monument • Coronado is pumped about its move down to 4A.

Tuesday’s dual provided reason for the excitement, as — even in defeat — the Cougars qualified all three relays and five individuals for state during their season-opening dual meet against Lewis-Palmer at Woodmoor Pines Country Club.

“We are very excited,” senior Chris Bell said. “We’ll be able to take a large group to state, so that’ll be nice to get a majority of the team down there.”

The Rangers won nine out of the 12 events to capture the 101-85 victory. But Coronado was happy to be in competition with the Rangers, who won the past two 4A state titles but move up to 5A this season.

“It’s good to race them because they’re a lot faster,” said Cougars sophomore Eric Albers, who qualified for state in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 free.

Sophomore Bryan Rossmanith and Bell also qualified for state in two events.

Rossmanith dominated the 500 free — winning by more than 30 seconds — and finished second in the 200 free. Bell made the state cut in the 100 butterfly and in winning the 100 backstroke.

Juniors Danny Kay and Steve Peek joined Albers in qualifying for the 50 free and helping the Cougars’ 200 free relay score their biggest win of the afternoon.

Kay, senior Dave Peek and Steve Peek all swam faster splits than their Lewis-Palmer counterparts and then Albers managed to hold off Rangers star Ryan Arata on the anchor leg to give Coronado the win in 1:33.60 — .14 of a second faster than the Rangers.

“Oh, yeah. It’s definitely really cool,” Bell said of the relay win. “They’re a tough team. They won 4A several times. And so it just shows how good we are starting off the year.”

Lewis-Palmer coach Alan Arata said he messed up the roster for his 200 free relay team, but still wasn’t too shocked to see Coronado win.

“It’s good for our team to have close races,” he said. “And they have a great group of sprinters at Coronado. They’re young, they’re very fast, especially in the 50, and I knew that was going to be a tough relay.”

Arata also said Coronado’s relays will be key to the Cougars’ success at state.

“If they can get in the finals in all the relays, they’re going to be one of the top four teams,” he said.

Depth wouldn’t hurt either. And Cougars senior Frankie Ricotta said the drop in classification will only help his team in that regard.

“I really like 4A because the qualifying times are way easier than 5A,” he said. “I just feel like (there are) more opportunities for a lot of us.”

Lewis-Palmer Spencer Wells faught for second place against Coronado’s Christian Bell in the 100 butterfly on Tuesday. Photo by CRAIG BISACRE, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

CRAIG BISACRE, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE