Dahle, Simons pacing Colt swimmers

Midway through the season, it’s easy to see who stands a good chance of representing Cottonwood High’s swimming team well at the upcoming state championships.

Jordan Dahle and Chloe Simons are leading the Colts’ boys and girls teams, respectively. Each held all but one individual event top time in their respective division as of Dec. 11. However, Dahle’s times were more on pace with the competition, ranking him high among 5A swimmers.

Dahle was leading the Colts in the 200 freestyle (1:48.21, first in the state), 200 individual medley (2:01.90, second), 500 free (4:57.01, second), 100 butterfly (54.46, third), 50 free (22.54, sixth), 100 breaststroke (1:04.82, eighth) and 100 backstroke (56.95, 10^th). Alex Bowcut had the other top time for Cottonwood’s boys, leading the 100 free (48.84, third in state).

Bowcut has teamed with Dahle to make one of the best 1-2 combinations of swimmers in the state. In addition to the 100 free, Bowcut was fourth in the state in the 200 free (1:49.98), ninth in the 50 free (22.71), 10^th in the 100 fly (55.93) and 12^th in the 500 free (5:09.24). Dahle, meanwhile, was ranked fourth in the state in the 100 free (48.97) for the Colts.

Koji Aoki and Brenden Nguyen have each showed potential for Cottonwood. Aoki was ranked 21^st in the state in the 100 back, 23^rd in the 500 free, 26^th in the 200 IM and 29^th in the 200 free, while Nguyen was 27^th in the 200 IM and 29^th in the 100 back. Bowcut was 29^th in the 200 IM. Meanwhile, Simons was leading Cottonwood’s girls in the 100 free (56.23, sixth in the state), 50 free (26.36, 11^th), 200 free (2:08.46, 18^th), 500 free (5:53.65, 20^th), 100 back (1:07.74, 21st), 200 IM (2:29.00, 26^th) and 100 breast (1:20.45, 32^nd). Erin Price had the other top time in the 100 fly (1:07.88, 16^th).

Price was also 26^th in the 50 free and Simons was 29^th in the 100 fly. Elsewhere, Rilee Camden was ranked 25^th in the 100 back and 26^th in the 500 free and JJ Barth was 33^rd in the 100 breast.

Cottonwood finished fifth in boys and eighth in girls at last year’s 5A championships. Dahle was third in the 500-yard free and fourth in the 200 IM, while Bowcut took third in the 100 free and fourth in the 200 free. Meanwhile, Simons was fourth in the 100 free and seventh in the 50 free. Perennial state power Brighton swept both divisions at state once again.

The 5A championships will be in February at Brigham Young University.