Though he’s in a new role as head coach, Nick Frasersmith’s been in enough wild Class 5A boys state swim meets with Regis Jesuit.
The former assistant took over for coach Mike Doherty — who stepped down after 32 seasons — and is in charge as the Raiders seek their 19th state championship in the past 20 seasons.
With 20 individuals and three relay teams seeded in the top six, Regis Jesuit is projected to finish 65 points ahead of Fairview by the time the May 16-17 state meet concludes at Thornton’s Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center. Frasersmith expects it to play out much differently.
“Each state meet takes on a life of its own and you can’t get complacent with these things, because anything can happen,” said Frasersmith, who guided the Regis Jesuit girls to a 5A state title in February.
“We’re seeded a little bit ahead of Fairview, but I know as well as anybody else there can be big swins either way…It’s going to be a very exciting meet.”
Among Regis Jesuit individual title hopefuls are junior Kyle Goodwin — who is seeking to win a third consecutive 5A state diving crown — along with senior Hennessey Stuart, the No. 1 seed in the 100 backstroke. The Raiders also have the top-seeded 200 yard medley relay.
According to pre-meet projections, Grandview, Smoky Hill and Cherokee Trail — all coming off an outstanding Centennial “A” League meet — could finish in the top 10 in the team standings.
Smoky Hill senior Juhan Hong is seeded No. 2 in both the 200 and 500 freestyles, while Cherokee Trail senior Josh Bedford goes into state with the top spot in the 100 breaststroke. Junior Alex Kohlman looks to score big points in the sprint freestyles for the Buffaloes, while senior TJ Konde is set up to supply the Cougars with a big boost in the standings in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.
Grandview’s 200 freestyle relay team —including individual standouts James Boone and Triston Mosby — is also seeded first.
EMAC champion Hinkley has a pair of swimmers seeded on the cusp of scoring in senior Steve Banuelos-Loya (17th in the 50 freestyle) and senior Tim Martin (18th in the 100 breaststroke), while Overland’s lone individual qualifier — diver Scott Stellick — has hopes of placing in the top eight.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
2014 AURORA CLASS 5A BOYS STATE SWIMMING QUALIFIERS
CHEROKEE TRAIL — Individuals (11): Trevor Bates (500 yard freestyle, 28th/100 backstroke, 42nd); Josh Bedford, sr. (200 indiv. medley, 6th/100 breaststroke, 1st); Eric Daugherty (200 yard freestyle, 22nd/100 backstroke, 23rd); Korbin Green (200 indiv. medley, 39th/100 breaststroke, 51st); Seung Kim, sr. (100 butterfly, 50th/100 breaststroke, 22nd); T.J. Konde, sr. (100 butterfly, 4th/100 backstroke, 3rd); Eric Lammon (diving); Tristan Nation (diving); Jacob Salinas, jr. (500 yard freestyle, 37th); Cillian Spierin (100 breaststroke, 30th); Kamden Weis (50 freestyle, 49th); Relays (3): 200 yard medley, 5th; 200 yard freestyle, 16th and 400 yard freestyle, 11th
GRANDVIEW — Individuals (5): James Boone, jr. (50 freestyle, 5th/100 freestyle, 3rd); Robin Kuebler (200 yard freestyle, 26th/100 freestyle, 30th); Triston Mosby, sr. (200 indiv. medley, 8th/100 breaststroke, 4th); Daniel Schweitzberger, fr. (100 freestyle, 44th/100 backstroke, 33rd); Alex Turner (200 indiv. medley, 24th/100 butterfly, 33rd); Relays (2): 200 yard freestyle, 1st and 400 yard freestyle, 7th
HINKLEY — Individuals (3): Steve Banuelos-Loya, sr. (50 freestyle, 17th/100 breaststroke, 47th); Joseph Graff, soph. (50 freestyle, 56th); Tim Martin, sr. (200 indiv. medley, 27th/100 breaststroke, 18th); Relays (3): 200 yard medley, 31st; 200 yard freestyle, 37th and 400 yard freestyle, 37th
OVERLAND — Individual: Scott Stellick (diving); Relay: 200 yard medley, 37th
REGIS JESUIT — Individuals (20): Cristian Adams, jr. (100 backstroke, 40th); Coleton Allen, fr. (100 breaststroke, 46th); Simon Barshay, soph. (50 freestyle, 45th/100 butterfly, 16th); Nicholas Birney, jr. (200 indiv. medley, 31st/100 breaststroke, 14th); Mitchell Bruckman (200 yard freestyle, 15th/100 butterfly, 8th); Shaun Byrne, sr. (50 freestyle, 23rd); Christopher Dawson, sr. (200 yard freestyle, 7th/500 yard freestyle, 5th); James Given, sr. (200 yard freestyle, 25th/100 butterfly, 42nd); Kyle Goodwin, jr. (diving); Theodore Koerner, jr. (100 freestyle, 34th/100 breaststroke, 6th); Matt Mauser, sr. (diving); Thomas McCabe, soph. (500 yard freestyle, 38th); Chris Morales, jr. (50 freestyle, 41st/100 butterfly, 22nd); Bruce Nerheim, sr. (200 indiv. medley, 13th/500 yard freestyle, 25th); Nick Norie, soph. (500 yard freestyle, 29th/100 backstroke, 22nd); Austin Phillips, sr. (200 yard freestyle, 5th/100 freestyle, 9th); Will Pieseski, jr. (50 freestyle, 11th/100 freestyle, 15th); Hennessey Stuart, sr. (200 indiv. medley, 4th/100 backstroke, 1st); Quinlan Stuart, jr. (200 indiv. medley, 16th/100 breaststroke, 5th); Garrett Suter, jr. (100 freestyle, 17th/100 backstroke, 12th); Relays (3): 200 yard medley, 1st; 200 yard freestyle, 6th and 400 yard freestyle, 3rd
SMOKY HILL — Individuals (15): Garrett Barner, jr. (100 butterfly, 39th); Devin Bellamy, soph. (diving); Evan Dorrough, sr. (50 freestyle, 51st); Ethan Evans, soph. (200 indiv. medley, 23rd/100 breaststroke, 20th); Chris Hartman, sr. (diving); Juhan Hong, sr. (200 yard freestyle, 2nd/500 yard freestyle, 2nd); Nathan Hoskins, jr. (200 indiv. medley, 48th/100 butterfly, 23rd); Alex Kohlman, jr. (50 freestyle, 6th/100 freestyle, 5th); Derek Liu, sr. (200 yard freestyle, 17th/100 breaststroke, 19th); Aidan Mercer, soph. (500 yard freestyle, 11th/100 breaststroke, 11th); Adithya Mohan, sr. (100 butterfly, 34th); Alex Moulton, jr. (100 breaststroke, 48th); Joey Pucciarelli, sr. (100 backstroke, 24th); Connor Salazar, jr. (100 freestyle, 40th); Joseph Waite, soph. (200 indiv. medley, 38th/500 yard freestyle, 27th); Relays (3): 200 yard medley, 17th; 200 yard freestyle, 8th and 400 yard freestyle, 12th
