AURORA | The Regis Jesuit girls swim team hopes to get a victory over Cherry Creek at the end of the season, but the early season one it got Saturday at The REX Coaches Invitational meet felt pretty good.
The Raiders finished the multi-classification meet at the Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center in a strong way with a victory by senior Charlotte Burnham in the 100 yard breaststroke and a runner-up finish in 400 yard freestyle relay that sealed a significant win over the Bruins, who finished in front of them at last season’s state meet.
Senior Maya Kriz won the diving competition the previous day to get coach Nick Frasersmith’s Regis Jesuit team off to a strong start against the other Class 5A teams in the field and the momentum continued until the end, when Burnham won the event in which she is the defending 5A state champion and then immediately anchored a second-place showing in the final relay.
In a strong showing for Aurora programs, Cherokee Trail finished fifth, Grandview sixth and Smoky Hill 14th, while Rangeview got on the board with points in the diving competition that took place a day earlier.
Coach Kevin Chatham’s Cougars made a significant move up from 2022, as they scored 72 more points and finished three places higher in field that had five more teams from the 5A classification. All three of Cherokee Trail’s relays finished in the top nine, led by the third-place result of the 200 yard medley.
The Cougars topped rival Grandview in a tight dual meet in the early season and the Wolves were right behind them in sixth place. Coach James Boone’s team got its top individual finish — a third-place in the 100 yard freestyle — from senior Keira Vail, who was one of four finalists for the Hoyt Brawner Award, given annually to the coaches selection as the top swimmer/scholar/citizen.
Coach Scott Cohen’s Smoky Hill finished two places lower than the previous season, but earned 48 more points. Sophomore Cameryn Walkup finished in the top four of two individual events to lead the way for the Buffaloes.
Junior Hailey McDonald’s 22nd-place finish in the diving competition secured nine points for Rangeview.
The meet was held in a morning prelims, afternoon finals format that is unlike the structure of the 5A state meet, which will take place over a three-day span in February. The entire diving competition is set for Feb. 7, with swimming prelims on Feb. 8 and finals on Feb. 9.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2023 THE REX COACHES INVITATIONAL GIRLS SWIM MEET
Dec. 16 at VMAC
Class 5A team scores: 1. REGIS JESUIT 702 points; 2. Cherry Creek 520; 3. Heritage 436.50; 4. Fairview 416; 5. CHEROKEE TRAIL 412; 6. GRANDVIEW 377; 7. Legacy 357; 8. Fossil Ridge 308.50; 9. Arapahoe 304; 10. Brighton 290; 11. Columbine 287; 12. Rock Canyon 256; 13. Legend 231; 14. SMOKY HILL 206; 15. Mountain Range 205; 16. Denver East 139; 17. Ralston Valley 109; 18. Douglas County 70; 19. Chaparral 66; 20. Horizon 58; 21. Rocky Mountain 48; 22. Chatfield 44; 23. Valor Christian 43; 24. Fort Collins 30; 25. Arvada West 21; 26. RANGEVIEW 9
