FORT COLLINS | The latest round in the back-and-forth between the Regis Jesuit and Fossil Ridge girls swim teams went to the SaberCats Saturday.
The two teams have combined to win the past five Class 5A state championships and it was Fossil Ridge’s turn this time with an impressive performance in its own backyard at the Edora Pool & Ice Center. The Sabercats won five events and piled up 347 points to win the state crown for the first time since 2012, while the Raiders — seeking a three-peat — finished second with 277.
Regis Jesuit did manage to win a pair of state championships along the way for coach Nick Frasersmith — who was honored as 5A Swim Coach of the Year — in junior diver McKensi Austin and the 200 freestyle relay team of senior Taylor Wilson, juniors Amy Lenderink and Lindsay Painton and sophomore Jennae Frederick, while a total of 13 individuals scored in at least one event.
“I am so proud of Fossil Ridge, they are the most fun, nicest and most dedicated group of girls you could ever meet,” said Painton, who finished seventh in her two individual events and swam on the winning 200 freestyle relay and runner-up 400 freestyle team.
“We decided to have fun, give it our all and it we did, we’d have nothing to be disappointed about,” she added. “It didn’t turn out for us, but it did for a team that really deserved it, so it was good.”
Indeed the Raiders performed very well in the meet, just not enough to catch the SaberCats.
Austin cruised to her second straight state championship on the diving board, breaking a 10-year-old 5A state record in the process with her 540.35 points. Senior Kellyn Toole placed for the fourth time in as many years with a career-best fourth and freshman Anne Marie Kenny debuted at state in 11th.
The 200 freestyle relay team of Wilson, Lenderink, Painton and Frederick finished first by a wide margin with a time of 1 minute, 34.72 seconds that came up just short of their goal, topping the state record of 1:34.40 set by Cherry Creek in 2011.
The Raiders nearly came away with the 400 freestyle relay title as well, but Fossil Ridge star Bailey Nero — who won four gold medals on the day in four events — finished a fingertip ahead of Wilson to lift the SaberCats to victory. Regis Jesuit’s team of Wilson, Painton and sophomores Isabella Schultze and Samantha Smith finished in 3:25.43, a drop of more than five seconds from its prelim time.
Grandview had two relay teams place in championship finals and piled up 79 points to tie for ninth place, while 17th-place Smoky Hill scored in all three relays and had sophomore Jordyn Richey finish sixth in the 100 yard breaststroke.
Senior diver Indiya Williams scored 16 points for Eaglecrest — more than five other teams — with her third-place result, which came hand-in-hand with a school record.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
2015 CLASS 5A STATE SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Team scores: 1. Fossil Ridge 347 points; 2. REGIS JESUIT 277; 3. Fairview 226.5; 4. Cherry Creek 170; 5. ThunderRidge 153; 6. ARapahoe 129; 7. Loveland 92; 8. Mountain Vista 87; T9. GRANDVIEW 79; T9. Rampart 79; 11. Rock Canyon 77; 12. Heritage 75.5; 13. Lewis-Palmer 53; 14. Legend 48; 15. Mountain Range 41; 16. Monarch 40; T17. SMOKY HILL 36; T17. Chaparral 36; T17. Ralston Valley 36; 20. Fort Collins 34; 21. Pomona 30; T22. Greeley West 26; T22. Castle View 26; 24. Boulder 22; T25. Broomfield 17; T25. Chatfield 17; 27. EAGLECREST 16; 28. Rocky Mountain 14; 29. Pine Creek 10; T30. Legacy 3; T30. Horizon 3; 32. Lakewood 1
Full championship & consolation results, here.
AURORA PLACERS BY SCHOOL
EAGLECREST: Indiya Williams (3rd, diving)
GRANDVIEW: Taylor Dirks (14th, 100 yard butterfly); April Wood (8th, 200 yard indiv. medley); Mia Wood (11th, 200 yard freestyle/4th, 500 yard freestyle); Relays: 200 yard freestyle relay (8th) and 400 yard freestyle relay (8th)
REGIS JESUIT: McKensi Austin (State champion, diving); Kaylie Breslin (7th, 100 butterfly); Sydney Cutler (16th, 100 yard breaststroke); Jennae Frederick (9th, 200 yard indiv. medley/13th, 100 yard butterfly); Anne Marie Kenny (11th, diving); Amy Lenderink (10th, 50 yard freestyle/2nd, 100 yard butterfly); Lindsay Painton (7th, 200 yard freestyle/7th, 100 yard freestyle); Emily Protz (16th, 500 yard freestyle); Isabella Schultze (15th, 200 yard indiv. medley); Samantha Smith (8th, 100 yard freestyle/7th, 100 yard backstroke); Kellyn Toole (4th, diving); Tori Vale (12th, 100 yard backstroke); Taylor Wilson (5th, 50 yard freestyle/6th, 100 yard freestyle); Relays: 200 yard medley relay (4th), 200 yard freestyle relay (State champion) & 400 yard freestyle relay (2nd)
SMOKY HILL: Jordyn Richey (6th, 100 yard breaststroke); Julia Song (15th, 50 yard freestyle/16th, 100 yard freestyle); Relays: 200 yard medley relay (14th), 200 yard freestyle relay (13th) & 400 yard freestyle relay (14th)
