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CASPER, Wyo. — After proving themselves to be some of the top amateur competitive swimmers in Wyoming, a quintet of members of the Casper Swim Club tested their mettle against competitors from throughout the country at the Western Winter Zone Championships in Mesa, Arizona, last week.
Competing in the national event were Wyatt Farrer, Megan Goodrich, Ben Yoder, Colter Goodrich and Danica Lamb, all of whom are also students at Kelly Walsh High School. The five swimmers qualified for the championships by posting strong times in matches throughout the club’s winter season. At the championships, swimmers were able to compete in the event they qualified for plus six other races, Colter Goodrich said.
This marked the first trip to the championships for all five, with Colter Goodrich adding that it was also his first time flying on a plane.
For the local swimmers, the championships were an opportunity to test themselves against some truly elite competition.
“It was definitely the most competitive meet I’ve ever swam at,” Megan Goodrich said.
The other competitors concurred.
“It was a ton of fun. Probably the most fun I’ve ever had [at a swim meet],” Farrer said. “Everyone there was really good, and it was great competing against other swimmers I wasn’t familiar with.”
In the championships’ early rounds, the local swimmers tested themselves against hundreds of other swimmers. From those groups, the 40 best times moved on to the finals.
Farrer qualified in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle and 200-meter Individual Medley, a race that sees swimmers perform the four primary swimming strokes — freestyle, backstroke, breast stroke and butterfly. Colter Goodrich qualified in the 100-meter butterfly and 50-meter backstroke; Megan Goodrich qualified for the 100-meter butterfly and 50-meter freestyle; Lamb earned her trip to the championships in the 200-meter freestyle, 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle; and Yoder did so for the 500-meter freestyle and 200-meter freestyle.
Colter Goodrich reached the finals in both his qualifying events, and also managed to set a personal best in the IM, where he shaved 10 seconds off his best time. Megan Goodrich also earned a spot in the 100-meter butterfly finals, where she finished 26th overall.
Casper Swim Club coach Tori Baldacci said that all five can hold their heads high after their showings in Arizona.
“I think they should all be incredibly proud,” she said. “This was their first time competing in something of this size, and I think they all did really well.”
Regardless of their results, Baldacci said the trip also marked a big step forward for the Casper Swim Club. In years past, the club has only seen one or two swimmers qualify for the championships.
Baldacci took over coaching duties five years ago, and since then has worked to improve the club’s culture, focusing on building strong bonds between the swimmers and putting a stronger emphasis on competing. She noted that camaraderie wasn’t particularly high on the team, especially between different age groups.
Since stepping into her coaching role, Baldacci said she’s made a point of strengthening the bonds between swimmers. One of the ways she’s improved team chemistry has been by encouraging the more experienced team members to take on leadership roles and help the younger members if they’re struggling. She has also worked to up the intensity for the club’s most competitive swimmers, though competing is not a requirement to be part of the club.
Lamb said that becoming closer with her teammates has led to better results in the water.
“There’s a lot more structure now,” Lamb said. “We’ve done a complete 180 in terms of team culture, which is really important to me.”
However, Baldacci was also quick to give credit to the athletes themselves.
“[Coaching is] maybe a quarter of it, but it’s really about them. It’s down to the swimmers themselves to listen and really buy in, and these guys have done that,” the coach said. “I’m proud of all of them.”
For the underclassmen of the group, sending so many to the championships has only furthered their determination and desire to return. They also indicated they hope to see large groups of qualifiers become a regular occurrence for the Casper Swim Club.
“I just want to continue improving and keep lowering my times,” Yoder said with a smile.
In addition to the competition, the student athletes were able to meet peers from across the country and experience many of Mesa’s attractions.
Now, the swimmers turn their attention to the upcoming Summer Zone Championships and ensuring that they qualify. The summer competition will be structured a bit differently, Colter Goodrich said, as all qualifiers from the Cowboy State will compete as a team. With the momentum of a strong showing at the recent winter championships, the team is ready for big things ahead.
“I can’t stress enough how huge this is for us,” Baldacci said. “We really haven’t had a championship team like this before.”
From left: Wyatt Farrer, Megan Goodrich, Colter Goodrich, Danica Lamb, Ben Yoder and coach Tori Baldacci. (Tommy Culkin, Oil City News)
Pictured, coach Tori Baldacci takes a selfie with Casper Swim Club members Megan Goodrich, Ben Yoder, Colter Goodrich, Wyatt Farrer and Danica Lamb. (Submitted photo)
Casper Swim Club’s competitors at the Western Winter Zone Championships pose with other swimmers in Mesa, Arizona. (Submitted photo)
(Submitted photo)
Pictured, Colter Goodrich swims in the 5-meter freestyle. (Submitted photo)
Ben Yoder smiles as he comes out of the water following a heat. (Submitted photo)
Danica Lamb competes in the backstroke at the Western Winter Zones. (Submitted photo)
