Backstrokers rejoice, the Class 5A state championship is up for grabs.
Regis Jesuit’s Missy Franklin won’t compete in the 100-yard backstroke this time, an event she’s ruled for the past three seasons and stroke that’s seen her win Olympic gold medals and set world records.
Psych sheets released a few days before the Feb. 8-9 5A state meet at the Edora Pool & Ice Center in Fort Collins show Franklin entered individually in the 200-yard individual medley as well as the 500 freestyle. She is one of an Aurora-best 19 individual state qualifiers for coach Nick Frasersmith’s Raiders, who entertain hopes of winning the 5A state championship for the second time in three seasons if they can get past a loaded field including Fossil Ridge, Cherry Creek and Fairview.
Swimming prelims are scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday, with the qualifying rounds of diving starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. Finals for all events are slated for 2 p.m. Saturday. The meet is sold out.
In just two duals meets, Franklin managed to qualify for all but two individual events. Her lone swim in the IM produced a time of 2 minutes, 2.10 seconds, which is nearly four seconds faster than Brooke Hansen of Loveland.
The gap in the 500 freestyle — at least on paper — is much tighter, as Franklin’s 4:57.71 in the distance event is just barely ahead of the 4:57.73 of Ralston Valley’s Madeline Myers.
Rounding out the top-seeded members of Regis Jesuit’s senior class are Delaney Lanker, who sits sixth in the 100 butterfly, while Marielle Renehan is eighth in the 100 breaststroke.
Sophomore Taylor Wilson is seeded ninth in both the 50 and 100 freestyles and classmate Sydney Cutler is close as she is in the No. 17 slot in the 100 breaststroke. Leading an outstanding freshman class for Regis Jesuit is Lindsay Painton, who will try to pick up some of the slack in the backstroke as she is seeded eighth.
The Raiders have their 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays seeded in the top four as well.
Grandview’s hopes of improving on last season’s 10th-place team finish are bolstered by nine individual qualifiers and three strong relay units, including a 200 freestyle unit seeded second and a 400 freestyle team that’s third.
Junior Madison Dirks finished in the top five of two events last season and she could repeat the feat, as she is seeded fifth in the 100 butterfly and sixth in the 200 freestyle. Centennial “A” League 50 freestyle champion Kianna Lee has the No. 7 seed.
Sophomore Morgan Ammon is within range in the 100 freestyle as the 18th seed.
Freshman Gaby Antunez sits in the No. 14 slot in the 50 freestyle for Smoky Hill, which has a total of four individual qualifiers and three relay teams set to compete.
Cherokee Trail has a duo entered in Grace Grigereit and Aunyx Ashby — plus the 200 freestyle relay team — but both would have to move up significantly to score.
Barbara Barocio, recently selected the EMAC Swimmer of the Year, will swim in the state meet for the fourth time for Gateway and is seeded highest in the 100 backstroke, where she has the 38th-fastest time.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com
AURORA CLASS 5A STATE SWIM MEET QUALIFIERS BY SCHOOL
CHEROKEE TRAIL (2): Aunyx Ashby, 50-yard freestyle (37); Grace Grigereit, 200 individual medley (44); Relays: 200-yard freestyle relay (29)
GATEWAY: Barbara Barocio, 200 freestyle (56), 100 backstroke (38)
GRANDVIEW (10): Mackenzie Ammon, 200 freestyle (31), 500 freestyle (43); Morgan Ammon, 100 freestyle (18); Mattie Cassaday, 100 breaststroke (22); Madison Dirks, 200 freestyle (6), 100 butterfly (5); Kianna Lee, 50 freestyle (7), 100 butterfly (21); Amanda Matheson, 50 freestyle (24), 100 butterfly (25); Hannah Meehan, 500 freestyle (24), 100 backstroke (28); Mia Wood, 200 freestyle (22), 500 freestyle (22); Breanne Thompson, 100 butterfly (38); Relays: 200-yard medley (15), 200 (2) and 400 (3) freestyle
REGIS JESUIT (19): McKensi Austin, diving; Kaylie Breslin, 200 IM (40), 100 butterfly (10); Meggie Chase, 100 freestyle (43); Abby Cutler, 200 freestyle (50), 500 freestyle (34); Sydney Cutler, 100 butterfly (33), 100 breaststroke (17); Missy Franklin, 200 IM (1), 500 freestyle (1); Lindsay Kriz, 200 freestyle (33), 500 freestyle (20); Briana Labrie, 50 freestyle (58), 100 freestyle (25); Delaney Lanker, 100 butterfly (6), 100 backstroke (24); Christina Lawler, 100 breaststroke (52); Amy Lenderink, 50 freestyle (54), 100 butterfly (16); Carla Meli, 50 freestyle (38), 100 backstroke (36); Lindsay Painton, 100 freestyle (14), 100 backstroke (8); Emily Protz, 200 freestyle (40), 500 freestyle (26); Marielle Renehan, 200 IM (35), 100 breaststroke (8); Sofia Romana, 100 breaststroke (55); Katherine Roth, 100 backstroke (39); Kellyn Toole, diving; Taylor Wilson, 50 freestyle (9), 100 freestyle (9); Relays: 200-yard medley (2), 200 (4) and 400 (10) freestyle
SMOKY HILL (4): Gaby Antunez, 50 freestyle (14), 100 freestyle (38); Madison Munns, 100 breaststroke (29); Julia Song, 100 backstroke (43); Lizzie Wiley, 100 freestyle (31), 200 freestyle (49); Relays: 200-yard medley (24), 200 (27) and 400 (19) freestyle
