AURORA | With just over a week remaining before the Class 5A girls state swim meet, city teams compete for league championships Feb. 7-8.
The 5A state meet is set to be contest at the Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton, the same venue for the East Metro Athletic League Championship meet that features Aurora Central, Gateway, Hinkley and Rangeview, which is coming off a victory in the 24th Aurora Public Schools Championship meet.
Gateway led the city teams at last season’s EMAC Championships with a third-place finished, followed by Rangeview in fourth, Hinkley in fifth and Aurora Central in sixth. The Olys have two returning league champions in junior Christina Horstman (200 yard freestyle) and sophomore diver Jessica Mitchell.
Prelims for the EMAC Championships take place at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7, with finals slated for 12:30 p.m. Feb. 8.
Defending 5A state champion Regis Jesuit has a huge group of 5A state qualifiers, which will try to reclaim the Continental “A” League Championship title it lost to Chaparral last season when the meet returns to Heritage High School.
Prelims for the Continental “A” League meet are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7, with finals slated for 3 p.m. Feb. 8.
Five Aurora teams — Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Grandview, Overland and Smoky Hill — head to the Centennial “A” League Championships at Arapahoe High School, with prelims scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7. Diving prelims take place at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 8, with all finals scheduled for 3 p.m.
Grandview comes in after an outstanding Centennial League dual meet season, in which coach Karen Ammon’s team lost to only Arapahoe. The Wolves have 12 swimmers already qualified for the state meet and hope to add a 13th during the league meet, in which they look to improve on last season’s third-place finish.
Senior Madison Dirks won “A” League championships in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle last season and Grandview also won the 200 freestyle relay.
Smoky Hill — which finished fourth at last season’s league meet — has more than a handful of state qualifiers already, headed by junior Julia Song.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasentinel.com. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
GIRLS SWIMMING LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Centennial “A” League Championships (at Arapahoe High School)
Prelims: 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7; Diving prelims: 8:30 a.m. Feb. 8; Finals: 3 p.m. Feb. 8
Continental “A” League Championships (at Heritage High School)
Prelims: 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7; Finals: 3 p.m. Feb. 8
East Metro Athletic Conference Championships (at Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center)
Prelims: 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7; Finals: 12:30 p.m. Feb. 8
