The Glenwood Springs girls swim team is ready to make waves one last time this season.

After a strong second-place finish at the 2025 Southwest Regional Tournament, the Glenwood Springs Demons girls swim team are heading to the Class 3A state championships in Thornton with a determined group of nine qualifiers and all three relay teams.

For the past decade, the Demons have been a force in regional competition, finishing first or second every year. While this season ended a four-year streak of regional titles, Glenwood proved once again that it belongs among the best..

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At regionals, senior Emma Lindstrom put together a standout performance, winning the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard freestyle while also helping the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams to first-place finishes. Her efforts earned her regional swimmer of the year honors. She enters the state meet as the top seed in the 100 freestyle and will also compete in the 200 freestyle.

Lindstrom, who will continue her career at Division I Colorado State University, has been one of Glenwood’s key leaders this season. She shares captain duties with Morgan Kelly, another major contributor who will compete in two individual events and two relays at state. Isabella Moon rounds out the team’s senior class heading to Thornton, bringing experience and leadership to a group that has steadily improved throughout the season.

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The Demons have embraced their mix of veteran leadership and young talent. Freshman Sylvia Duchscher made an impact in her first season, placing second in the 100 freestyle and third in the 50 freestyle at regionals. She joins fellow underclassmen Maya Valean, Isla Friel, Mazy McEwan and Ainsley Taucher as other underclassmen cementing themselves in the state ranks, as Glenwood’s roster has continued to develop throughout the year. Vespera Steiner stands as the lone junior making their way west for Monday’s tournament.

“We’re really young,” head coach Steve Vanderhoof said. “Three of our seniors are going to state, but the rest are sophomores and freshmen. It was a great learning experience for them.”

Glenwood has consistently been one of the top programs in Class 3A, finishing among the state’s best in recent years.  This season, the team has not only met expectations but exceeded them, bringing more swimmers to state than anticipated and seeing continued improvements at each meet.

Vanderhoof credits the team’s progress to its work ethic and chemistry.

“I think we’re taking more to state than I thought we would,” Vanderhoof said. “We definitely scored better at the conference than I expected. Some of our younger swimmers swam really well, and we came along strong at the end of the year.”

While the state championships mark the end of the season, Glenwood’s future remains bright. The team will graduate six seniors but is expected to return a core of talented underclassmen eager to continue the program’s success. Grand Junction, which edged Glenwood for the regional title this season, is also bringing back a young and talented group, setting the stage for another exciting battle next year.

“It seems like it is always a tough race between us and Grand Junction,” Vanderhoof said. “They will have a fast team over there next year, but we know we can keep up with them.”

For now, all focus is on state. For the seniors, it’s one last chance to compete in a Glenwood cap. For the underclassmen, it’s a valuable opportunity to gain experience on the state stage.

“It means so much to me,” Lindstrom said. “They have really brought the fun into swimming for me and just have been really supportive. It’s been amazing.”

With momentum on their side and plenty of experience gained throughout the season, the Demons are ready to finish strong.

“It would mean a lot to win,” Lindstrom said. “But more than anything, I just want to be there with my team, enjoying this last meet with them.”The state tournament kicks off with preliminaries on Monday, with finals set for Tuesday. For more information, visit chsaanow.com.