Valor Christian senior Brooke Stenstrom is aiming for her third consecutive title in the 50-yard freestyle while leading the Eagles to their first Class 4A team championship.
Courtesy photos Stenstrom family
When it came time for their daughter to select her future for the next four years, Lori and Steve Stenstrom did not want to provide any undue influence.
Although
Brooke Stenstrom was practically raised on the Stanford campus, and both Lori and Steve attended the university before later running a Christian ministry for the school's athletes, they wanted Brooke to make up her own mind about where she would swim collegiately. They even went so far as to not wear Stanford gear around their home.
Brooke, a senior at
Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch), admitted that while going to Stanford had been her dream since she was a child, the decision was still a difficult one. Ultimately the Cardinal won out in the end, keeping the school in the family.
"It's a dream come true. I thank God every day for such an incredible blessing given me," she said. "It feels like I'm going home. But at the same time, even though I grew up there and my parents went there, it's now my school. I get the opportunity to have my own experience there."
For now though, Stanford will have to wait. There is still the matter of her senior year, and the two-time defending Class 4A state champion in the 50-yard freestyle has high hopes for what the Eagles can accomplish Feb. 12-13 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton. Valor graduated only one state qualifier off a team that finished third at state a year ago, and 2016 could have so much more in store.
"This is such an amazing team and such a great group of girls," Stenstrom said. "We have an amazing senior class and such potential below us. I trust the team completely and I'm so excited this year and I know we're capable of some really awesome things."
Brooke Stenstrom, Valor Christian
Stenstrom competed in the Central Coast Section of the California state championships as a freshman, taking second in the 50 free for
Menlo-Atherton (Atherton). After moving to Colorado she captured first in the 50 and 100 free as a sophomore, and defended the 50 crown last winter.
She came in second in the 100 to Thompson Valley's Eryn Eddy, but joined with teammates
Brook Landt,
Madison Hoehn and
Raili Carter to win the 200 freestyle relay.
"Relays are by far the most fun part of swimming," Stenstrom said. "Winning a state title as an individual is an incredible opportunity, but winning it with my relay was absolutely the most fun part of my day."
It's that mentality that makes Lori Stenstrom so proud, both as a mother and as Valor Christian's coach.
"I've had the privilege to coach her on and off since she was little, and the thing I love about her is she's a team player," Lori said. "She's about the team first and foremost. As she has the wonderful release of making her college decision already and the pressure is off, she's focusing on having a lot of fun and leaving a leadership legacy at Valor.
"She's doing a tremendous job supporting her teammates."
Valor Christian was the top 4A team in the Coaches Invite in December at the VMAC. Brooke captured first in the 50 free, and the Eagles claimed the 400 free relay crown – Stenstrom was joined on that relay by her younger sister,
Lindsay Stenstrom, who is a freshman this year.
The relays could be the team's biggest strength. The same foursome that won the 200 free relay placed second in the 200 medley, and the 400 free relay of Sydnie Saddoris,
Jordan Coker,
Ella Kirschke and
Abbey Owenby – all of whom were underclassmen – placed sixth. The team also had a trio of sixth-place finishers individually in Owenby (500 free), Hoehn (100 butterfly) and Landt (50 free).
Lori Stenstrom said one of the blessings of the team growing and getting faster is that it has created plenty of competition for those relays spots. Valor Christian's squad increased to 42 swimmers this winter, the most the program has had.
"Right now we're in a training-really-hard phase. The end is coming so quickly, but the girls are all so excited and motivated," Lori said. "They have a wonderful opportunity to do some really exciting things as a team. You almost feel the excitement of that at practice.
"I think everybody has the sense that it's a very special year."
