COLUSA, CA (MPG) – More than a half century ago Sue and Roger Gibbs founded the Colusa Cyclones Swim Team and despite taking a few years off between 2017 and 2019, it is still going strong, boasting 89 swimmers from ages 4-18 this season.
Brought back in 2020 by Melissa and Antonio Ortiz, while the team is doing well regionally and is fun for all involved, perhaps more importantly according to Melissa is water safety saying, “There is great camaraderie and enthusiasm on this team, but being right on the river, this is one sport that could potentially save your life.”
However, with the summer coming to an end and school starting last week the Cyclones held their awards ceremony last Monday evening at Davison Park to celebrate their accomplishments and offer thanks to the coaches, parents and volunteers.
Before embarking on the awards program, Antonio Ortiz provided information from the team’s swim-a-thon fundraiser in which over a three hour period, the participants swam a cumulative 116,000 yards or 79 miles, with a number of swimmers going two or three miles.
Awards for Most Valuable Player and Most Improved were then handed out to a boy and girl from each of the five different levels.
In the Typhoon group, Coach Sami Chavez selected Jordyn Chavez and George Weber as MVPs, Angel Alvarez and Quinn Ottenwalter were the Most Improved while Judy Keeley received the Coach’s Award.
For the Hurricane level, Evan Burrious and Mae Keeley were named the MVPs with Jairo Lomeli and Virginia Ortiz receiving Most Improved.
Next up were the swimmers under the direction of Coach Chole Cain, where Maria Farrell and John Keely were the MVPs, Hollis Costello and Max Maldonado were Most Improved and Rory Finnen took home the Coach’s Award.
In Cain’s second group, Zoe Cano and Zayne Morrow were chosen as MVPs, while Rhett Ottenwalter and Sierra Womack were the Most Improved.
Rounding out the group awards was Coach Nicole Vigney’s group of Mini Cyclones that are some 30 strong. Kolston Christian was chosen for the Coach’s Award, Juney Christy and Carter Pfyl were the MVPs, in addition to Charles Keeley and Chase Uhland receiving Most Improved.
Information about joining the team or providing sponsorship can be found on the Cyclones’ website colusaswimteam.swimtopia.com.