The Eaton Reds swim team recently concluded its season at the state championship. They competed at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14. Competing against some of the top athletes in Colorado, the Reds closed out the year with strong performances and accomplishments.
Arabella Fitch (27) represented Eaton in diving and delivered a solid performance. The score is based on 11 dives (preliminaries, semifinals, and finals) on the one-meter board using a 5-judge panel. The highest and lowest scores for each dive are dropped, and the remaining three are summed and multiplied by the degree of difficulty. Fitch placed 9th with a score of 344.10, finishing among other top individuals in the state. For context, the competitor who won the state championship for diving had a score of 426. Fitch said, “I think state went really well. I think I could have done better, but I am ultimately happy with my performance.” Throughout the season, Fitch focused on perfecting her easy dives while also increasing her skill by practicing more difficult dives to qualify and compete at state. One of her biggest accomplishments this season was mental growth. After hitting the diving board during a dive at last year’s state meet, Fitch carried fear in this season. However, she set out to overcome it. “I had to push myself mentally every time I performed the dive. I successfully competed it at state again, and I think that is my biggest accomplishment,” said Fitch. Looking ahead, she hopes to build on this year’s success while also catching the attention of college recruiters.
Kaelin Dugan (26) also competed in diving and placed 16th with a score of 273.40. During the regular season, Dugan worked hard by practicing and competing new dives to qualify for state. As a senior, the meet marked the end of her high school career. Dugan said, “I was really happy to end it on a good note with going to state. I had a lot of fun, and I think [the season] went out with a bang.” Despite mixed feelings about placement, she embraced the opportunity to compete one last time at the state level and wrap up her senior season successfully.
Despite the swim season coming to a close, the team’s accomplishments throughout the season have reflected their hard work and dedication. The state meet was a testament to the team’s individual progress and resilience.
