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Boys’ swimming season preview: Team-by-team capsules

CLASS 5ADOHERTY

Coach: Jennifer Tomme (second year)

Returning letter-winners: 12

Returning individual state qualifiers: Jimmy Culligan, junior, 500-yard freestyle

Season outlook: The Spartans lost three-time state diving qualifier Taylor Stewart-Theifoldt (seventh last year) and most of their other state qualifiers to graduation. They’ll look to reload with Culligan and seniors Evan Silloway, Quintyn Adams and Oscar Segrelles.

 

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON

Coach: John Rork (19th)

Returning letter-winners: eight

Returning individual state qualifiers: Nick Maddy, senior, 50 free.

Season outlook: Maddy again will be the top swimmer for the Trojans. Seth Lake, Jared Sagapolu, Lars Trainer and Kohl Headle also swam at state last year, as F-FC qualified both its 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.

 

LEWIS-PALMER

Coach: Alan Arata (seventh)

Returning letter-winners: n/a

Returning individual state qualifiers: Ryan Arata, junior, 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke; Bryan Bonack, senior, 100 fly and 200 IM; Collin Babcock, senior, 100 breaststroke; Conor Cox, junior, 100 back and 200 IM; Spencer Flores, senior, diving; Philip Gifford, senior, diving; Michael Havenar, sophomore, 200 free and 500 free; Shane Mobley, junior, 100 back; Spencer Wells, senior, diving.

Season outlook: The Rangers, the two-time defending 4A state champs, move back up to 5A this year. While they have arguably the best swimmer in the state in Arata, the Rangers probably don’t have the depth to beat Cherry Creek in the team title race. Although they do add seniors Doug Russell and Campbell Delahoyde. Russell was a 5A state qualifier as a freshman and sophomore but took a year off. Delahoyde, a state qualifier in the 100 breast, spent last year in Germany.

 

LIBERTY

Coach: Mitch Karstens (third)

Returning letter-winners: 15

Returning individual state qualifiers:  Matt Kloenne, senior, 50 free.

Season outlook: Last year, the Lancers brought their largest contingent to state in five years and broke two school records. But only their 200 free relay advanced to Day 2, taking 15th in the consolation finals.

 

PALMER

Coach: Kayla Dooley (first)

Returning letter-winners: eight

Returning individual state qualifiers: None.

Season outlook: All of the Terrors’ state qualifiers last season were seniors.

 

PINE CREEK

Coach: Steve Owsley (fifth)

Returning letter-winners: 11

Returning individual state qualifiers: Jim Bossert, senior, 100 fly; Forest Gaskill, senior, 200 IM and 500 free; Connor Holmes, sophomore, 200 IM; Justin Holmes, senior, 100 fly and 100 breast.

Season outlook: The Eagles, who finished third at the CSML meet last season, will be led by Bossert, Gaskill and Justin Holmes. Bossert (14th in 100 fly) and Holmes (seventh in 100 breast) both made the finals at state last year. Pine Creek also qualified all three relays and finished 15th as a team at state. The Eagles add sophomore Josh Smith, who qualified for state in Virginia last year.

 

RAMPART

Coach: Dan Greene (fourth)

Returning letter-winners: 15

Returning individual state qualifiers: Ian Clarke, junior, 500 free and 200 IM; Austin Smith, senior, 100 breast and 200 IM.

Season outlook: The Rams again will rely on Clarke and Smith, both of whom swam in two state-qualifying relays as well, to improve on their 19th-place finish at state. Smith had a team-best fifth-place finish in the 100 breast at state last year.

 

CLASS 4AAIR ACADEMY

Coach: Scott Newell (fourth)

Returning letter-winners: six

Returning individual state qualifiers: None.

Season outlook: Newell believes the move down to 4A and several new arrivals will make the Kadets a big surprise at state.

 

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN

Coach: Kate Doane (third)

Returning letter-winners: 15

Returning individual state qualifiers: Michael Bau, senior, 100 fly and 100 back; Tony Butitta, senior, diving; Zane Calendine, senior, 100 fly; James Grant, junior, 100 fly and 100 back; Jonathan Littles, junior, 200 free and 100 free; Marshall McCann, senior, 200 IM and 100 back; Graham Stringert, senior, 200 free and 500 free; Dustin Wahl, sophomore, 500 free; Andy Yoo, senior, 200 free and 500 free.

Season outlook: The Indians finished second at state and in the CSML last season. Although they lost Patrick Scally, who won state titles in the 200 and 500 free, to graduation, the Indians have enough depth that they could challenge for a team title again. Especially with Lewis-Palmer out of the equation.

 

CORONADO

Coach: Bob Bell (35th)

Returning letter-winners: 12

Returning individual state qualifiers: Eric Albers, sophomore, 50 free and 100 free; Chris Bell, senior, 100 fly and 100 back; Steve Peek, junior, 50 free and 100 free; Bryan Rossmanith, sophomore, 500 free.

Season outlook: The Cougars lost their best swimmer in Jonathan Eng (fifth in 100 free, seventh in 50 free) to graduation. But they have good experience in returners Albers and Peek, who both swam on the 200 free relay that placed seventh at 5A state last year. The move down to 4A should help also.

 

DISCOVERY CANYON

Coach: Terre Christensen (second)

Returning letter-winners: nine

Returning individual state qualifiers: Michael Carricato, senior, 200 free and 500 free; Taylor Hand, junior, 200 free and 100 back; Prakhar Singal, sophomore, 100 fly.

Season outlook: Hand advanced to the consolation finals in the 200 free and 100 back and helped the Thunder’s 200 free and 400 free relays to top-16 finishes as well. Freshmen Daniel Liu, David Keller and Ben Shaw also are expected to contribute.

 

HARRISON

Coach: Nick Davenport (first)

Returning letter-winners: No info provided.

Returning individual state qualifiers: None.

Season outlook: No info provided.

 

VISTA RIDGE

Coach: No info provided.

Returning letter-winners: No info provided.

Returning individual state qualifiers: Lawrence Moore, senior, 200 IM and 100 breast; Nate Munoz, senior, 100 back.

Season outlook: Moore, who attends Sand Creek, advanced to the consolation finals in both of his individual events, placing 15th in the IM and 16th in the breaststroke.

 

WASSON

Coach: Julie Kutsner (third)

Returning letter-winners: nine

Returning individual state qualifiers:  None.

Season outlook: The Thunderbirds return three members — senior Mark Clagett and juniors Dolan Buckingham and Stuart Zwiacher — of their 400 free relay that qualified for state last year. Jarren Cox, Isaac Ricks and David Pierce also are expected to contribute.

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