Danielle Wahl is a big fish in a small pond at Colorado Springs School. But her status doesn’t shrink in the Cheyenne Mountain pool.

Wahl, a senior at CSS and a four-year member of the Indians’ swim team, won the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke Thursday to help host Cheyenne Mountain beat Doherty 210-102. She also swam on the winning 200 medley and 400 free relays.

“She’s an animal in the pool,” Indians coach Kate Doane said. “It’s awesome. And she doesn’t like to lose. She’s a classic competitor.”

Cheyenne Mountain won all but two of the 12 events, with Spartans senior Maggie Morris winning the 50 freestyle and sophomore Sarah James placing first in the 100 backstroke.

And that was exactly the kind of performance Doherty coach Nicole Hart was looking for out of her two 5A state qualifiers.

“I really have high goals for Sarah at state,” Hart said. “I hope she can be in the top 3 (in backstroke). Maggie has really come along in the breaststroke. I’m hoping she can make it in the top 16 at state.”

Wahl will look to improve on her second-place finish in the 500 free and fifth-place finish in the 100 butterfly at 4A state last season. To do it, she’ll have to beat teammate and two-time defending 500 free 4A champion Ashley Forsyth, also the 200 free champion, who is out with a back injury. Not that there is any animosity between the two.

“Ashley and I — we make a really good team,” Wahl said. “We work together, she’s my training partner. It’s actually difficult for her to be out right now because she pushes me, she motivates me at practice. And I really hope for a fast recovery for her.”

Doane said Forsyth will be out “hopefully not long.” In the meantime, the Indians are in the capable, although quiet, leadership of Wahl.

“She’s a great leader,” Doane said. “She works hard. Every day she gives it at practice, her attitude is positive, she encourages other girls, she’s great teammate.”

Doane said it’s Wahl’s work ethic that makes her stand out on the team, which rivals Wahl’s entire school in size.

“There are 34 kids in the senior class (at CSS),” Wahl said. “So, on the varsity team, there is more people than at my school.”

Wahl will jump to an even bigger pond next year at college. Although undecided, she is looking at swimming at either Northern Arizona, Denver or Denison University, a school in Ohio that boasts the nation’s best Division-III program.

“I think she will do awesome wherever she goes,” Doane said.

Cheyenne Mountain’s Danielle Wahl competes in the 200-yard individual medley during a swim meet against Doherty on Thursday. Photo by BRYAN OLLER, THE GAZETTE