LOVELAND — Fairview coach Bob Smartt has a different philosophy when it comes to the Front Range League championships.
And with well over 100 athletes on his team, he almost has to. Smartt has always followed the successful collegiate model that takes the top swimmers out of any big meet the week before another key meet — in this case, the state meet — and instead puts more emphasis on the Boulder County Invitational.
That being said, the Knights are blessed with a wealth of talent that runs deep. Fairview still managed to finish second to Fossil Ridge (924.5 points) on Saturday at the Mountain View Aquatic Center with 609 points, and the Knights will head to state next week at Thornton’s VMAC with a full head of steam.
“We put a big emphasis on the Boulder County meet because it is three weeks out and we think physiologically it is better to have that big meet three weeks out and then be able to focus tightly on state,” said Smartt, whose team produced a school record 31 state qualifiers — only three of which are seniors.
“Other teams have different philosophies and other teams want to win league. We are happy taking second place at league and allowing a lot of girls to swim in finals that would not be able to do so if we brought in the superstars.”
Fairview did not crown a single champion on Saturday and the best finish for an individual Knight was fifth — diver Julia Benz and sophomore Lauren Adler in the 500 yard freestyle both accomplished that feat. Adler also finished seventh in the 200 IM with a state qualifying time of 2 minutes, 16.69 seconds.
Other Fairview swimmers to qualify for state included: junior Sadie Matthews in the 100 butterfly (1:02.88); sophomore Sarah Dalgleish in the 100 free (56.59); sophomore Jenna Hattendorf in the 100 backstroke(1:03.43); and two freshmen in the 100 breaststroke — Hannah Keay (1:12.39) and Hannah Freeman (1:12.77).
“This was banner year for us,” said Smartt, who figures to be in a dogfight next weekend against Fossil Ridge, Cherry Creek and Regis Jesuit for the state title. “The Fairview record was 28 (state qualifiers), so we have three more than that this year which is wonderful depth to have flowing through the system.”
Monarch freshman Sidney Trimm took a break from her freestyle races and had a go at the 100 backstroke. Swimming against club teammate Shelly Drozda of Mountain Range, Trimm finished second with a personal-best time of 58.53 seconds and was all smiles coming off the awards stand.
“That was one for the memories,” said Trimm, who shaved more than a second off of her best time in the event. “(Shelly) is one of the best athletes I have ever met and I knew if I could be close to her, that would be a great swim.”
Monarch coach Ted Romero, who was voted by his peers as the coach of the year in the league, was more than pleased with his team’s effort and is excited to see what his team can do next week.
“I really thought that our team swam well this meet,” said Romero, whose team finished third with 475.5 points. “It all goes to them. I just put everybody in the right place and they swam really well today.”
The lone BoCoPreps.com are swimmer to stand atop the awards podium was Legacy’s Mary Lombardi. The junior, who attends Holy Family, was five seconds better than the field in the 500 free, winning in a time of 5:12.29.
“That was exactly what I wanted in getting ready for state,” said Lombardi, who will swim the 500 and either the 200 free or 200 IM at state. “Next week is my big taper week and then I’m going to get ready to kill it at state.”
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FRONT RANGE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Mountain View Aquatic Center
Team scores — Fossil Ridge 924.5, Fairview 609, Monarch 475.5, Loveland 436.5, Mountain Range 412.5, Boulder 340, Legacy 336, Fort Collins 310, Rocky Mountain 269, Poudre 175, Horizon 157, Greeley West 141.
200 medley relay — 1. Fossil Ridge 1:49.94*; 2. Loveland 1:53.38*; 3. Monarch (Taite Henderson, Courtney Roeber, Claudia Flores, Sidney Trimm) 1:54.10*; 4. Legacy 1:56.54*; 5. Boulder 1:57.01*.
200 freestyle — 1. Shelly Drozda, Mountain Range, 1:51.60*; 2. Quinn Fawcett, Fossil Ridge, 1:58.30*; 3. Mackenzie Saenz, Mountain Range, 2:01.06*; 6. Claudia Flores, Monarch, 2:04.11; 7. Olivia Phillips, Fairview, 2:04.88.
200 IM — 1. Bailey Nero, Fossil Ridge, 2:07.82*; 2. Tessa Thull, Fort Collins, 2:08.70*; 3. Kelly Hatanaka, Loveland, 2:09.06*; 6. Mary Lombardi, Legacy, 2:14.23*; 7. Lauren Adler, Fairview, 2:16.69*.
50 freestyle — 1. Morgan King, Greeley West, 24.79*; 2. Moriah Higgins, Fort Collins, 24.98*; 3. Jazmyn Markel, Fossil Ridge, 25.36*; 4. Courtney Roeber, Monarch, 25.43*; 6. Elysia Hartojo, Legacy, 25.54*; 7. Jennica Kelm, Monarch, 26.10.
Diving — 1. Hailey Nelson, Fossil Ridge, 399.70*; 2. Taylor Jackson, Mountain Range, 392.80*; 3. Marinna Dilley, Fort Collins, 381.75*; 4. Savannah Magness, Monarch, 367.20*; 5. Julia Benz, Fairview, 362.20*; 8. Emma Shetter, Boulder, 306.60 pts.
100 butterfly — 1. Bailey Nero, Fossil Ridge, 57.79*; 2. Morgan King, Greeley West, 58.51*; 3. Elise Forzley, Fort Collins, 58.95*; 6. Sadie Matthews, Fairview, 1:02.88*.
100 freestyle — 1. Sammie Guay, Fossil Ridge, 54.73*; 2. Mackenzie Saenz, Mountain Range, 54.85*; 3. Andy Johnson, Rocky Mountain, 55.06*; 7. Sarah Dalgleish, Fairview, 56.59*; 8. Claire Green, Monarch, 57.36.
500 freestyle — 1. Mary Lombardi, Legacy, 5:12.29*; 2. Quinn Fawcett, Fossil Ridge, 5:17.32*; 3. Jayden Glover, Fossil Ridge, 5:20.64*; 5. Lauren Adler, Fairview, 5:28.24*; 8. Claudia Flores, Monarch, 5:40.42.
200 free relay — 1. Mountain Range 1:39.55*; 2. Fossil Ridge 1:41.32; 3. Monarch (Claire Green, Sidney Trimm, Courtney Roeber, Jennica Kelm) 1:42.66*; 5. Fairview 1:44.51*.
100 backstroke — 1. Shelly Drozda, Mountain Range, 56.02*; 2. Sidney Trimm, Monarch, 58.53*; 3. Elise Forzley, Fort Collins, 58.95*; 6. Elysia Hartojo, Legacy, 1:00.63*; 7. Jenna Hattendorf, Fairview, 1:03.43*; 8. Taite Henderson, Monarch, 1:03.92*.
100 breaststroke — 1. Bailey Kovac, Fossil Ridge, 1:05.02*; 2. Tessa Thull, Fort Collins, 1:06.90*; 3. Kelly Hatanka, Loveland, 1:07.45*; 7. Hannah Keay, Fairview, 1:12.39*; 8. Hannah Freeman, Fairview, 1:12.77*.
400 free relay — 1. Fossil Ridge 3:37.33*; 2. Mountain Range 3:39.47*; 3. Fort Collins 3:44.83*; 5. Fairview 3:52.60*; 6. Monarch 3:53.53*; 7. Legacy 3:53.89*; 8. Boulder 3:57.43*.
* — denotes state-qualifying mark
