LOVELAND — Niwot freshman Madison Barkow has been good all season, but the Cougars have been waiting for the first-year prep diver to have a signature breakout performance.
Barkow, apparently, has just been waiting until the stage got a little bit bigger to blow her coaches away. The stage was big enough at the Northern League swim and dive championships on Saturday.
In her first appearance at the conference meet, Barkow put together her best ever 11-dive performance to win first place in the diving competition with a score of 399.55.
“This was the best meet I’ve ever had,” Barkow said. “It was really nice to have an on day because it’s my first year and I wanted to help get points for Niwot. I feel like I did that and my coaches are really proud of me.”
Score she did.
Barkow’s performance netted 24 team points for the Cougars, who finished second just six points behind Thompson Valley. Diving teammates Gabby Casey (fourth), Camryn Kenkel (12th) and Carina Watkins (14th) combined for 36 more team points.
Though her final score was nearly 100 points above the 4A state qualifying mark, Barkow had to fight for first place. After the semifinals, she trailed Northern League diver of the year Abby Watson from Mountain View by just less than three points.
In the three-dive final round, Barkow scored a 19 (6, 7.5, 5.5) a 23.5 (8, 8.5, 7) and a 17 (6, 6, 5) to edge Watson, a senior, for the title by six points.
“Madi had a great meet. She pulled all of her dives together and had her best meet yet,” St. Vrain diving coach Shawn Gregg said. “If you could ask for the best meet that she could give us, she gave it to us. And to do it in finals, you can’t beat that.”
In the pool, Cougars senior Hannah Driscoll won the 200 freestyle in 1 minute, 55.89 seconds and was runner-up on the 100 freestyle. After the meet, she was voted Northern League swimmer of the year.
The Cougars’ 400 relay team took first and the 200 relay team took second, while head coach Sarah Heller was voted conference coach of the year by her peers.
The Silver Creek Raptors took third place with a team score of 456 behind a 100 breaststroke title from Jenna Latsko. Just a sophomore, Latsko said she got a competitive boost with Thompson Valley’s Katie von der Lippe hot on her heels the entire race.
“I really liked the girl that I raced from Thompson Valley. I feel like we pushed each other really well,” said Latsko, who finished in 1:08.75. “That was a best time for her and it was really close to my best time so I feel like I’m doing really well going into state. I wasn’t tapered for this meet and I will be for state next week. So, hopefully I’ll do better.”
Latsko also took second in the 200 IM. Senior Kylie Rembert took second in the 200 freestyle and third in the 100 freestyle. The Raptors also took second in the 200 medley relay and fourth in the 400 freestyle relay.
The Broomfield Eagles took fourth in the team race with 336 team points. Junior Elizabeth Peterson set a new conference record of 58.20 in the 100 backstroke.
Finishing fourth in the 200 IM, junior Erin Jenkins led the fifth-place (278 team points) Centaurus Warriors. Warriors junior Merritt Shepherd also finished fourth in the 500 freestyle.
Senior Hannah Orbanosky was the Longmont Trojans’ highest placer, taking sixth in the diving competition.
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4A Northern League championships
At Thompson Valley H.S.
Team scores — Thompson Valley 563, Niwot 557, Silver Creek 456, Broomfield 336, Centaurus 278, Greeley Central 273, Mountain View 205, Longmont 87.
200 medley relay — 1. Thompson Valley, 1:50.98; 2. Silver Creek, 1:56.13; 3. Niwot, 1:59.34; 4. Broomfield 1:59.67; 5. Greeley Central, 2:02.93; 6. Mountain View, 2:03.41.
200 freestyle — 1. Hannah Driscoll, Niwot, 1:55.89; 2. Kylie Rembert, Silver Creek, 1:56.79; 3. Mattie Wabeke, Thompson Valley, 1:57.09; 4. Grae Roda, Broomfield, 2:05.74; 5. Annika Jessen, Thompson Valley, 2:05.82; 6. Sonia Martinez, Niwot, 2:09.90. 7. Skylar Riley, Centaurus, 2:07.43; 8. Eva Kitlen, Niwot, 2:12.48; 9. Nonie Ziel, Niwot, 2:14.99; 11. Olivia Bruce, Silver Creek, 2:16.07; 12. Emma Cisar, Silver Creek, 2:16.81; 14. Ashlyn Bostic, Centaurus, 2:16.41; 16. Nicole Jacobsen, Centaurus, 2:19.95.
200 IM — 1. Eryn Eddy, Thompson Valley, 2:08.34; 2. Jenna Latsko, Silver Creek, 2:17.48; 3. Lauren Mesikapp, Thompson Valley, 2:21.45; 4. Erin Jenkins, Centaurus, 2:23.24; 5. Elise Cranny, Niwot, 2:23.98; 6. Lauren FitzGibbons, Niwot, 2:26.66; 7. Cate Rose, Niwot, 2:26.14; 11. Alyson Lhungay, Silver Creek, 2:34.78; Alesha Bratcher, Broomfield, 2:36.34; 14. Olya Martin, Silver Creek, 2:36.87; 17. Emma Goetz, Niwot, 2:40.07; 18. Kristin Snyder, 2:41.95.
50 freestyle — 1. Marina Fonseca, Thompson Valley, 24.95; 2. Kendall Wingfield, Broomfield, 25.19; 3. Kylie Pillard, Niwot, 25.62; 4. Sierra Juvonen, Silver Creek, 25.73; 5. Jessie Moore, Niwot, 26.69; 6. Erin Jenkins, Centaurus, 26.73; 7. Chase Balman, Niwot, 26.23; 9. Madi Pelton, Silver Creek, 26.64; 10. Jennifer Young, Broomfield, 26.77; 12. Emilee Wonnacott, Silver Creek, 26.90; 13. Shannon Milton, Centaurus, 27.05; 15. Courtney Dobbins, Silver Creek, 27.55.
Diving — 1. Madison Barkow, Niwot, 399.55; 2. Abby Watson, Mountain View, 393.00; 3. Kelsey Vreenman, Mountain View, 342.85; 4. Gabby Casey, Niwot, 318.30; 5. Riley Heger, Centaurus, 278.05; 6. Hannah Orbanosky, Longmont, 274.85; 9. Camryn Kenkel, Niwot, 238.80; 10. Katie Emberley, Silver Creek, 223.20; 14. Carina Watkins, Niwot, 206.00; 16. Leah Skazinski, Silver Creek, 197.45; 17. Ashley Fobes, Longmont, 186.15; 18. Ruthann Niewoehner, Centaurus, 181.95.
100 butterfly — 1. Elizabeth Peterson, Broomfield, 57.71; 2. Marina Fonseca, Thompson Valley, 1:01.93; 3. Madelaine McClain, Broomfield, 1:03.28; 4. Lauren Mesikapp, Thompson Valley, 1:04.33; 5. Sara Findley, Silver Creek, 1:05.43; 6. Kate Wall, Mountain View, 1:06.53; 7. Kristen Huth, Centaurus, 1:06.23; 8. Chase Balman, Niwot, 1:06.51; 9. Anna Beeck, Niwot, 1:07.59; 10. Beth McNichols, Silver Creek, 1:08.49; 12. Alesha Bratcher, Broomfield, 1:10.25; 13. Ellie Arens, Niwot, 1:08.66; 16. Annika Jarvinen.
100 freestyle — 1. Eddy Eryn, Thompson Valley, 51.89; 2. Hannah Driscoll, Niwot, 52.23; 3. Kylie Rembert, Silver Creek, 54.80; 4. Kylie Pillard, Niwot, 56.14; 5. Grae Roda, Broomfield, 57.32; 6. Sonia Martinez, Niwot, 58.00; 7. Sierra Juvonen, Silver Creek, 56.53; 9. Angela Walter, Silver Creek, 57.79; 10. Elise Cranny, Niwot, 58.43; 12. Olivia Bruce, Silver Creek, 1:01.15; 13. Shannon Milton, Centaurus, 59.96; 17. Abby Levesque, Longmont, 1:02.81.
500 freestyle — 1. Kelly Sheldon, Thompson Valley, 5:16.98; 2. Kate von der Lippe, Thompson Valley, 5:28.33; 3. Madelaine McClain, Broomfield, 5:35.87; 4. Merritt Shepherd, Centaurus, 5:37.02; 5. Anniak Jessen, Thompson Valley, 5:49.90; 6. Eva Kitlen, Niwot, 5:51.62; 6. Cate Rose, Niwot, 5:43.91; 7. Skylar Riley, Centaurus, 5:51.36; 10. Corrie VanLaanen, Centaurus, 5:55.96; 13. Emma Cisar, Silver Creek, 6:07.70; 15. Darah Gaffney, Silver Creek, 6:16.97; 16. Nicole Jacobsen, Centaurus, 6:18.75; 17. Kristin Snyder, Broomfield, 6:29.10; 18. Sophie Henehan, Broomfield, 6:36.06.
200 free relay — 1. Thompson Valley, 1:39.56; 2. Niwot, 1:41.14; 3. Broomfield, 1:42.01; 4. Centaurus, 1:44.38; 5. Silver Creek, 1:44.47; 6. Greeley Central, 1:48.65; 7. Longmont, 1:57.55; 8. Mountain View, 1:58.28.
100 backstroke — 1. Elizabeth Peterson, Broomfield, 58.20; 2. Kelly Sheldon, Thompson Valley, 59.98; 3. Mattie Wabeke, Thompson Valley, 1:00.13; 4. Hannah Morse, Mountain View, 1:01.82; 5. Jamie Moss, Thompson Valley, 1:04.07; 6. Jennifer Young, Broomfield, 1:06.10; 8. Sara Findley, Silver Creek, 1:06.46; 9. Beth McNichols, Silver Creek, 1:06.80; 10. Anna Beeck, Niwot, 1:07.17; 11. Brigid Winn, Silver Creek, 1:08.09; 12. Kathryn Trees, Silver Creek, 1:09.38; 15. Meagan Lowery, Niwot, 1:12.46; 16. Madelaine Chism, Centaurus, 1:12.86; 17. Alyssa Readmond, Niwot, 1:14.67; 18. Tali Eigner, Niwot, 1:16.04.
100 breaststroke — 1. Jenna Latsko, Silver Creek, 1:08.75; 2. Katie von der Lippe, Thompson Valley, 1:09.23; 3. Madi Pelton, Silver Creek, 1:14.01; 4. Lauren Fitzgibbons, Niwot, 1:14.56; 5. Corrie VanLaanen, Centaurus, 1:15.57; 6. Olya Martin, Silver Creek, 1:16.16; 8. Kendall Wingfield, Broomfield, 1:15.36; 9. Jessie Moore, Niwot, 1:17.60; 11. Abby Levesque, Longmont, 1:23.58; 12. Nonie Ziel, Niwot, 1:24.16; 13. Jenna DeBruyne, Broomfield, 1:24.58; 14. Marin Roth, Silver Creek, 1:24.94; 16. Emma Goetz, Niwot, 1:25.96; 17. Amanda Breit, Broomfield, 1:26.27.
400 free relay — 1. Niwot, 3:41.83; 2. Thompson Valley, 3:43.99; 3. Broomfield, 3:50.02; 4. Silver Creek, 3:51.42; 5. Centaurus, 3:52.15; 6. Greeley Central, 4:00.66.
