PUEBLO • Forget the Sophomore Slump and meet the Sophomore Swagger.

Six of the eight individual races during Saturday’s girls’ swimming finals at the Hornet Invitational at Pueblo County High School Natatorium were won by sophomores. So what gives?

“Sophomores are the best class,” said Lewis-Palmer’s Karin Roh, who finished first in the 50-yard freestyle. “Just saying. … We’re really hard workers and we’re good at what we do.”

Well, self-confidence seems to be helping. Experience probably doesn’t hurt either.

“I think we’re seeing better swimmers younger,” Discovery Canyon coach Lisa Garrelts said. “I think that has a lot to do with the investment that kids and parents are doing in club. … They come in, they’re more ready.”

Several of the Pikes Peak area’s top sophomore swimmers are familiar with each other because of club. And they say they enjoy pushing each other.

“We just have so many fast people, and it’s really hard to compete and stuff like that, especially because you’re going to be with them the rest of (high school),” said Doherty’s Sarah James, who won the 200 individual medley.

In addition to Roh and James, sophomores Lucile Chevalier of Rampart (100 free), Katie Roach of Cheyenne Mountain (100 breast) and Mary Saiz of Pueblo South (100 backstroke and 200 free) also won races.

Cheyenne Mountain senior Danielle Wahl bucked the trend, taking first in the 100 butterfly and dominating the 500 free.

But even when the sophomores didn’t win, they were close. And they littered the top three place-finishes in most races.

Roh placed second to Wahl in the 500 free and the Thunder’s Kelsey Oettinger was third. Coronado sophomore Allie Jacobs was runner-up to Wahl in the fly and took third in the 200 IM.

Liberty’s Courtney Reed placed third in 50 free to round out the top area performances from second-year student-athletes.

And while “sophomores are awesome,” as Oettinger claimed, they hope to continue to make as big a splash in years to come.

“I hope this isn’t my peak,” Oettinger said, “because I’m still getting better.”

Evangelical Christian’s Sydney Bost (14) rebounded against Vanguard in the first quarter Saturday at ECA The Eagles won 50-28 Photo by KEVIN KRECK, THE GAZETTE