Could this be Fairview’s year?
And, in 4A, while the Niwot girls swim team may not boast quite the firepower to unseat the top team state-title contenders, it still could shape up as a banner finish for the Cougars.
Those are just two of the top area storylines to watch at this weekend’s girls swimming state finals. The Class 5A championships will be held for the first time at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center while the 4A finals will move to the Edora Pool and Ice Center in Fort Collins, which for years has been the primary host site for the 5A finals.
The addition of freshman Brittney Beetcher gives the Fairview Knights the sort of top-end firepower the club has lacked the past two seasons, even though Fairview managed to finish sixth in 2012 and third last year. However, Fairview’s top individual swimmer each of those seasons arguably was Abbie Houck, who missed the 2012 finals due to a scheduling conflict and was limited last year by a shoulder injury.
Beetcher enters Friday’s preliminary heats with the second-fastest seed time in the 200 freestyle (1 minute, 51.45 seconds) and the top mark in the 500 freestyle (4:54.98). Combined with veteran state performers Jessie Li, Julia Box and, among others, Sidney Andrew, Fairview expects to be in the thick of the race for the team title.
While the Hannah Driscoll-led Cougars of Niwot are aiming for a top-five finish of their own, other locals are expecting big performances at the 4A finals, too. Silver Creek senior Kylie Rembert owns the No. 3 seed time in the 200 freestyle (1:56.79) and the No. 7 time in the 500 free (5:25.82), an event that also features Skyline junior Mackenzie Dwyer as the No. 5 seed (5:23.91). Dwyer is seeded seventh in the individual medley as well (2:13.34).
Driscoll will be taking aim at state titles in the 50 freestyle and the breaststroke after turning in the No. 2 seed times in both events.
WRESTLING REGIONALS
The fields for the state wrestling tournaments will be determined this weekend as regional tournaments unfold Friday and Saturday. Here is a glance at where local squads will be competing.
5A Region 3 (at Fort Collins High School) — Boulder, Centaurus, Fairview, Monarch, Legacy.
4A Region 1 (at Broomfield High School) — Broomfield, Mead, Niwot.
4A Region 3 (at Greeley Central High School) — Frederick, Longmont, Silver Creek, Skyline.
4A Region 4 (at Montrose High School) — Erie.
3A Region 2 (at Eaton High School) — Holy Family.
2A Region 3 (at Northeastern J.C.) — Lyons.
The three-day state tournament begins Thursday Feb. 20 at the Pepsi Center.
TIME CHANGE
Longmont Christian has moved up the start times for its basketball doubleheader at home Friday against Dayspring Christian. The girls varsity game will begin at 5:15 p.m., followed by the boys game at approximately 6:30 p.m.
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