Nick Delany thought it was fitting that, after swimming for Colorado School of Mines for four years, his swim cap finally broke on Senior Day.
On Jan. 21, the Mines men’s and women’s swim teams hosted their final home meet of the season against Wyoming. While both sets of Orediggers technically lost to the Cowboys, the teams’ real victory was giving their eight seniors a fun send-off.
While a few seniors with another year of eligibility will be “sticking around and toughing it out,” as Delany described, he’s looking forward to pursuing other things. The Evergreen High School alumnus and fourth-year Mines senior plans to graduate this spring and has a job lined in up in mechanical engineering and defense contract work.
“It’s really special,” Delany said of Senior Day. “We’ve all gone through a whole bunch together. It’s been super-fun, the last four years.”
The Mines swim teams assembled special senior relay teams and senior-only exhibition heats for the Jan. 21 meet against Wyoming, and the eight senior Orediggers delivered strong performances.
For the men’s team, Sam LaPrade placed second in the 50-yard backstroke race and helped the men’s 200-freestyle relay place first. Joe Peak finished third in the 200-yard fly and second in the 200-freestyle. Braden Whitmarsh also placed second in the 100-yard individual medley.
For the women’s team, Meghan Slowey took second in her signature race, the 1,650-yard freestyle. She also claimed first in the individual 200-yard freestyle and second in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
The Cowboys broke seven pool records and beat the Mines women’s team 137-75 and the men’s team 130.5-83.5.
The Orediggers’ next event will be the conference swimming championships Feb. 8-11 in Grand Junction. For more information on the event or the Mines swim teams, visit MinesAthletics.com.
