Regis Jesuit High School honored Olympic swim star Missy Franklin at a raucous pep assembly Aug. 27.
Franklin — who won four gold medals and a bronze and set two world records in London — didn’t want the whole spotlight on her, so she asked Regis Jesuit Girls Division athletic director John Koslosky if she could be part of a rally introducing the school’s fall sports.
The 17-year-old senior blended in with the student body for most of the energy-filled assembly, but was called up to the podium to chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” before she spoke to her fans and assembled media.
“I have to start off by saying thank you and I love you,” Franklin said citing an Olympic watch party filled with Regis Jesuit students, a version of “Call Me Maybe” made for her by the school’s football team and the well-wishes flooding to her via social media.
“Even if you were just watching at home, all of that means the absolute world to me. I can’t thank you enough for all of that. Honestly, I’ll tell you I would not be standing right here without you guys, so thank you so, so much.”
Afterward, Franklin and her parents, DA and Richard, held out some of the gold medals for students to touch.
Since her return from London, Franklin’s been going non-stop. Richard Franklin said there have been 50 appearance requests for his daughter between now and Christmas, coming on the heels of visits to NBC’s “Today Show” as well as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
Besides getting into her school work, Franklin is turning her attention toward finding the right college fit for her future.
Despite offers in the millions in endorsements, Franklin is still intent on swimming on a college team. She’ll take her first visit over Labor Day weekend to Cal-Berkeley, home of the defending NCAA champion Bears, which has Franklin’s Colorado Stars teammate and Smoky Hill grad Caroline Piehl.
• Freshman Courtney Browne allowed no hits in four near-perfect frames in Grandview’s 18-0 victory against Overland on Aug. 28 at Utah Park, while fellow freshman Alexa Romero was perfect for the three innings it took for Eaglecrest to rout Arapahoe 20-0.
The Wolves lost three-year starting pitcher Marina Quimby to graduation, but coach Dave Thies has found a new hurler in Browne, who pitched seven innings of relief in a season-opening victory over Mullen. Against Overland, the right-hander set down 12 hitters on 27 pitches, though two Trailblazers reached on errors and were erased by double plays.
Browne also had two hits and drove in two runs in Grandview’s offensive onslaught, which included 3-RBI performances by both Emily Supercynski and Kat Maynard. Kelsey Biaggi, Shy Calicchia and Jaden Thompson each plated two runs for the Wolves (2-0 overall and 2-0 in the Centennial League). Grandview beat Mullen 12-10 on Aug. 25.
Romero, a lefty, needed just nine outs to beat Arapahoe thanks to her team’s offensive outburst, which included an 11-run second inning.
It took 36 pitches, but Romero struck out three, walked none and didn’t allow anything close to a base hit for Eaglecrest, which improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in league play.
Taylor Kigerl-Hill, Lauren Buckley, Tayler Mashburn and Mikayla Faulkner drove in three runs each for Eaglecrest.
• Cherokee Trail moved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Centennial League with a 13-2 victory in five innings over Smoky Hill Aug. 28.
Mo Worthington had three hits and scored three runs and Lyndsey Knabenshue drove in four.
• The Regis Jesuit boys tennis team swept Douglas County 7-0 in the opening Continental League match of the season on Aug. 28.
The Raiders won six of the seven matches in straight sets, but sophomore No. 1 singles player Enzo Abbott needed three close sets to beat the Huskies’ Keiran Pirie 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
• Rangeview won the second EMAC South boys golf tournament of the season on Aug. 24, topping Gateway by 22 strokes at Fitzsimons Golf Course.
The Raiders were led by medalist Raymond Simunjuntak, whose 84 was two strokes better than Gateway’s Cole Harding.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
