CHSAANow

Category: Boys Swimming

  • All-state swimmer Jack Thorne comes out as gay

    Jack Thorne just finished his junior year at Berthoud. He is an all-state swimmer who competes for nearby Thompson Valley (Berthoud doesn’t field a team). Monday, Thorne came out as gay on Twitter, Facebook and OutSports.com.

    He is believed to be the first openly gay high school athlete in Colorado.

    Thorne won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke championships at May’s Class 4A state meet. His time of 48.824 in the 100 back set the meet record. Thorne was also part of Thompson Valley’s 400 freestyle relay team which placed third, and in June was named to CHSAANow.com’s 4A all-state team.

    In a letter Monday, Thorne wrote that he wants “to be the person that 14 year old me didn’t have, I want to help that 14 year old realize it’s going to get better. If I can do that, or if I can change somebody’s mind about the LGBT community then this will have been worth it.”

    Last year, CHSAA became the first state high school association to team up with the You Can Play! project, which takes a stand against homophobia in sports.

    The association launched You Can Play, Colorado! which included a state-wide video contest. The winning submissions were shown at the state basketball championships. That initiative was part of CHSAA’s We Are CHSAA positive leadership campaign.

    “One piece of our positive leadership campaign was that kids that are struggling with coming out shouldn’t feel isolated nor an inability to express themselves,” CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico said on Tuesday. “We hope that in some way it was helpful.”

    Thorne’s full letter is being republished from his Twitter post on Monday afternoon:

    I’ve spent months trying to figure out how to do this, when to do this and I’ve realized there’s never going to be a perfect time to say what I want to say. But there’s no time like the present. I’m gay. Some of you already know, and for some of you this may come as a surprise. Nothing has changed, I’m still the same Jack, the same Jack you race, the same Jack who you carpool with, the same Jack screaming for you on the side of the pool. This doesn’t define me, I’m not gay Jack, I’m just Jack. Being gay happens to be one of the many things that make me who I am, it’s not what defines me and I won’t let it define me.

    I’m not doing this for attention, I’m doing this because I want to be able to be myself and I want to be able to help somebody. I want to be the person that 14 year old me didn’t have, I want to help that 14 year old realize that it’s going to get better. If I can do that, or if I can change somebody’s mind about the LGBT community then this will have been worth it.

    I’ve had some people try to discourage me from doing this the way I am. If my close friends and family know, why should I tell the world about it? Unfortunately we live in a world where people are treated differently because they love someone of the same sex, one where kids are bullied and picked on because of this, one where people would rather end their own lives than face this discrimination and hostility. I wish we lived in a world where people didn’t have to pretend to be something they’re not and where people didn’t have to come out at all, but unfortunately we do. My sexual orientation is no more significant than my hair color, it’s part of me, but it isn’t something that defines who I am.

    I want to thank my friends and family who have supported me. You are amazing. The world is changing for the better and I hope I can be part of that change and help break down those stereotypes and misconceptions people have about the LGBT community.

    The last portion is for those of you who are struggling. The way you’re feeling right now, it isn’t always going to be like this. A year ago I was just like you, alone, sad, scared, I was pushing my friends away and I hated this part of me. Now I’ve come full circle and I’m actually proud of who I am. I’ve had help and support from some amazing people all the way through this process. Now that I’m here, I want to be able to help someone like those people helped me. You don’t have to deal with this alone. If you need advice, or just someone to talk to I’m here.

    On that note, I have some very important things to do such as swim, eat and sleep, so I will end this with a thank you to those of you who have taken the time to read this letter.

  • All-state boys swimming & diving teams for 2014 season

    The 2014 all-state boys swimming and diving teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

    These teams were created based upon results at the state meet.

    Scroll down to see the teams, or use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.

    Go to: 5A | 4A


    [divider]

    Class 5A

    First Team
    Name Year School Event(s)
    JP Beach Senior Douglas County 50 free
    Mitchell Bruckman Senior Regis Jesuit Relays
    Kyle Colley Junior Cherry Creek Relays
    Christopher Dawson Senior Regis Jesuit Relays
    Eric Fuqua Junior Cherry Creek Relays
    Hunter Fuqua Freshman Cherry Creek Relays
    Kyle Goodwin Junior Regis Jesuit Diving
    Maxwell Holter Senior Fort Collins 100 butterfly
    Miles MacKenzie Senior Fairview 100 free
    Jake Markham Senior Cherry Creek Relays
    Christopher Morales Junior Regis Jesuit Relays
    Nathan Mueller Senior Highlands Ranch 200 free, 500 free
    Austin Phillips Senior Regis Jesuit Relays
    William Pieseski Junior Regis Jesuit Relays
    Hennessey Stuart Senior Regis Jesuit Relays, 200 IM, 100 back
    Quinlan Stuart Junior Regis Jesuit Relays, 100 breast


    [divider]

    Class 4A

    First Team
    Name Year School Event(s)
    Tommy Baker Sophomore Air Academy Relays
    Forrest Beesley Senior Estes Park 50 free, 100 free
    Jack Dangremond Junior Air Academy Relays
    Hunter Doerr Junior Air Academy Relays
    Daniel Graber Junior D’Evelyn Relays, 200 IM, 100 breast
    Caleb Hicks Sophomore Air Academy Relays
    David Hoffer Senior Mullen Diving
    Tyler Lis Junior Silver Creek 200 free
    Michael Loyd Junior Air Academy Relays
    Brennan Mays Senior Air Academy 500 free
    Alexander Moreland Junior D’Evelyn Relays
    Kevin Olson Senior D’Evelyn Relays
    Jake Sbarbaro Senior D’Evelyn Relays
    Jack Thorne Junior Thompson Valley 100 butterfly, 100 back

  • Regis Jesuit wins fourth-straight 5A boys swim title, 20th overall

    (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)
    Regis Jesuit swimmers celebrate their 5A title. (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)

    THORNTON — The dominance of the Regis Jesuit High School boys swim and dive team continues.

    The Raiders won their 20th state championship, capturing the Class 5A state title in convincing fashion Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center.

    Regis scored 410 points, easily defeating runner-up Cherry Creek which had a 190-point total.

    “This is just awesome,” said Regis senior Hennessey Stuart, who was named Colorado High School Activities Association Swimmer of the Year. “It is great to continue this legacy.”

    All of Regis’ state crowns have come since 1992 and the last four have been in a row.

    Hennessey led the charge for the Raiders winning the 200-yard individual medley, and the 100 backstroke — setting an all-classification record in Friday’s prelims at 46.91 seconds.

    Stuart capped his career in grand fashion swimming the first leg on the Raiders’ victorious 400 freestyle relay team which set a Colorado state record at 3:00.84. Mitchell Bruckman, Christopher Dawson and Austin Phillips also were on the relay.

    Regis Jesuit's 400 free relay set a new state record. (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)
    Regis Jesuit’s 400 free relay set a new state record. (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)

    “I would not have wanted to break that (400 freestyle relay) record with anybody else,” said the 6-foot-1, 160-pound Stuart, who is going to swim at North Carolina State University. “We are all seniors and all captains.”

    Hennessey’s younger brother, Quinlan Stuart also joined the victory parade by winning his first individual state title in the 100 breaststroke.

    “Winning a state title like my brother is an honor,” said Quinlan, a junior. “I’m really happy and I just can’t explain what I’m feeling. This is a blessing and an honor to be a part of a program like this. We work our butts off all season to come here (state) and perform our best, and that’s what we did.”

    Regis junior Kyle Goodwin once again finished atop the podium in diving, claiming his third consecutive state championship.

    “This feels good and it just feels more rewarding each time,” said Goodwin, who won with a score of 394.25.

    The Raiders 200 medley relay of the Stuart brothers, Chris Morales and Will Pieseki, also won state as well.

    The swimmer who stole the spotlight from Team Regis — as least for a few moments — was Highlands Ranch’s Nathan Mueller.

    The senior won his first two career state titles with wins in the 200 and 500 freestyles.

    “This will probably sink in (Sunday),” said Mueller, who is signed to swim at the University of Wisconsin.  “This was one of my goals before I went off to college, so it’s cool to get that crossed off my list.”

    Douglas County’s JP Beach (50 freestyle), Fort Collins’ Maxwell Holter (100 butterfly), Fairview’s Miles McKenzie (100 freestyle) and Cherry Creek’s 200 freestyle relay were the other state winners. MacKenzie won his event for the second year in a row.

    “I was terrified of these guys,” MacKenzie, a senior, said. “I knew if I was going to win I needed to do something spectacular and I just put my head down. I was relaxed and I just swam my race.”

    (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)
    (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)

  • Air Academy wins third-straight 4A boys swimming championship

    (Courtesy of Diane Shuck)
    (Courtesy of Diane Shuck)

    FORT COLLINS — You’d never know that Air Academy boys swimming coach Scott Newell is a quiet and mild-mannered guy by watching him on the deck leading his team.

    The Kadets boss knew that his squad had its naysayers, those people that wondered what his team would do without Devon Davis. The same Devon Davis, now at swimming at the Air Force Academy, that was instrumental in helping the Kadets win back-to-back titles.

    “Like we said in our pre-meet meeting, we worked a year for this and we had this plan in our head for a while,” Newell said. “They knew about the relays and they knew about what was possible.

    “They blew the doors off of possible!”

    The Kadets were impressive in winning their third straight Class 4A state swimming and diving title on Saturday at Edora Pool Ice Center, scoring 280 points compared to runner-up Thompson Valley’s 244.

    (Courtesy of Diane Shuck)
    (Courtesy of Diane Shuck)

    Air Academy put an exclamation point on not only the meet but their season as a whole in the final race of the night, the 400-yard free relay. The all underclassman quartet of Hunter Doerr, Tommy Baker, Caleb Hicks and Jack Dangremond went 3:06.84 to best Lewis-Palmer’s four year old record in the event of 3:08.86.

    “I wish we could have started with it, but it is also nice to end with it” a soaking wet Newell said after his team celebratory plunge into the diving well. “I don’t want to make too big of comparisons, but Devon made it possible and that mentality of possible turned into inevitable and inevitable turned into destiny. These guys really laid it down and they knew, even without Devon, we can do something bigger.”

    In capturing the title, the Kadets also received gold medal swims from Brennan Mays in the 500 freestyle and from Doerr, Michael Loyd, Baker in Dangremond in the 200 free relay. Mays, a senior, swam a 4:35.07 and held of Thompson Valley freshman Liam Gately (4:36.70) for the victory.

    Estes Park’s Forrest Beesley didn’t have the best preliminary heat on Friday, slipping twice on his starts. But the defending champion in both the 50 and 100 free erased those memories and returned to the top of the podium twice more.

    Swimming in Lane 8 in the 50, the UNLV-bound Beesley, had a nearly flawless race, winning in 21.14 second and touching Doerr (21.23) and Discovery Canyon’s Blake Lawrie (21.41) at the wall.

    “I totally slipped on both of my starts yesterday, which was unfortunate, and it kind of made me a little nervous for today, but then you realize that it is your last meet ever as a high schooler,” Beesley said. “For me the 50, it’s never a perfect race, there is always that I think I could have done better. In this 50, I was thinking about my start a little too much, and I was a little hesitant, but I felt super good going into the wall and my transition was much better than yesterday and my rotation felt great.”

    In the 100, Beesley (46.00), this time from Lane 6, got the better of Montrose’s Lars Knutson (46.79) and Dangremond (46.80).

    Beesley wasn’t the only two-time individuals champ on Saturday. In fact, D’Evelyn junior Daniel Graber was on top of the podium three times. Not only did he team with Kevin Olson, Jake Sbarbaro and Alexander Moreland to capture the opening 200 medley relay, but he also captured the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke.

    (Courtesy of Diane Shuck)
    (Courtesy of Diane Shuck)

    The most eye raising effort of the night went to Thompson Valley junior John Thorne. The defending champion and 4A state record holder in the backstroke, Thorne didn’t disappoint in his encore, going 48.82 to win by nearly four seconds over Broomfield’s Blake Logan (52.49). A powerful underwater swimmer, Thorne also was victorious in the 100 butterfly.

    Silver Creek’ Tyler Lis won the 200 free, one year after winning the 200 IM.

    In diving, Mullen senior David Hoffer finally got his chance to stand on top of the awards podium. After distancing himself from the field during the morning preliminary round, including fellow nationally ranked freshman Vitalii Shestakov of Pueblo East, Hoffer’s only goal on in his final three dives was to try and track down the state record set by Conifer’s Ben Grado in 2006 of 559.60 points.

    His second last dive, a reverse 1 1/2, 1 1/2, scored big points and left him withing reach of Grado’s mark. He came close, finishing with a score of 556.10. Shestakov was second with 477.05.

    “I was hoping to get (the record) and it didn’t quite happen, but I can’t complain,” said Hoffer, who will compete for Arizona State next season. “I’ve been working for that for the full four years I have been here and God finally allowed me to get it this year.”

  • Day 1 results from 4A, 5A boys swim meets

    FORT COLLINS and THORNTON — Complete results from the first day of the Class 4A boys swimming and diving state meet at EPIC, as well as the Class 5A meet at VMAC.

    Go to: 4A | 5A

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    Download: PDF
    https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/4a-boys-swimming-and-diving-2014-day-1-results.pdf

    [divider]

    Class 5A

    Download PDF
    https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/5a-boys-swimming-and-diving-2014-day-1-results.pdf

  • Boys swim state roundup: Highlands Ranch’s Mueller aiming for title

    (Kenzie Hewson/CHSAANow.com)
    (Kenzie Hewson/CHSAANow.com)

    THORNTON — For the last four years, the talented Nathan Mueller has been chasing a coveted state swimming championship.

    The Highlands Ranch standout took two more steps toward reaching that goal when he finished first in the prelims of the 200-yard freestyle (1:39.22) and 500 freestyle (4:26.95) Friday in the Class 5A Swim and Dive State Championships at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center.

    “That was one of my faster times for altitude (in the 200), and I was pleased with my 500 time,” the 6-foot-4, 180-pound Mueller said.

    Diving prelims begin at 9 a.m. Saturday and the finals in all events start at 2 p.m.

    (Harry Waterman/CHSAANow.com)
    (Harry Waterman/CHSAANow.com)

    Mueller, who also swam legs on the 200 medley and 400 freestyle, concluded his individual effort Friday in the 500-yard freestyle — an event he placed second at state in the last two years.

    Standouts Clark Smith of Regis Jesuit, who set the all-school state record in the 200-yard freestyle a year ago when he won state, and Ponderosa’s Carter Griffin, the second-place finisher, have graduated.

    That opens the door for Mueller who was third in the 200 the last two seasons. Mueller has signed to swim at the University of Wisconsin.

    “It’s not urgency,” Mueller said about capturing the elusive individual state crown. “I’m just ready and racing is just so much fun. I’m just excited to race (Saturday) and I think I can win both (the 200 and 500).”

    When Mueller isn’t in the pool, he spends time doing graphic design projects and sleeping. Those ventures, however, haven’t kept him from being wide awake in the classroom.

    “I’m planning on majoring in biomedical engineering with a pre-med kind of focus,” said Mueller, who has a 3.8 GPA. “I know I want to do something with medicine and biomedical engineering is really cool and it sound really hands-on.”

    Team-wise, Regis Jesuit, which has won 12 out of the last 13 state boys swimming titles, is aiming for another one Saturday.

    Individually, Regis’ Stuart Hennessey (200-yard IM, 100 backstroke) doubled up as a No. 1 qualifier for Saturday’s championship finals as did Douglas County’s JP Beach (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle).

    Fort Collins’ Maxwell Holter (100 butterfly), and Regis’ Quinlan Stuart (100 breaststroke) also paced their events heading into the finals.

    In the relays, Regis qualified No. 1 for the finals in the 200-yard medley, and the 400 freestyle relay and Fairview is tops in the 200 yard freestyle.

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)
    (Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)

    The prelims for the Class 4A state meet took place Friday in Fort Collins.

    The individual swims were highlighted by Thompson Valley’s Liam Gately (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), D’Evelyn’s Daniel Graber (200 IM, 100 breaststroke), and Air Academy’s Hunter Doerr (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle), who each qualified No. 1 in a pair of events for Saturday’s championship finals.

    Thompson Valley’s John Thorne (100 backstroke) and Discovery Canyon’s David Keller (100 butterfly) also each won their prelim heats.

    In the relays, D’Evelyn (200 medley relay), Air Academy (200 freestyle relay) and Discovery Canyon (400 freestyle relay) were prelim winners.

    Air Academy is the defending state champion.

  • Final results from the 4A, 5A boys swim meets

    FORT COLLINS and THORNTON — Complete results from the final day of the Class 4A boys swimming and diving state meet at EPIC, as well as the Class 5A meet at VMAC.

    Go to: 4A | 5A

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    Download PDF
    https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/4a-boys-swimming-and-diving-2014-day-2-results.pdf

    [divider]

    Class 5A

    Download PDF
    https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/5a-boys-swimming-and-diving-2014-day-2-results.pdf

  • 4A, 5A boys swimming state meet psych sheets

    This season’s boys swimming state meets are May 16-17. Find psych sheets for both the Class 5A and 4A meet below.

    Go to: 5A | 4A


    [divider]

    Class 5A

    Download: PDF
    https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/5a-state-swim-dive-psych-sheet-2014.pdf


    [divider]

    Class 4A

    Download: PDF
    https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/4a-state-swim-dive-psych-sheet-2014.pdf

  • Photos: Arapahoe wins boys swimming’s Jeffco Invite

    ARVADA — Arapahoe amassed 430 total points in winning boys swimming’s Jeffco Invite on Saturday. D’Evelyn (251 points) was second, and Ralston Valley (174) was third.

  • CHSAA begins 93rd year of spring sports

    Track boys pole vault
    (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

    AURORA — The 93rd year of Colorado High School Activities Association practice for spring sports begins just as the basketball playoffs are gearing up and ice hockey moves into Frozen Four action. Official practice starts Monday, February 24 for baseball, girls’ golf, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, girls’ soccer, boys’ swimming and diving, girls’ tennis and boys’ and girls’ track and field.

    Teams may begin interscholastic scrimmages on March 1 (February 27 for golf and tennis), while the first contests may begin on Thursday, March 6. Tennis and golf may begin contests on Thursday, February 27.

    In May, 1921, a group of superintendents and principals met in Boulder and organized the Colorado High School Athletic Conference. The purpose of this organization was to better regulate and develop the interscholastic school athletic program.

    There were nine leagues by the time the first constitution was published, including the Northern, North Central, Western Slope, Suburban, Southeastern, Arkansas Valley, South Central and San Juan Basin leagues.

    The first champions crowned that school year were Colorado Springs in football, Greeley in basketball, and Fort Collins in track and field.

    In 1924, the Colorado High School Athletic Conference joined the National Federation of State High School Associations and has remained an active member of that organization ever since.

    Loveland’s R.W. Truscott was the Association’s first president and Eaton’s J.C. Casey its first secretary (commissioner). Truscott replaced Casey as secretary in December, 1926 and held that post until July, 1948 when Glenn T. Wilson became commissioner. Ray C. Ball took over the commissioner’s post in 1966 and remained in the office until August, 1986 when Ray Plutko assumed the duties. Bob Ottewill became the Association’s sixth commissioner in July, 1990, followed by Bill Reader who served as Commissioner from 2002 until 2010. Angelico assumed the reins on July 1, 2010.

    The CHSAA has had 58 presidents dating back to 1921. Its current president, Centauri High School Principal Curt Wilson, is in the first year of a two-year term as president.