High School State Meet Lives Up to Expectations and Then Some

Last year when I attended the Girls 5A High School State Championships strictly as a spectator, I couldn’t believe the energy. It was definitely the most exciting swim meet I had been to and even more electric, in some ways, than the 2008 Olympic Trials.

This year, however, was a whole new level of excitement as I made the transition to high school swim mom. Now my daughter was part of a high school team.

Make no mistake. There’s a huge difference between representing your club team and competing for your high school. Swimming really is a very individual sport. When it comes to racing, other than relays, the results are squarely on your shoulders. You either perform to par, or you don’t. It’s not a teammate that has a bad start, sloppy turn or poor finish.

But swimming for your high school team truly transforms this individual sport into a team endeavor, and no where is that more evident than at the state championship meet. Each swimmer and the school they represent are announced, which means you may dive in as Jane Doe swimming the 100Y Freestyle, but it’s not Jane Doe who finished first as much as ABC High School who took the race.

It’s also when swimming really becomes a spectator sport. The stands were filled to capacity.
To the left of us sat the huge section of Regis Jesuit High School fans, nearly all in red and enthusiastically waving their rally towels. To the right was the loud Cherry Creek High School cheering section of parents, students and friends. In between were blocks of various smaller schools, all as vociferous as they could manage.

Before the competition got underway, several teams down on deck led cheers while their supporters from the stands chimed in.

Then, of course, there was the competition itself -- incredible swims and outrageous races. Closest overall race of the evening went to the 100Y Breaststroke consulation heat where the difference between all eight swimmers was just .73!

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how fast the meet would be this year without the full-body high-tech suits, but as I weekly scanned the top swim results, it became clear that the girls were laying down the times. So I wasn’t that surprised to see the records eclipsed. However, I didn’t think it would be ALL the records but two.

Given that none of the individual events were won by a senior, and the freshman class behind Franklin is extremely strong, I’m expecting this speedy streak to continue for at least the next few years. Congrats to everyone on a wonderful state meet.

Here are all the results from yesterday’s finals, including diving, where it should be noted, the state record was not broken.

Women 200Y Medley Relay

1. Cherry Creek, 1:41.88 (previous record 1:43.75 set 2009)
2. Regis Jesuit, 1:43.29
3. Rampart, 1:48.50
4. Fairview, 1:48.61
5. Heritage, 1:49.49
6. Arapahoe, 1:50.07
7. Monarch, 1:51.85
8. Boulder, 1:52.2
9. Littleton, 1:53.54
10. Chaparral, 1:54.79
11. Mountain Vista, 1:54.91
12. Grandview, 1:55.48
13. *Loveland, 1:55.74
14. *Doherty, 1:55.74
15. Smoky Hill, 1:55.8
16.  Air Academy, 1:57.79

Women 200Y Freestyle

1. Jordan Mattern,  Jr. Cherry Creek, 1:48.82 (previous record 1:49.25 set Friday)
2. Hillary Thomas, Jr. Regis Jesuit, 1:50.85
3. Anna Labozan, Jr., Monarch, 1:52.45
4. Abigail Houck, Fr., Fairview, 1:54.55
5. McKenna Newsum-Schoenberg, Jr, Cherry Creek, 1:55.39
6. Kristen Haeger, So., Ralston Valley, 1:55.49
7. Megan Grier, Fr., Regis Jesuit, 1:55.68
8. Shelly Patton, So., Heritage, 1:56.99
9. Elizabeth Anderson, So., Fairview, 1:56.30
10. Hannah Cox, Sr., Dakota Ridge, 1:56.42
11. Julie Anderson, Sr., Fairview, 1:56.48
12. Maggie Burkhardt, So., Denver East, 1:56.49
13. Meghan Varner, Sr., Boulder, 1:58.07
14. Rachel Crino, So., Cherry Creek, 1:58.55
15. Emily Mayo, Fr., Arapahoe, 1:58.80
16. Alison Bischoff, So., Chaparral, 1:59.56

Women 200Y IM

1. Bonnie Brandon, So., Cherry Creek, 2:02.09 (previous record 2:03.87)
2. Christine Wixted, Sr., Cherry Creek, 2:02.91
3. Caroline Piehl, Jr., Smoky Hill, 2:03.71
4. Kyrene Clarke, Sr., Rampart, 2:08.50
5. Mary Scraggs, So., Fairview, 2:10.43
6. Lauren Stoeckle, So., Regis Jesuit, 2:11.23
7. Alex Todd, Jr., Regis Jesuit, 2:11.37
8. Cayla Wood, Sr., Grandview, 2:11.
9. Lauren Rigg, Sr., Fairview, 2:12.99
10. Makenna Wilson, Fr., Chaparral, 2:12.78
11. Caroline Patterson, Jr., Fairview, 2:13.72
12. Whitney Dougherty, Sr., Monarch, 2:13.80
13. Sydney Pair, Jr., Fairview, 2:13.91
14. Elizabeth Oster, Jr., Cherry Creek, 2:14.01
15. Miranda Reetz, Fr., Arapahoe, 2:14.02
16. Sarah James, Fr., Doherty, 2:14.62

Women 50Y Freestyle

1. Missy Franklin, Fr., Regis Jesuit, 22.49 (previous record 22.70 set on Friday)
2. Jenna Gregoire, Sr., Rampart, 23.86
3. Patricia Nelson, Sr., Fort Collins, 24.01
4. Andrea Slouka, Sr., Heritage, 24.44
5. Siobhan Hengemuhle, Jr., Boulder, 24.52
6. Laura Kollar, Sr., Fort Collins, 24.64
7. Gretchen Cohen, Sr., Cherry Creek, 24.72
8. Kylie Rathbone, Sr., 24.80
9. *Elaine Powell, Fr., Cherry Creek, 24.8
10. *Delaney Lanker, Fr., Regis Jesuit, 24.83
11. Emily Scraggs, Sr., Fairview, 24.89
12. Fiona Kane, So., Cherry Creek, 25.08
13. Kianna Lee, Fr., Grandview, 25.10
14. Gabby Smith, Jr., Rocky Mountain, 25.11
15. Lacey Smith, Fr., Fairview, 25.13
16. Elysia Erickson, So., Smoky Hill, 25.29

Women 1 Meter Diving

1. Michal Bower, Fr., Loveland, 489.15
2. Beth Ambrozic, Sr., Arapahoe, 442.35
3. Max Thorn, Sr. Loveland, 430.45
4. Melissa Bollig, Sr. Douglas County, 422.10
5. Breannna Hemming, Jr., Ponderosa, 416.60
6. Lizzy Linsmayer, Sr., Denver East, 410.20
7. Raleigh Williams, Sr. Ralston Valley, 409.90
8. Mady Ingmire, So., Thunder Ridge, 406.25
9. Jessica Heap, Sr., Grandview, 405:90
10. Chanley, Burge, So., Loveland, 398.45
11. Paige Gaydos, Sr., Smoky Hill, 379.50
12. Dani Howe, Sr., Arapahoe, 373.45
13. Casey Nelson, Senior, Cherry Creek, 347.10
14. Demetria Longo, Fr., Grandview, 330.50
15. Jayme Owens, So., Mountain Range, 324.15
16. Aubrie Weiner, Sr., Cherry Creek, 317.05

Women 100Y Butterfly

1. Kelly Naze, So., Cherry Creek 54.25 (previous record 54.44 set on Friday)
2. Alex Todd, Jr., Regis Jesuit, 56.61
3. Delaney Lanker, Fr., Regis Jesuit, 58.09
4. Miranda Morton, Jr., Regis Jesuit, 58.35
5. Yana Garvey, Sr., Mountain Vista, 58.39
6. Ashely Horodyski, So, Columbine, 58.58
7. Hannah Chase, Jr., Regis Jesuit, 58.63
8. McKenna Newsum-Schoenberg, Jr., Cherry Creek, 58.69
9. Maggie Burkhardt, So., Denver East, 59.62
10. Abby Dorfman, Jr., Cherry Creek, 59.63
11. Lauren Rigg, Sr., Fairview, 59.70
12. Jordan Matthews, Sr., Loveland, 1:00.03
13. Sara Nash, Fr., Legacy, 1:00.44
14. Cayla Wood, Sr., Grandview, 1:00.75
15. Mary Scraggs, So., Fairview, 1:00.83
16. Breanna Hemming, Jr. Ponderosa, 1:01.24

Women 100Y Freestyle

1. Jordan Mattern, Jr. Cherry Creek, 51.08
2. Jenna Gregoire, Sr., Rampart, 51.13
3. Caroline Piehl, Jr., Smoky Hill, 51.21
4. Hillary Thomas, Jr., Regis Jesuit, 51.71
5. Anna Labozan, Jr., Monarch, 52.35
6. Andrea Slouka, Sr., Heritage, 52.46
7. Patricia Nelson, Sr., Fort Collins, 53.18
8. Taylor DeBever, Sr., Regis Jesuit, 53.44
9. Emily Scraggs, Sr., Fairview, 53.91
10. Siobhan Hengemuhle, Jr., Boulder, 53.93
11. Megan Grier, Fr., Regis Jesuit, 53.99
12. Fiona Kane, So., Cherry Creek, 54.23
13. Lacey Smith, Fr., Fairview, 54.51
14. Hannah Cox, Sr., Dakota Ridge, 54.60
15. Emily Mayo, Fr., Arapahoe, 54.61
16. Kianna Lee, Fr., Grandview, 54.67

Women 500Y Freestyle

1. Bonnie Brandon, So., Cherry Creek, 4:51.56 (previous record 4:53.47 set in 2007)
2. Abigail Houck, Fr. Fairview, 5:03.86
3. Katie Naze, Sr., Cherry Creek, 5:06.23
4. Julie Anderson, Sr., Fairview, 5:07.03
5. Elizabeth Anderson, So., Fairview, 5:08.55
6. Jaclyn Best, Sr., Boulder, 5:13.70
7. Kristen Haeger, So., Ralston Valley, 5:15.49
8. Ruthie Pappas, Sr., Ralson Valley, 5:17.77
9. Katherine Glassner, Sr., 5:12.99
10. Sydney Pair, Jr., Fairview, 5:13.86
11. Savannah Rose, Fr., Arapahoe, 5:14.03
12. Paula Stoddard, So., Mountain Vista, 5:18.70
13. Barbara Barocio, Fr., Gateway, 5:18.91
14. Bridget Louis, So., Arapahoe, 5:19.25
15. Abby Dorfman, Jr., Cherry Creek, 5:19.66
16. Briana Purkapile, Sr., Chaparral, 5:21.88

Women 200Y Freestyle Relay

1. Cherry Creek, 1:37.17
2. Regis Jesuit, 1:38.01
3. Smoky Hill, 1:39.30
4. Rampart, 1:39.60
5. Heritage, 1:39.76
6. Fairview, 1:40.14
7. Arapahoe, 1:42.14
8. Fort Collins, 1:43.1
9. Chatfield Senior, 1:41.84
10. Littleton, 1:42.73
11. Ralston Valley, 1:43.06
12. Monarch, 1:43.47
13. Boulder, 1:43.66
14. *Ponderosa, 1:43.68
15. *Rocky Mountain 1:43.68
16. Coronado 1:46.61

Women 100Y Backstroke

1. Missy Franklin, Fr., Regis Jesuit, 53.16 (previous record of 53.43 set on Friday)
2. Shelly Patton, So., Heritage, 56.48
3. Yana Garvey, Sr., Mountain Vista, 57.34
4. Sarah James, Fr., Doherty, 57.80
5. Gretchen Cohen, Sr., Cherry Creek, 58.35
6. Caroline Patterson, Jr. Fairview, 58.41
7. Makenna Wilson, Fr., Chaparral, 58.62
8. Katie Naze, Sr., Cherry Creek, 58.80
9. Sara Nash, Fr., Legacy, 58.94
10. Laura Kollar, Sr., Fort Collins, 59.16
11. Rachel Crino, So., Cherry Creek, 59.40
12. Ailey Ruger, Sr. Boulder, 59.75
13. Kassy Brisch, So., Heritage, 1:00.22
14. Elizabeth Oster, Jr., Cherry Creek, 1:00.41
15. Melissa Tillman, Jr. Monarch, 1:01.77
16. Taylor DeBever, Sr., 1:01.86

Women 100Y Breaststroke

1. Kelly Naze, So., Cherry Creek, 1:02.47 (previous record set on Friday)
2. Christine Wixted, Sr., Cherry Creek, 1:03.15
3. Lauren Stoeckle, So., Regis Jesuit, 1:06.12
4. Kyrene Clarke, Sr., Rampart, 1:06.29
5. Janaye Monica, Fr., Fairview, 1:06.40
6. Kourtney Fosse, So, Fairview, 1:06.69
7. Kylie Rathbone, Sr., Lakewood, 1:07.04
8. Megan Perron, Sr., Arapahoe, 1:07.09
9. Hannah Bower, So., Boulder, 1:09.14
10. Amanda Sanders, Fr., Monarch, 1:09.32
11. Whitney Dougherty, Sr., Mondarch, 1:09.34
12. Meagan Smith, Jr., Regis Jesuit, 1:09.53
13. Jackie Macke, So., Regis Jesuit, 1:09.55
14. Erin Hayes, So., Highlands Ranch, 1:09.62
15. Kim Utter, Sr., Littleton, 1:09.64
16. Jordan Matthews, Sr., Loveland, 1:09.87

Women 400Y Freestyle Relay

1. Cherry Creek, 3:24.85 (previous record 3:27.08 set in 2009)
2. Regis Jesuit, 3:24.90
3. Heritage, 3:34.82
4. Fairview, 3:35.37
5. Smoky Hill, 3:38.01
6. Monarch, 3:38.75
7. Boulder, 3:39.65
8. Ralston Valley, 3:41.
9. Arapahoe, 3:41.02
10. Grandview, 3:41.56
11. Loveland, 3:42.99
12. Chaparral, 3:43.39
13. Mountain Vista, 3:43.71
14. Ponderosa, 3:47.85
15. Fort Collins, 3:49.43
16. Littleton, 3:49.56

Special awards:

2010 Co-Swimmers – Jenna Gregoire, who heads to Harvard, and Christine Wixted, who signed with Duke

2010 Swim Coach – Scott Cohen, Smoky Hill

2010 Divers – Lizzy Linsmayer, Denver East

2010 Co-Diving Coaches – Barb Ambrozic of Arapahoe and Jake Barber, Denver East