The Eaton High School Lady Reds swim team kicked off the season with a great start on Saturday, Dec. 2nd, at the Estes Park Spirits Meet. With an incredible display of skill and perseverance, the girls took first place. The group demonstrated their dedication to greatness by finishing in the top three of every event.
The competition started with the Women’s 50 Yard Freestyle, where the Lady Reds set the tone for the day. Dharma Perkins (25) secured an impressive second place with a time of 29.21. Sophie Morgan (25) followed closely in third place with a time of 29.56. The team’s depth was evident, with additional strong performances from Aedy Barclay (24) in fifth, Mackinze Hays (25) in sixth, Reese Perkins (27), and Karley Riggs (26) in 10th.
The Women’s 50-yard butterfly event witnessed an impressive performance from Perkins, who got 1st place with a time of 31.04. Morgan secured 2nd with a time of 31.35. Riggs coming in 6th, Railey McGarry in 9th, and Barclay in 10th also contributed to the team’s strong success in the event.
In the Women’s 50-yard Backstroke, Perkins and Morgan secured the top two positions with times of 34.40 and 35.19. Aedy Barclay claimed the 4th position with a time of 39.90, showcasing her proficiency, while Hays and Reese Perkins secured the 5th and 8th spots, adding valuable points to the team’s tally.
Sophie Morgan seized 1st place in the 50-yard Breaststroke with a time of 38.08. Perkins made 2nd place with a time of 39.72. The team secured additional top-ten finishes in this event with Reese Perkins in 5th, Karley Riggs in 7th, Barclay in 8th, and Lanfear Vallejos in 10th.
The Individual Medley proved to be another triumph for the team with Morgan placing first at 1:12.05 and Perkins in 2nd with a time of 1:14.05. Riggs, Reese Perkins, and McGarry secured the 7th, 9th, and 11th positions.
The combined team scores reflected the resounding success of the Eaton High School Lady Reds swim team. With a total score of 463, the Lady Reds dominated the competition. Estes Park High School scored 236, while Valley High School scored 71.
The remarkable achievements of individual swimmers, combined with the collective dedication of the entire team, highlighted the excellence and sportsmanship that define Eaton High School.
The coaching staff, Hattie Carlson, and Mikeldi, commended the swimmers for their hard work at the meet. Carlson explained “The girls have had a great start to the season. We were all very excited to win the Estes Park Spirits Meet, and I’ve enjoyed the competitions so far.”
As the team collectively focuses on enhancing their confidence and building resilience to surpass challenges, Perkins shares her aspirations for the upcoming year. “My goals for this year is to really push myself past my limit and exercise my skills. Hopefully I can break some high school swim records this season. I am also working towards making it to the Pacific Olympics games to represent my home island, Yap.” Said Perkins.
The Lady Reds’ strong performance at the Estes Park Spirits Meet not only demonstrated a promising start to the season but also showcased the team’s potential for greatness. With a focus on continuous improvement, individual excellence, and collective strength; the Eaton High School Lady Reds swim team is ready for a season filled with achievements, records to break, and dreams to chase. The Lady Reds Swimmers have an exciting and promising journey ahead with a successful start to the season in Estes Park.
