On Saturday, February 3rd, the girls’ swim team will be competing in leagues at Meyer’s Pool, followed a week after by their state meet. Two of the swimmers, sophomores Elsa Debrunner and Megan Wilkins, have already qualified, making leagues somewhat less stressful. Wilkins placed third in state during the last swim season, and she’s shooting for a higher title this time around.

   Instead of competing in a single elimination tournament style like many sports do on the road to state, swimming goes by qualifying times. If a swimmer meets the state qualifying time at any of their meets during the regular or postseason, they automatically earn a place at the cumulative meet where they race against the rest of the top swimmers in Colorado.

   “You have to get a certain time to go to state, and if you make those times, you qualify,” Debrunner said. “In one of my races I’m there and in another one I’m pretty close, so hopefully I’ll get that at leagues.”

   Rather than training nonstop in the days before state like some sports, swimming takes a different approach. Because it is such a tiring sport, it takes a lot out of the athletes to keep pushing hard right before a big competition.

   “Before league, we taper, and we go really easy, so we’re really well rested for the meet,” Debrunner said. “There are also fast suits that are really tight and supposedly make you faster, so some of us got those, because you can use them in the race.”

   Debrunner has already qualified for state in the 100 freestyle, and she’s still shooting for the 200 meter and the 500 free.

   “I’m really excited that I qualified for state because it’s the first time. I’m pretty nervous about making my other state time because I’m really close, but I haven’t gotten it just yet,” Debrunner said.