MyMullen

Swimming to the end ...

3/10/2021

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director

Mullen girls headed to Thornton's VMAC for the 4A championships amid the pandemic, restrictions, a projected snowstorm and what figures to be a long day.

The snow is coming and it may be the biggest storm of the season.

The restrictions in place from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may make it the longest swimming-and-diving meet on record.

And those planning to compete and others permitted to attend must enter and leave the facility at the same time by event.

However, Mullen’s Mustangs don’t care. Bad weather and restrictions or not, their smaller but talented group will head to Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton on Friday intent on competing for a Class 4A championship.

“Our quality is really good,” Mustangs head coach Susan Stone said.

Mullen has seven entries and two alternates. Charlotte Burnham, Claire Chahbandour, Chase and Elizabeth Davison, Lindsey Sowitch, Gabrielle Zinis and Sahara Zurita are ready to go.

“It will be a long day, but I think we’re all ready,” Sowitch said.

Individually, Burnham will be in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

Chahbandour is set for the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.

It will be the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke for Chase Davison.

Lindsey Sowitch is primed for the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly.

A sprinter, Gabrielle Zinis has her eyes on the 50 and 100 freestyles.

And Elizabeth Davison and Sahara Zurita will be joined in relays by a mix of the above five – the 200 medley relay will be Burnham, Chahbandour, Sowitch and Chase Davison; the 200 freestyle, in which Mullen will be going for a threepeat, will have Zinis, Chahbandour, Sowitch and Chase Davison; and, in the cap to the meet, Zinis, Zurita, Elizabeth Davison and Burnham.

“We’re going into the meet ranked third,” Stone said. “I expect us to do well.”

Of the Mustangs’ quality, Chase Davison, a junior who has committed to Texas, was second in two Centennial League events the past weekend. Chahbandour will be headed to TCU and Zinis to San Diego.

And Mullen will have competitors in 10 of the 12 events.

The season finale in the pandemic won’t be completed easily or quickly – along with the forecasted snow, divers are being asked to arrive at 6:40 a.m. and the event, to be capped with awards, won’t be completed until 11 a.m., when swimmers are slated to arrive and go through a warmup. As for swimming, multiple events will have an hour or more in between and the final won’t go off before 7:40 p.m.

“it will be a long day, but I think we’re ready,” Sowitch said. “I think we all feel confident in the individual events, but also the relays, especially after doing well in league. It helped build some confidence.”

Said Zinis: “I’m actually so excited. We have so much potential to do well.”

Chahbandour considers herself “super-stoked” and allows that competing during the pandemic “has been weird, for sure, and you can’t compare it to anything.” The limited number of followers has been challenging as well, she added, “as some sports have allowed spectators and others haven’t.”’

Zinis said “it will be interesting with the COVID restrictions, it could be absolutely crazy, but we still have to be very patient.”

Added Chahbandour: “We have to leave it all in the water … it’s our last year.”

SCHEDULE

STARTING TIMES

Diving – 8 a.m.

200-yard medley – 11:40 a.m.

200 freestyle – 12:50 p.m.

200 individual medley – 1:25 p.m.

50 freestyle – 2 p.m.

100 butterfly – 2:35 p.m.

100 freestyle – 3:10 p.m.

500 freestyle – 3:45 p.m.