Kourtney Fosse, Sr., Fairview: The returning 5A state champ in the breaststroke is going for more after signing to swim at Wisconsin next season.
Abbie Houck, Jr., Fairview: The returning 5A state champ in the 500 free figures to be one of the area’s and state’s best swimmers again.
Ariel Mosier, Sr., Niwot: Also an accomplished gymnast, she’ll be one the Cougars’ biggest strengths this year from the diving board.
Amanda Richey, So., Boulder: Runner-up in the 500 free last season, she figures to anchor a Panther squad shooting for a top three finish at state.
Haley Rowley, Fr., Boulder: Along with Houck and Richey, she’s one of three area swimmers who earned Olympic trials qualifying times over the summer.
Amanda Sanders, Jr., Monarch: Took third in the breaststroke last year and will propel another strong Coyotes squad.
Haley Schneider, Sr., Longmont: The Trojans’ lone returning state qualifier will look to climb the diving standings at state this season.
Heather Shaver, Sr., Broomfield: A perennial contender along with teammate Katalena Laufasa-Duncan, will be looking for an individual state title in 4A.
Amanda Siedem, Sr., Silver Creek: A two-event finalist a year ago in 4A, the softball star figures to be a force in the pool once again.
Madi Welsh, Sr., Skyline: Did somebody say diving? The Falcon might be the best of the Longmont-area’s bunch.
5A state meet Feb. 10-11 at EPIC in Fort Collins.
4A state meet Feb. 10-11 at VMAC in Thornton.
Boulder Panthers
Coach: Curt Colby (14th year).
Returning state qualifiers: Amanda Richey (So., medley relay, 11th; 200 IM, 6th; 500 free, 2nd; 400 free relay, 3rd), Hannah Bower (Sr., medley relay, 11th; 200 IM, 13th; 100 breast, 12th; 400 free relay, 3rd), Olivia Rock (So., medley relay, 11th; 200 free; 100 fly, 14th; 200 free relay, 5th), Heidi Veigele (Jr., medley relay, 11th), Erin Houlihan (Jr., 200 free; 200 free relay, 5th).
Others to watch: Haley Rowley (Fr., 200 IM, 100 back), Cori Orr (So., 100 fly, sprint free), Lucille Van Vooren (Sr., diving), Grace McCarthy (Jr., diving), Sophie Gordon (Jr., diving), Miranda Sullivan (Fr., 200 IM), Hannah Varner (Fr., distance free), Rain Wlad (Fr., 100 fly), Ali Marchand (Sr., 100 breast), Sayaka Kitabatake (So., 100 fly).
Outlook: Richey and Rowley both earned Olympic trials cuts over the summer, and both have shots at state titles this winter, Richey in the 500 free and Rowley in the IM. They lead a Panther group that has girls from several different clubs and summer swim leagues and is gunning to crack into the top three at state in the team standings after becoming mainstays in the top 5.
Broomfield Eagles
Coach: Emily Austin (12th year).
Returning state qualifiers: Abi Young (Jr., 500 free, 200 free, 200 free relay), Heather Shaver (Sr., 100 breast, 100 free, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay), Katalena Laufasa-Duncan (Sr., 200 IM, 100 back, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay), Zoe Gossett (Sr., 200 IM, 100 fly, 200 medley relay), Alaina Gossett (Jr., 200 free, 500 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay), Anissa Mata (Jr., 200 free, 500 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay), Kendall Wingfield (So., 50 free, 100 free, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay).
Others to watch: Elizabeth Peterson (Fr., 100 fly, 200 IM, 100 free).
Outlook: Despite losing a sizable senior group, the Eagles have most of their firepower from the state meet back, led by Shaver and Laufasa-Duncan. That pair will look to be the first to get BHS a state title since 2006. Thompson Valley is again the team to beat in 4A but Broomfield wasn’t that far behind in fifth last year, and will try to move up.
Centaurus Warriors
Coach: Ashley Scott (2nd year).
Returning state qualifiers: None.
Others to watch: Brandy Marquardt (Jr., breaststroke); Merritt Shepard (Fr., backstroke, freestyle races); Erin Jenkins (freestyle); Ashley Boyle (Jr., backstroke, butterfly).
Outlook: The Warriors’ roster has more than doubled in size this season and has the pieces in place to start building. Scott, a 2011 graduate of the University of Colorado, swam club for the Buffaloes and was an All-American high school swimmer in the Chicago area. Her newly unveiled summer program has attracted more swimmers for the varsity team.
Fairview Knights
Coach: Bob Smartt (12th year).
Returning state qualifiers: Lacey Smith (Jr., 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 fly), Kourtney Fosse (Sr., 100 breast, 50 free, 200 IM), Regan Payne (Sr., 100 back), Abbie Houck (Jr., 100 free, 200 free, 500 free), Mary Scraggs (Sr., 200 IM, 100 fly, 500 free), Lindsey Fano (Sr., 100 breast, 200 IM), Zoe Verhoeven (Sr., 50 free, 100 free), Taylor Bissert (Jr., 100 fly, 200 free), Caitlin Reck (So., 100 breast), Jhana Gottlieb (Jr., 100 back), Lizzy Dresselhaus (Jr., 100 fly), Jackie Reed (So., 100 back), Julia Ting (Sr., 200 IM), Jennifer Kuhn (Jr., 500 free), Dana Gallup (Sr., 100 breast).
Others to watch: Julia Box (Fr., fly, back), Jessie Li (Fr., sprint free), Sydney Andrew (Fr., breast, IM), Sienna Stonesmith (Fr., free, fly), Berkley Gamble (Sr.).
Outlook: With 15 state qualifiers back, the Knights will once again be gunning for a top three finish at state. Fosse (breaststroke) and Houck (500 free) are both defending state champs and figure give a deep FHS squad its punch at the top of the lineup.
Legacy Lightning
Coach: Theresa Irwin (2nd year).
Returning state qualifiers: Kaitlyn Alle (So, 200 medley relay), Kayla Stuckey (Jr., 200 medley relay, 400 free relay), Fiona Dretzka (So., 200 IM, 500 free, 200 free relay), Rachel Wood (Jr., 200 free relay), Meghan Casey (Jr., 200 free relay, 400 free relay).
Others to watch: Elysia Hartojo (Jr., relays), Lauren Phan (So., relays), Taylor Jackson (Jr., relays).
Outlook: A small returning core means the Lightning’s young swimmers will have to get up to speed quickly for the team to compete in the deep Front Range League. Plenty of strength returning in the relays, though, gives the team plenty of reason for optimism.
Longmont Trojans
Coach: Jill LeGault (2nd year).
Returning state qualifiers: Haley Schneider (Sr., diving).
Others to watch: Jessica Thompson, Maggie Fell, Emilie Rosa, Emily LaPlante.
Outlook: Schneider returns as part of the deep diving crop in Longmont area schools this year. She’ll lead the way for a Trojans squad that has 36 swimmers on the roster and is looking to build through the season toward a larger contingent at the 4A state meet this season.
Monarch Coyotes
Coach: Ted Romero (2nd year).
Returning state qualifiers: Amanda Sanders (Jr., 100 breaststroke, 3rd; 200 IM, 9th; medley relay; 200 free relay); Blair Kacynski (Sr., 100 fly, medley relay, 400 free relay); Morgan Commander (Jr., 200 free relay, 400 free relay), Taylor Greff (Sr., 100 breast, 200 free relay).
Others to watch: KyLee Ferrera (Sr., 200 free, 100 back), Elise Kinney (Jr., sprints), Grace Newell (Fr., diving), Savannah Magness (Fr., diving).
Outlook: All-American Anna Labozan is gone along with eight other graduated seniors. But Romero believes he’s got enough younger talent in the lineup that the Coyotes can remain in the top 10 at state after taking eighth in 5A a year ago. Sanders will lead the way and try to challenge for a title in the breaststroke.
Niwot Cougars
Coach: Sarah Heller (3rd year).
Returning state qualifiers: Zoie Jordan (Jr., 50 Free, 13th; 100 Free), Kylie Fischer (Jr., 50 Free, 100 Free), Ariel Mosier (Sr., Diving, 13th), Kylie Pillard (So., 50 Free, 100 Free), Elise Cranny (So., 100 Breast, 200 IM), Hannah Driscoll (So., 50 Free, 100 Free, 100 Breast).
Others to watch: Bekah Cass (Jr., 200 Free, 500 Free), Gabrielle Casey (Fr., Diving), Lauren FitzGibbons (So., 100 Breast, 100 Fly), Victoria Jepson (Jr., 200IM, 100 Fly), Jessie Moore (Fr., 100 Back), Kristen Nordham (So., 50 Free, 100 Back), Kayla Overfield (Sr., Diving)Cate Rose (So., 100 Back, 500 Free), Hannah Thramann (Jr., 50 Free).
Outlook: The Cougars graduated their top two swimmers, but the likes of Jordan, Mosier, Fischer and Driscoll will lead a contingent that is gunning to win the city title and make another run at a top-10 finish at state in Class 4A. The first step is getting more swimmers to state than last season.
Silver Creek Raptors
Coach: Debbie Stewart (11th year).
Returning state qualifiers: Amanda Siedem (Sr., 100 free, 100 back, medley relay, 400 free relay), Morgan McKean (Jr., 100 back, 200 free relay), Kylie Rembert (So., 200 free, 100 free, 200 free relay), Ashley Maul (Sr., 200 free relay).
Others to watch: Leah Burnett (Jr., 100 back, IM), Rachel Palmer (So., distance), Rachel Cooper (Jr., freestyle, IM), Seana Harker (Fr., distance).
Outlook: Five key seniors from last year are gone, but a big freshman class should help with depth. Siedem leads the way once she returns from a wrist injury. But Rembert will be right in the mix for the Raptors, while Burnett improved in the offseason by leaping into the club swimming realm.
Skyline Falcons
Coach: Karolyn Schultz (2nd year).
Returning state qualifiers: Madi Welsh (Sr., diving, ), Morgan Farris (Sr., 100 back, 400 free relay), Jamie Koch (Jr., 400 free relay), Brianna Hauck (Jr., 400 free relay).
Others to watch: Mackenzie Dwyer (Fr., 200 free, 200 IM).
Outlook: Welsch figures to impress once again, but Farris, Dwyer and Koch should also be strong in individual events. Rather than swimming after school, Schultz has moved practices to morning with dryland training in the afternoon in hopes of increasing the stamina and speed throughout the team.
