No need to ask who placed first in the 4A 100-yard breaststroke at the state swimming and diving meet this season. Hudson Newsom is happy to share the results.

Newsom entered the race at Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in May as the top seed and that’s how the Coronado senior left the event. Newsom scorched the field with a time of 54.54 seconds – two seconds faster than second place and .96 seconds off the Colorado state record set by Lewis-Palmer’s Eli Hobson in 2024 – to finish first.

“I don’t want to sound cocky about it, but after sectionals, I could feel that I was pretty set,” Newsom said. “With most of the great Colorado swimmers going down there and me being able to come out on top, I was pretty confident that I would win state.”

This year’s boys’ swimming Peak Performer isn’t arrogant regarding his placement, he’s proud of the venture he took to earn the achievement. Newsom revisited his first state appearance as a sophomore and the close call required to compete in the finals in Thornton.

Newsom transferred from Cheyenne Mountain to Coronado as a sophomore and, after primarily focusing on club swimming, Newsom swam prep for the first time. Newsom qualified for state in two individual events that season, the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.

He missed his chance at the finals in the 50 freestyle but had a shot to qualify in the breaststroke. The top 20 compete in finals and Newsom clocked in at 1:05.30 to nab the final spot in the 4A prelims. However, Discovery Canyon’s Eli Parris also clocked in with Newsom’s time.

“When you’re tied for 20th, you have to do a swim off,” Newsom said. “We had a swim off after prelims and I won. But the only reason I won the race was because my underwaters were longer and I conserved more energy.”

Newsom finished 19th overall and noted his gratitude for making state and finals his first year of prep swimming. But the level of competition ignited Newsom in a fashion previously unknown to the Cougars swimmer.

“It’s like when you’re writing a story: you need that good hook to get everyone to read it. And that’s what sophomore year was for me,” Newsom said. “My sophomore year planted that seed of, I like this sport and I like this team that I’m on. … throughout the club season after high school, I was looking forward to high school swimming.”

That began a maniacal pursuit of excellence for Newsom, who said he swims Monday-Saturday. Newsom will swim for two hours some days or will go for 90 minutes followed by an afternoon session of weightlifting.

The gained strength and upgraded speed helped Newsom thrive as an upperclassman. Adam Austin, Coronado’s swim coach, recognized the shift in Newsom during his senior campaign.

“This was the year everything clicked for him,” Austin said. “He was fast last year, but everything aligned this year. He was training for club in the offseason when high school wasn’t available to him. His tenacity stayed there the entire year.”

Austin, who took the reins of the Cougars’ swim program in 2024, knew about Newsom’s sophomore season and saw his potential as a junior.

But watching Newsom sweat the minutiae and grind six days per week to improve, Austin said he was impressed with the senior’s work ethic to hone his skills.

“It was all about the small pieces that make so much of a difference,” Austin said. “The way he was positioned in the water last year. How his body would float through the water this year changed from how he holds his shoulders in line with his back. … With swimming, it’s all about the race against resistance and he was pulling way less resistance in the water this year.”

Last season, from his first 100 breaststroke race until state, Newsom shaved just over one second off his time. As a senior, he began the year with a 1:02.39 and touched the wall at 54.54 to earn the state crown.

“After coming off of his sectional race in March he turned it around and started to focus on high school swimming,” Cougars assistant coach Rachel Leach said after the state meet. “It’s been amazing watching him get to this point and watching his teammates see his success and to help Coronado make a name for ourselves.”

Newsom’s gains won’t stop at preps. He’ll swim in college at the United States Coast Guard Academy next season where he knows it’s a “whole different ballgame.” But he’s unbothered by the challenge.

“It’s an honor to be able to serve my country and make impacts in the right direction,” Newsom said. “It meant a lot that I did this for my school and I could not be where I am now without Jesus Christ. I was honored to be given Peak Performer this year especially considering it was my first year accomplishing a lot in swimming.”