The Mustangs are fourth in the 200 free relay, 1:40.81.

--- Macauley is second in the 100 back, 57.20.

--- Chahbandour is fourth (1:06.56), Davison seventh (1:08.02) and Schwamm 14^th (1:10.06) in the 100 breast.

--- And the Mustangs are third in the 400 free relay (3:36.92.