It wasn’t that Sidney Trimm expected an atrocious freshman season from herself. It’s just that she didn’t expect this.
Her hopes were to establish herself with her teammates as a swimmer to watch. Instead, she emerged into the swimmer to watch for the Coyotes. She qualified for state in a team-best five events.
Individual swimmers can compete in only two events at state (in addition to two relays), so Trimm will be representing the Coyotes in her marquee events Friday and Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center, the 50 and 100 freestyle races.
“I came into this year just wanting to represent my team and show I could do the best for them,” Trimm said. “I never expected my times to drop as dramatically as they did. It’s been so surprising to me.”
Trimm has been overwhelmed by the support of her teammates and most enjoys helping her team climb in the standings. She also qualified for state in the 200 freestyle, the backstroke and the breaststroke.
Her proficiency in the 50 free (a top time of 24.34 seconds) and the 100 free (52.61) have led to high finishes at key events such as the Coaches Invitational and BoCo Invite and provide her a chance to reach the podium Saturday.
Trimm enters the finals with the fourth-best seed time in the 50 and the second-fastest mark in the 100.
“I just want to come in and do the best that I can, and where I come out is where I come out,” she said. “It’d be nice to A-final in each, but whatever happens, I want to make sure my team’s proud of me.”
That part has already been accomplished.
Monarch coach Ted Romero knew he had something of a prodigy on his hands. Recent Coyotes swimmers Anna Labozan and Amanda Sanders have moved on to the University of Denver, and Trimm appears to be cut from the same mold.
“She’s consistently improving throughout the year, which is a good thing to see,” Romero said. “We knew she was going to do pretty well coming up from club season, but watching her performance at Coaches and then to BoCo, dropping time at each one, is a good sign for state.”
Trimm swims for the Front Range Barracudas on the club scene and nearly became a Broomfield Eagles swimmer in high school. She lives in close proximity to Broomfield High, but chose Monarch for academic purposes.
“It wasn’t about the swim teams, because I know each program was really well off,” Trimm said. “I looked at academics and where I want to be for college, and Monarch definitely was the perfect fit.”
It won’t only be Trimm at state for Monarch. Seven others advanced, including cross country standout Claire Green. The senior, who recently committed to Arizona for distance running, was one of four Coyotes to qualify in the 50 freestyle. She joined Trimm, Jennica Kelm, and Courtney Roeber (who also qualified in the 100 breaststroke).
In addition for the Coyotes, Claudia Flores will compete in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, Brie Yost in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle and Taite Henderson in the backstroke.
The Coyotes also will send diver extra extraordinaire Savannah Magness, who has had a strong season despite losing the push of Coyotes teammate Grace Newell early because of season-ending shoulder surgery.
Monarch also qualified all three relay teams, which will be composed of some combination of the qualifying swimmers. Trimm likely will swim in the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.
“She’s not one who thrives off attention, but she likes to perform at big meets and do well for the team,” Romero said. “And the good thing is she’s got room to improve.”
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