THORNTON – The Cherry Creek boys swim and dive team is the Class 5A state champion.
Again.
At Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center on Friday night, the Bruins posted a scored of 417 to claim the 5A team title and notch their second state team title. It was also the Bruins’ 14th boys swim title all-time.
“We haven’t ever gone back-to-back, at least not during my tenure, and we’re hopefully going to continue to build on that,” Bruins coach Chris Loftis said. “These guys have done everything we’ve asked and then some. We ask a lot of our kids. I know I say this every year, but I mean it every year – the things they’ve overcome and the things they’ve persevered through as young men and as a team, and as brothers, I could not be more proud.”
Regis Jesuit, which has combined with Cherry Creek to finish either first or second in the past five state meets, was runner-up with a team score of 335.
The Bruins – Camille Trinquesse, Talen Palmateer, Hayden Watkins, Connor Kelly – won the 200 medley relay with a time of 1 minute, 29.70 seconds. The Bruins 200 freestyle relay team of Palmateer, Watkins, Kelly and Jamie Crawford also won the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:22.45.
On Thursday, Cherry Creek’s Luke Ogren won his third straight diving title with a score of 622.85.
“Yesterday’s preliminary session set us up for today and to be able to just relax and enjoy and be successful,” Loftis said. “Almost every swim yesterday was a surprise because everyone swam so well and so fast and out of their minds. I’m definitely pleased.”
Grandview’s Gherman Prudnikau (1:38.19) won the 200 freestyle title. The senior also won the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:27.14. Also for Grandview, Oliver Schimberg finished the 100 butterfly in 47.52 seconds to take first place and took home a second first-place finish with a time of 47.32 seconds in the 100 backstroke.
Douglas County’s Jacob Smith (44.76) won the 100 freestyle.
Fossil Ridge’s Brennen O’Neil (1:49.60) took home the gold in the 200 IM.
Columbine’s Tobin Uhl won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 55.14 seconds.
Farview’s 400 freestyle relay team – Wesley Schlachter, Anders Koschmann, Jack Garnett and Soren Koschmann – won gold with a time of 3:01.92.
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Class 5A boys swimming and diving champions
| EVENT | CHAMPION | SCHOOL | TIME/SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 medley relay | Camille Trinquesse, Talen Palmateer, Hayden Watkins, Connor Kelly | Cherry Creek | 1:29.70 |
| 200 freestyle | Gherman Prudnikau | Grandview | 1:38.19 |
| 200 individual medley | Brennen O’Neil | Fossil Ridge | 1:49.60 |
| 50 freestyle | Sam Lofstrom | Rock Canyon | 19.99 |
| Diving | Luke Ogren | Cherry Creek | 622.85 |
| 100 butterfly | Oliver Schimberg | Grandview | 47.52 |
| 100 freestyle | Jacob Smith | Douglas County | 44.76 |
| 500 freestyle | Gherman Prudnikau | Grandview | 4:27.14 |
| 200 freestyle relay | Talen Palmateer, Hayden Watkins, Connor Kelly, Jamie Crawford | Cherry Creek | 1:22.45 |
| 100 backstroke | Benjamin Witmer | Highlands Ranch | 51.27 |
| 100 breaststroke | Daisuke Nakashima | Legacy | 56.94 |
| 400 freestyle relay | Wesley Schlachter, Anders Koschmann, Jack Garnett, Soren Koschmann | Fairview | 3:01.92 |
TEAM SCORES
| PLACE | TEAM | SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cherry Creek | 417 |
| 2 | Regis Jesuit | 335 |
| 3 | Highlands Ranch | 246 |
| 4 | Fossil Ridge | 235 |
| 5 | Columbine | 230.5 |
| 6 | Fairview | 220 |
| 7 | Grandview | 178 |
| 8 | Valor Christian | 164 |
| 9 | Cherokee Trail | 143 |
| 10 | Douglas County | 133 |
