The Pagosa Springs High School Lady Pirate swim team swam in the 3A state swim meet in Thornton last week, placing in two events in the finals for the first time in school history.
“They did exceptionally well,” said coach Heather Miller. “I think overall, this is one of our, if not our most successful season just in general.”
The girls had three relays competing in the preliminary rounds on Friday, Feb. 13: the 200-yard medley relay, the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Lady Pirate Kaillen Taylor also took to the water at the season’s final meet to compete in the Unified 50-yard freestyle.
In order for those relays to give themselves a chance to swim again at finals on Saturday, Feb. 14, they had to place in the top 20.
The 200 medley relay was the first to swim.
Leah Blackman, Chloe Gantt, Asia Gorman and Marlowe Hedgecock made up the team and made Pagosa Springs school history in the first event. They swam a time of two minutes and 11.26 seconds, dropping 1.93 seconds and placing 19th.
With their 19th-place finish they advanced to the finals.
The second event was the 200 freestyle relay.
The team was made up of Gorman, Hedgecock, Gianna Shaeffer and Gantt.
The girls swam a 1:56.51, dropping 3.04 seconds and finished in a tie for 20th with the Salida team. This prompted a swim-off in which the two teams competed head-to-head for the final spot at finals.
The swim-off was the last event of the preliminaries, coming just after the 400 freestyle relay.
The Lady Pirates swam a 1:55.53, losing to Salida’s time of 1:52.60 and ultimately finished in 21st, missing the finals by one spot and sitting as the first alternate team.
The final event the girls swam in was the 400 freestyle relay.
The team was made up of Gorman, Gantt, Hedgecock and Shaeffer. They swam a 4:21.89 and placed 18th, punching their ticket to Saturday’s finals.
Taylor finished second in the 50 freestyle, logging a time of 59.29 seconds. No finals were held in the event.
The Lady Pirates had their two relay teams ready to compete in the finals of the state meet on Saturday.
Unfortunately, Gorman suffered an injury in the prelims. Her spot was taken by Angela Gomez in the 200 medley relay and by Grace Cram in the 400 freestyle relay.
The 200 medley relay swam a 2:14.89 and placed 20th at finals.
The 400-yard freestyle relay swam a 4:31.24 and placed 20th.
It was a historic day for the Lady Pirate swim team, which had never had a relay place higher than 23rd or make the finals at the state meet.
Despite her goal being to get all three relay teams in the finals, Miller explained she is still incredibly proud of the team.
“It was a good, pleasant surprise,” said Miller. “I knew it was gonna be a pretty big push to be able to do it, and so it was nice to do that and really almost make it for all three because with being tied for 20th and popping in as that alternate for the 200 free relay.”
With the 2025-2026 season coming to an end, Miller emphasized that this very well could be the best season that the Pagosa Springs swim team has ever had.
Both attitude and work ethic as well as the total percent time drop over the course of the season were the best Miller said she’s ever seen.
Miller also highlighted her seniors who swam in their final high school meets either at regionals or at state.
The seniors who suited up as Lady Pirates for the final time are Gorman, Hedgecock, Blackman, Ruby Snell and Natalia Monterroso.
“I would say in general, this is our strongest senior class,” said Miller, adding, “It’s really hard to explain like how big of an impact they’ve had.”
Miller highlighted that the seniors were instrumental in setting the tone and expectations for the team throughout the season. They upheld a no-drama policy that Miller implemented at the beginning of the season.
“There’s a certain amount of leadership that comes from that group, and it’s one that I feel like is gonna be really hard to replace,” Miller said. “This particular group is so strong and that leadership that there’s definitely gonna be a big hole that I hope next year seniors can jump in and fill.”
Miller suggested she is encouraged by the incoming seniors — Gantt, Cram and Isabela Forster — and feels that they have what it takes to step up. Although the Lady Pirates are losing some very talented swimmers, Gantt and Cram are each up to the task of filling their spots after competing in the state meet this year.
“I would hope that Gianna [Shaeffer] and Chloe [Gantt] can both make individual times next year, and hopefully we get two or three of our relays qualified,” said Miller.
The incoming freshman class is not supposed to be very big, indicated Miller, and it will be up to the returning girls to carry on the legacy that this year’s seniors have left.
“To me, this was an amazing season and kind of an amazing end to an amazing season,” said Miller.
jsellner@orourkemediagroup.com
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