Fossil Ridge Dominates Colorado Girls 5A State Swimming and Diving Championships

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FORT COLLINS – The Fossil Ridge High School girls swimming and diving team posted wins in five events en route to the state title on Saturday afternoon at the Colorado Girls 5A State Swimming and Diving Championships at Edora Pool Ice Center.

Fossil Ridge racked up 347 points to knock off defending champion Regis Jesuit (277 points) and Fairview (226.50 points). Senior Bailey Nero took home four state titles, while sophomore Bailey Kovac won three to lead the Sabercats to their second-ever state swimming title.

Fossil Ridge kicked off the meet with an impressive showing in the 200 medley relay, as Bayley Stewart, Bailey Kovac, Bailey Nero and Lesley-Ann Knee dominated the race with a 1:43.04. ThunderRidge’s foursome of Patricia Van Law, Mason Dahman, Annie Ochitwa and Elizabeth Kneip got to the wall second in 1:45.49, just ahead of Fairview’s Julia Box, Sidney Andrew, Sienna Stonesmith and Michaela Mullison (1:45.73).

In the 200 free final, Arapahoe senior Ella Moynihan led from start to finish, posting a 1:48.29 to take home her first state title of the meet. Fairview’s Brittney Beetcher pulled away on the final 50 to take second in 1:50.87, while Mountain Range’s Shelly Drozda wrapped up third in 1:51.52.

After contributing a leg on Fossil Ridge’s winning 200 medley relay, senior Bailey Nero picked up her first individual state title of the day in the 200 IM, dipping under two minutes with a 1:59.20. Loveland’s Brooke Hansen gave Nero a run but wound up second in 2:01.58. Bailey Kovac gave Fossil Ridge a 1-3 finish with a 2:03.11 for third.

ThunderRidge senior and defending state champion Annie Ochitwa took aim at Missy Franklin’s state record of 22.41 in the 50 free final, but came up just shy with a 22.86. She still had a solid cushion over second place finisher Abigail Kochevar of Rock Canyon, who touched half a second behind in 23.36. Legend’s Lauren Moden came in third with a 23.57.

In 1-meter diving, Regis Jesuit’s Mckensi Austin bettered Jess Andrus’ 10-year-old 5A record of 533.15 with a winning score of 540.30. Austin, a junior, will have one more year to chase down Sarah Law’s overall state record of 570.25 from 1997. Chatfield’s Averly Hobbs finished second with 490.45 points, while Eaglecrest’s Indiya Williams claimed third with 474.15 points.

Following the diving break, Fossil Ridge’s Bailey Nero claimed her third of four state titles at the meet, crushing Kelly Naze’s Colorado and 5A state record from 2010 with a 53.22 in the 100 fly. Regis Jesuit’s Amy Lenderink hung on for second with a 55.28, with Fort Collins’ Elise Forzley in third at 55.52.

Annie Ochitwa of ThunderRidge capped her high school career with her second win of the day and second consecutive title in the 100 free. She stopped the clock at 49.60 to edge Loveland’s Brooke Hansen, who also broke 50 with a 49.97. Lauren Moden of Legend finished in the top three for a second time, touching third in 51.03.

Fairview’s Brittney Beetcher and Arapahoe’s Ella Moynihan treated the crowd to a thrilling race in the 500 free final as the pair pulled away from the field early and went stroke-for-stroke the entire way. At the finish, Moynihan had just enough in the tank to take home her second state title of the day, out-touching Beetcher 4:54.92 to 4:55.20. Cherry Creek freshman Rose Saya wrapped up third in 5:02.78.

Another state record nearly went down in the 200 free relay, as Regis Jesuit’s Lindsay Painton, Jennae Frederick, Amy Lenderink and Taylor Wilson almost knocked off Cherry Creek’s 2011 record of 1:34.40 but finished just off that with a 1:34.72. Fossil Ridge’s Zoe Bartel, Lesley-Ann Knee, Quinn Fawcett and Riley Hoffman solidified second with a 1:36.25, while ThunderRidge’s Elizabeth Kneip, Mason Dahman, Patricia Van Law and Annie Ochitwa posted a 1:37.29 to take third.

Rock Canyon’s Abigail Kochevar put on a show in the 100 back final, demolishing the rest of the field with a 54.17. Patricia Van Law finished second in 55.58, shortly after swimming in the 200 free relay. Mountain Range’s Shelly Drozda picked up her second top-three finish of the meet with a 55.80 for third.

Fossil Ridge sophomore Bailey Kovac successfully defended the state title she won as a freshman in the 100 breast, stopping the clock at 1:03.03 to finish well ahead of Ralston Valley’s Mackenzie Atencio (1:05.73) and Fossil Ridge teammate Jayden Glover (1:06.68).

Fossil Ridge capped their team title with an exciting win in the final 400 free relay, as Zoe Bartel, Riley Hoffman, Bailey Kovac and Bailey Nero came from behind on the final length to out-touch Regis Jesuit’s Lindsay Painton, Isabella Schultze, Samantha Smith and Taylor Wilson, 3:25.26 to 3:25.49. Nero claimed her fourth state title of the day, while Kovac picked up her third. Cherry Creek’s foursome of Emily Vazquez, Morgan Rosas, Rose Saya and Kaylyn Flatt combined efforts to post a 3:30.91 for third.

Colorado Girls 5A State Swimming and Diving Championships – Results

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