craigdailypress.com

LOVELAND -- The 2004 season for the Moffat County High School boys' swim team will leave a mark in the record books, at least until next year.

The Bulldogs set six school records, including four at the state swim meet. They also scored the most points in team history at the state meet -- 34.

The previous best was six.

"This team had the desire and focus this year to do well," coach Jim Vorhies said. "I'm proud of them."

The Bulldogs had two 10th place finishes, a 12th place, a 14th place and a 17th place.

The two 10th-place finishes were the highest at state for an individual and a relay in team history.

The 200-meter medley relay of Nick Ruckman, Chris Compton, Blake Worsley and Zach Vorhies reset the school record it had set Friday. Ruckman then took second in the consolation final of the 100 butterfly for 10th overall.

His time was just off his personal best set on Friday.

"I was way too nervous and if affected me because I was pretty tight," he said. "I came in ranked 10th so I guess I'm happy with my finish."

Ruckman's coach noticed his anxiousness before the junior's first individual state final.

"He was pacing like a caged lion before the race," Vorhies said. "I could see that he was going to be tight."

The 200 freestyle relay of Ruckman, Vorhies, Worsley and Andy Key was the event that coach Vorhies said he was anticipating Saturday because of the team's chance to improve.

The Bulldogs led the consolation final through the first two legs but then faded a bit and finished fourth in the heat. The 12th-overall place was a school record.

"We swam well in the short free relay," Zach Vorhies said. "We just didn't have everybody race their best races in the finals."

Chris Compton swam the second fastest time of his life in the 100 backstroke to finish 14th.

His freshman and sophomore years, he finished in 16th, or last place in the consolation finals of state.

He was glad to finish in front of a couple of racers this year but wasn't satisfied.

"I lost a little bit on the last length," he said.

I need to work on my conditioning if I want to improve, but at least I beat some people."

The Bulldogs finished in the top 20 as a team and Western Slope League competitor Montrose won the Class 4A state championship. The Bulldogs were cheering for their Western Slope friends to win the title.

"It's almost like we're all one big team on the Western Slope," Zach Vorhies said. "So it was cool to see them win the title."

If there was one quality that coach Vorhies would associate with the best ever for MCHS is "camaraderie."

"This team really pulled for each other," he said. "It was a fun year for everybody."

That all said, possibly the top highlight is that all of the state qualifiers will be back next year.

Maybe the engraver should hold off on making the 2004 record plates -- they could all just be undone in 2005.

David Pressgrove can be reached at 824-7031 or by e-mail at dpressgrove@craigdailypress.com