Cheyenne Mountain boys’ swimming coach Kate Doane faced a daunting task in February: lead her team to a repeat as Class 4A champions.

By placing her swimmers in a competitive atmosphere on a daily basis, Doane led the Indians to back-to-back titles – the first time for the school since the boys’ swimming team won three consecutive titles from 2000-2002.

To drive home the importance of competing for the team, skipping high school practice for the club swimming team was not allowed. As a result, some of Colorado’s top swimmers practiced in the same Cheyenne Mountain pool every day.

“We have such a rich tradition and the guys respect that,” Doane said. “They want to compete for Cheyenne Mountain. Winning the state title was amazing and I’m so proud of them.”

The team mindset instilled by Doane led to the program’s fifth state title and two All-Americans this season. The accolades have piled up for Doane and her program. This is Doane’s second consecutive Boys’ Swimming Coach of the Year honor, and the coach won The Gazette’s 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015 Girls’ Swimming Coach of the Year awards.

Every day, she put her swimmers in tough positions – swimming in events they usually don’t compete in, forcing friends to compete for spots – in order to push a team-first attitude.

“It’s not just about the individual,” Doane said. “Our group of guys knows that. There are times when kids have been put into situations where they may not have been comfortable, but they rise to the occasion to pull out the win.”