WHO TO WATCH AT THE STATE SWIM AND DIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The swim and dive state championships are already underway, with divers from Class 5A and 4A securing their medals on Wednesday. Two familiar faces are in the mix as swimmers prepare for their preliminary and final events of the season on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Niwot’s Izzy Fay won the 4A diving competition with a score of 538.30, the third-best score every recorded at a 4A state meet, while Silver Creek’s Leslie Broz took home the bronze with a 483.10. We’ll have more on the diving pair later in the week.
As the lanes fill up at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center over the next few days, there will be plenty of local faces to watch out for, and plenty of chances for individual — and perhaps team — titles.
Class 4A (Thursday, 5 p.m.)
Virginia Walsh, Centaurus: Walsh has cemented herself as one of 4A’s most versatile swimmers, and will enter prelims with top times in the 100-yard backstroke (No. 2, 56.97seconds), the 100butterfly (No. 2, 58.01), the 100freestyle (No. 3, 52.31), 50 free (No. 4, 24.93), the 400free relay (No. 3, 3minutes, 40.55seconds) and the 200 free relay (No. 1, 1:40.35).
Jordan Bindseil, Longmont: A freestyle fiend and reigning state champion in the 100 free, Bindseil holds the No. 2 seed in the event (51.98) and the top spot in the 50 free (23.86).
Ellie Foulke, Broomfield: Foulke has tested out the waters in a wide variety of events, proving herself to be a true threat in the 400 free relay (No. 2, 3:36.72), the 200 medley relay (No. 2, 1:51.96), the 200 individual medley (No. 4, 2:07.65) and the 500 free (No. 5, 5:07.36).
Eliza Lennox, Monarch: Also a master of the freestyle, Lennox looks to make some waves in the 50free (No. 3, 24.30), the 200free relay (No. 3, 1:41.77) and the 100free (No. 5, 53.43).
Audrey Shambo, Monarch: Shambo will look to secure the gold in the 100breaststroke, which she holds the top time in at 1:05.32.
Team race: Pine Creek seems have a stranglehold on 4A, but Broomfield ranks at No. 2 and Centaurus at No. 3in the final Prepswimco.com rankings.
Class 5A (Friday, 5 p.m.)
Amelia Mason, Fairview: There hasn’t been a swimmer quite like Mason in the area this year, as she’s shown she can do just about everything that doesn’t involve a diving board. Heading into the finale, she’s been wowing in the 100 back (No. 1, 55.34), the 100 fly (No. 1, 55.04), the 200 free (No. 1, 1:46.82), the 400 free relay (No. 5, 3:33.06), the 200 free relay (No. 2, 1:37.02), the 100 free (No. 2, 49.75) and the 50 free (No. 2, 23.16).
Isabella Forsman, Legacy: Forsman, likewise, has been Lightning-fast in the water in the 200IM (No. 1, 2:02.65), the 400free relay (No. 2, 3:30.65), the 100breast (No. 5, 1:05.56) and the 100 fly (No. 2, 55.28).
Team race: 5A appears that it could be up for grabs for the team title, with Cherry Creek hitting No. 1according to Prepswimco.com. Fairview is No. 4and Legacy is No. 5.
Class 3A (Saturday, 4 p.m.)
Lorelai Frauenfelder, Holy Family: In the race for top local 3A swimmer, only one truly meets the mark. Frauenfelder can be a contender in the 200IM (No. 2, 2:07.83), the 50 free (No. 2, 24.55), the 400 free relay (No. 2, 3:43.11), the 200 medley relay (No. 3, 1:52.65), the 100 fly (No. 4, 58.07) and the 100 free (No. 5, 54.54).
Team race: The Tigers are ranked No. 4.