Fossil Ridge, Fairview face stiff 5A competition in Colorado girls swimming

Teams like Regis Jesuit, Cherry Creek hope to knock Front Range League favorites from top of 5A perch; Rampart seeking three-peat in 4A; Gucker leads Evergreen

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Brian Miller
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Dec 12, 2019, 9:00am
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Perhaps more so than in recent years, holding onto the top spot in Class 5A might be more challenging for annual favorites.

Fairview (Boulder) and Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins) have combined to win the previous five 5A state championships in the sport, but both programs have some big shoes to fill. Fairview rode tremendous depth to the 2018 state title last February, but the Knights graduated some key seniors from their winning relay teams.

Fossil Ridge graduated standout Coleen Gillilan, who won two individual titles last winter and was on a winning relay as well. Gillian holds the Colorado state record in the 100-yard butterfly and was on two record-setting relay teams as well. The SaberCats did have a pair of standout freshmen last season in Renee Gillilan and Lucy Bell. Also, Meredith Rees of Lewis-Palmer (Monument), who won the 50 free and 100 backstroke, also graduated.

That means of the eight individual swimming events, at least half of them will crown new champions in February. Diving will also have a new champion with the departure of two-time defending title-holder in Franny Cable from Arapahoe (Centennial).

That doesn't mean that talent is lacking in the pool, though. Renee Gillilan won the 100 fly and Bell the 200 individual medley as freshmen. Jada Surrell-Norwood of Regis Jesuit (Aurora) is the reigning 100 free champion, and Chatfield (Littleton) junior Kathryn Shanley won the 500 free as a freshman and was the runner-up to Coleen Gillian in the 200 and 500 free as a sophomore.

The Raiders, who finished third at state, also have Sophia Bradac back – Bradac was just .34 seconds behind Fairview's Emma Weber in the 100 breaststroke as a junior. Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village), which took fourth, had a runner-up in Jenna Smith in the 200 IM, and Meredith Smithbaker of Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins) was second in the 50 free as a sophomore.

Fairview won two relay titles in 2019, and brings back a pair of swimmers from those quartets. Morgan Lukinac was on the 200 medley and 200 free relays as a freshman, and Jenna Reznicek was on the 200 medley relay as a sophomore.

Class 4A
Rampart (Colorado Springs) has claimed the previous two 4A titles, and the Rams are reloaded to go after a three-peat. Even after graduating Edenna Chen, who won the 100 breaststroke and was on the winning 200 medley and 400 free relays, Rampart has the pieces to defend again.

Lindsey Immel won the 100 free, was on both winning relays, and took second in the 50 free. Claire Timson was on both championship relays as a freshman and placed second in the 100 backstroke. Laelle Brovold (200 medley) and Johanna Miller (400 free) also return from those relays, and Maggie Buckley won the diving title as a sophomore.

Niwot placed second to Rampart, with Mary Codevilla winning the 200 IM as a freshman and also taking second in the 500 free. Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs) placed third, just behind Niwot, with Harper Lehman winning the 100 fly and placing second in the 200 IM (1 second behind Codevilla).

Katey Lewicki of Monarch (Louisville) won the 100 backstroke as a junior. Loveland's Erin Lang, the only swimmer to win multiple individual events (200 and 500 free), graduated.

Mullen (Denver) won the 200 free relay with three sophomores in the event: Claire Chahbandour, Lindsey Sowitch and Gabrielle Zinis.

Class 3A
Before last year, Evergreen's previous state titles came in 4A in back-to-back years in 2014-15. The Cougars took their first 3A championship in 2019, becoming the third different team in three years to do so, with an impressive 428 meet points.

Evergreen accomplished that feat thanks to plenty of depth. The Cougars won only three titles overall – the 400 free relay, and Remi Gucker took the 200 and 500 free events as a junior. Gucker and Hope Atkins were juniors on the 400 free relay title team.

Swimmer of the Year Davy Brown of Aspen graduated, meaning new champions will be crowned in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke. The Skiers won the 200 free relay with Brown and three underclassmen – Laila Khan-Farooqi, Emily Kinney and Kayla Tehrani. Pueblo County, which placed second to Evergreen in the team standings, was the 200 medley relay champion.

Besides Brown, Erie's Payten Irwin was the only swimmer to win multiple individual titles. Irwin captured the 50 free and 100 fly as a junior.

Salida's Elise Mishmash is the reigning 100 free champion and was second in the 200 free. Rachel Alexander of Discovery Canyon (Colorado Springs) won the diving championship as a junior.

Caitlin Cairns of St. Mary's (Colorado Springs) placed second in the 50 free and 100 fly as a junior. Berthoud's Jamie Dellwardt was second to Brown in the 100 back.