Colby Swimmers Make Waves at League Meet, Prepare for District Championships

The Colby swim team made a strong impression at the Western Kansas Swim Club league meet over the weekend of July18, finishing 6th overall out of 13 teams in a highly competitive field. The meet, hosted in Garden City, drew swimmers from as far north as Colby and as far south as Dumas, Texas, bringing together top talent from across the region.

Leading the way for Colby was Jacksen Dempewolf, who delivered a standout performance. Dempewolf claimed first place in both the 50-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley, collecting a team-high 54 points. Not far behind was Anna Kuhlman, who tallied 48 points with strong swims across multiple events.

Other notable scorers included Syler Rhymer with 26 points, Harry Morris with 17, and both Makenzi Rhymer and Quinn Mazanec with 15 points each. Evan Friesen and Caylee Bacon contributed 14 points apiece, while Lux Vrbas added 10.5. Rounding out Colby’s scorers were Scott Kuhlman (10), Trae Williams (7), Kiley Schriner (5), and Savannah Stevenson (2).

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The weekend wasn’t just about scoring points—it also served as a qualifying opportunity for upcoming championship meets. Several Colby swimmers secured spots at the Senior Championships, an event for swimmers aged 14 and up. Anthony Jaeger qualified in the 50 freestyle, while Makenzi Rhymer earned her place in both the 50 and 100 freestyle events.

The team also saw a strong showing of district qualifiers, earning the chance to compete at the District Championships this weekend in Topeka. Among those making the cut were Dempewolf, who qualified in five events—50 free, 100 free, 50 back, 50 breast, and 100 breast—and Anna Kuhlman, who met district marks in the 50 free, 100 free, 50 back, 50 breast, and 50 fly.

Scott Kuhlman added his name to the list with qualifying times in both breaststroke events, while Quinn Mazanec qualified in the 100 free, 50 back, and 50 fly. Additional district qualifiers included Jordan Bacon, Harry Morris, Syler Rhymer, Kiley Schriner, and Lux Vrbas, all of whom earned spots in freestyle and stroke events.

As they head into the District Championships, Colby’s swimmers will compete as part of the Western Kansas Swim Club team. The meet will bring together top swimmers from Wichita, Kansas City, Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, Derby, and beyond—including teams from Missouri cities such as Columbia and Springfield.

With momentum from a strong league finish and a large group of qualifiers, Colby’s swimmers are set to represent Northwest Kansas proudly on a bigger stage this weekend.