Cherry Creek boys swimming is off to a good start to the season after getting a dual meet win over Mullen on Saturday.

Fossil Ridge and Monarch boys swimming jumped into the pool and faced off in an early season dual meet on Wednesday.

It didn’t looked like a normal National Letter of Intent Signing Day on Wednesday.

Conifer’s Zack Gacnik
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

The current COVID-19 pandemic didn’t allow for the normal signing celebrations across Jeffco during the first of four signing days coming up for the Class of 2021. However, a number of Jeffco Public Schools student-athletes signed on Nov. 11 to continue their college careers.

Ralston Valley had nine girls sign, highlighted by last year’s Class 5A girls diving state champion Isabel Gregersen. She will dive for Florida State University. Sydney Bevington is taking her basketball talent to Santa Clara University and Jordan West is staying close to home to play softball at Colorado State University.

Columbine’s Korbe Otis
(photo provided)

Columbine’s Korbe Otis, who helped the Rebels to their first state softball title in 2019, officially signed with the University of Louisville.

The University of Colorado added Conifer’s Zack Gacnik to its roster. Gacnik placed third at the 4A boys cross country state championship last month in Colorado Springs.

The next National Letter of Intent Signing Day is Dec. 16 and includes the early football signing period.

Green Mountain High School
Connor Brauch, diving, University of Cincinnati
Isaias Estrada, wrestling, University of North Carolina
KC Ossello, lacrosse, Missouri Western State University

Ralston Valley High School
Makena Geist, softball, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Jaiden Geist, softball, Metro State University
Madison Hauffman, lacrosse, Notre Dame College (Ohio)
Jordan West, softball, Colorado State University
Brooklyn Seymour, basketball, Western Colorado University
Isabel Gregersen, diving, Florida State University
Megan Jackson, lacrosse, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Sydney Bevington, basketball, Santa Clara University
Sydney Metzler, swimming, University of Wyoming

Golden High School
Ben Kirschner, lacrosse, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Marla Goodspeed, softball, Oregon Tech
Sydney Benson, volleyball, Mercer
Maci Jones, soccer, Bentley University
Hank Ohlen, lacrosse, Belmont Abbey
Jadyn Goodrich, soccer, University of Denver

Conifer High School
Zack Gacnik, cross country, University of Colorado
Addie Hollander, lacrosse, Franklin & Marshall

Columbine High School
Korbe Otis, softball, University of Louisville

Evergreen High School
Margo Miller, lacrosse, Cornell University
Lauren Spence, lacrosse, Loyola University-Maryland
Madeline Mancini, lacrosse, Notre Dame College
Jared Stiller, lacrosse, Williams College
Thomas Schreffler, baseball, Mesa Community College (AZ)
George Hogan, baseball, Dordt University

Lakewood High School
Lila Maddux, swimming, Niagara University (NY)

Chatfield High School
Izzy DiNapoli, softball, University of Northern Colorado

Wheat Ridge High School
Wes Miller, baseball, Regis University

Arvada West High School
Alexis Kilgroe, water polo, Salem International University

The CHSAA Legislative Council met virtually for the first time in its 99-year history on Friday.

They voted on more than 50 items, and made a number of changes to the Association’s bylaws, which impacted things from alignment to the transfer rule. We have rounded up most of those changes here.

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Two classes of hockey

(PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

Hockey will split into two classifications, beginning with the 2020-21 season.

The two-class split, which was recommended by the hockey committee during its meeting in February, places 20 teams into Class 5A, and 17 in 4A. The committee used a variety of factors to place teams from bylaw 1500.21, including enrollment, geography, competitive history, competitive balance, participation rate, and the entry or selection process that places an athlete at a program.

The committee recognized the need for two classes because there isn’t much, if any, parity in the sport. Over the past four years, only 14 different schools have advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tournament. Hockey currently has 37 teams.

The alignments for the sport can be found in this story from February.

Hockey will use the CHSAA Seeding Index to seed its two state tournaments: RPI, MaxPreps, and the CHSAANow coaches poll.

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New seeding criteria for 5A basketball

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

An amendment during the meeting changed the seeding criteria that 4A and 5A basketball will use for their state tournaments: The two classes will now use a combination of the RPI standings, MaxPreps rankings and the CHSAANow coaches pool — bringing them in line with what a number of other sports are now using.

1A will also use the same criteria, but will also use the Packard Ratings.

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2A baseball changes postseason

(Lisa Hayes/StillOfTheMomentPhotography.com)

The 2A baseball postseason will now mirror what is done in 3A, 4A and 5A, with a 32-team regional bracket. All teams will qualify for the bracket via the RPI standings, and seeded by RPI. The top eight seeds will host regionals, and seeds Nos. 20-32 can be moved for geographic reasons.

The state tournament also got an overhaul, and will move to an eight-team single-elimination bracket. Previously, 2A had a 16-team bracket.

With this change, 2A schools can now schedule 23 games.

Baseball also created a game minimum to be able to qualify for the postseason: 12 games in 1A, 17 in 2A and 3A, 19 in 4A and 5A.

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New field hockey tournament

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

In an effort to help the growth of the sport, the state field hockey tournament will expand from eight teams to 12.

The top six seeds will receive a bye while the next six will compete in a play-in bracket.

In one of those brackets, No. 9 and No. 12 will play, with the winner playing No. 8. The winner of that game will face No. 1.

In the other bracket, No. 10 and No. 11 will play, with the winner facing No. 7. The winner of that game will face the No. 2 overall seed.

During that same round, the No. 4 and No. 5 seed will play, with No. 3 and No. 6 also playing.

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The transfer rule

A number of proposals involved the transfer rule. Among the changes which passed:

• An adjustment to clarify that a student doesn’t have to transfer from a member school, in or out of state, in order for the rule to apply.
• A proposal better explained the transfer consequence for transferring to another school, and a return to the original school — also known as an A-B-A transfer. Specifically, a student who transfers from School A, transfers to School B and plays at School B, and the returns to School A, will only be eligible for sub-varsity competition at School A in the sports they participated in at School B for 365 days.
• A new bylaw passed allowing for students to participate with “restricted varsity eligibility during the regular season” if their high school does not offer a JV team, or if their school doesn’t allow seniors to play on sub-varsity teams.
• The definition of a hardship was rewritten to read: “‘Hardship’ means a situation, condition or event which must impost a severe non-athletic burden upon the student or his/her family and require a transfer of schools. This does not include the personal or initial choice of enrollment and/or participation.”

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Notables:

• The alignments for sports were finalized with the approval of each sports report. Those new alignments will be posted in the near future.
• The season of sport was changed in boys swimming, allowing for those championships to be moved up a week and have their own spotlight.
• 6-man and 8-man football will use the same four data points of seeding that was used in 1A-5A this season.
• In 5A football, all playoff games will be hosted by the higher seed.
• 1A girls volleyball will move from districts to regionals. The sport will also require that all teams play a minimum of 18 matches against member schools and varsity opponents in order to qualify for the postseason.
• Boys volleyball will have one classification during its inaugural season in spring 2021.
• Girls wrestling will use the same weight classes that were used in the pilot season.
• The 4A and 5A boys lacrosse state tournaments will each grow from 16 to 24 teams starting in spring 2021.
• The new format that will be used for a two-classification setup in girls lacrosse was approved. Find the structure for that format here.
• 2A soccer will increase its state tournament field from 12 teams to 16.
• The regional field in 3A softball will grow to 32 teams, bringing it in line with 4A and 5A.
• The requirements for qualifying for the state skiing championships were made more strict, to make the state field slightly smaller.
• The state spirit championships will move to a three-day format beginning this year. Schools will only be able to participate in one cheer category and one dance category at the state championships. Cheer and dance are now considered separate sports.
• Schools will be eligible to join CHSAA as activity-only schools, and not offer sports.
• The process for classifying programs was clarified with an amendment to bylaw 1510, which deals with the Classification, Appeals and League Organizing Committee (CLOC). Now, the CHSAA staff can offer adjustments “in extraordinary circumstances” that are based upon bylaw 1500.21 (the bylaw allowing for classification based upon factors other than enrollment) in even years. These adjustments will need to be voted on by CLOC. Typically in even years, the classifications are already set and ready to go for the following cycle, so there would be very few adjustments, if any.
• The amateur status bylaw was reworked, and now reads that student-athletes “must maintain his/her amateur status” and notes that they “may not sign a professional athletic contract.” A new note defines a professional as “being paid in any form for playing in an athletic contest, or if you sign a contract or verbally commit with an agent or professional sports organization.” Notably, student-athletes will be allowed to play with or against professionals in certain situations, such as in the Olympics or a World Cup.
• The coach ejection bylaw was updated to give it a more consistent level of suspension across all sports. Now, the first ejection is penalized by a suspension equal to 10% of that sports season, and a second ejection is 20%.
• All-Star games were added to bylaw 2300, allowing for “up to two All-Star Games after the completion of the state championship in that sport.” No all-star games are permitted in football.
• Middle schoolers from “feeder” schools will be permitted to practice with high school teams in volleyball, basketball, soccer and football “when they cannot field enough high school athletes to hold an intra-squad practice in game-type conditions.” There are a number of limitations guiding this new bylaw.
• The number of practices required for students to participate in prior to competition in contact sports was reduced from five to three in all sports but football, which will still require nine.
• Schools can now form a team with only one participant, if they choose to.
• Adding a new sport or activity will now require approval from the Budget Committee in addition to CLOC, Sports Medicine, Equity and the Board of Directors.
• The full membership of the following schools is now official: DSST – Byers, KIPP Northeast, Loveland Classical, Strive Prep – Rise, Strive Prep – Smart, and Thomas MacLaren. KIPP Northeast and Strive Prep – Rise play together are a co-op: Regis Groff.
• Officials’ fees increased with a 2% cost of living adjustment across the board, for all levels.
• The alignment of State Festival and State Tournament will now be permanent in speech.
• Student Leadership’s fall conference will move to a regional model beginning this year.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

INDIANAPOLIS — Providing more clarity on a proper race finish and official timing procedures are among the noteworthy high school swimming and diving rules changes for the 2020-21 school year.

These topics were among those discussed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Swimming and Diving Rules Committee at its annual meeting March 22-23, where a total of six rules changes were recommended for approval. The rules meeting was held in an online format to comply with current health safety guidelines. All recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Rule 1-1-1 was edited to profile the end wall in more detail. Previously described as “the walls perpendicular to the race course,” the new definition broadens the term to include “the vertical portion of the pool, contiguous surface of the deck and overflow gutter, the front of the starting block or platform, or the touchpad at the end of the course.”

“This additional language provides clarity on what constitutes the end wall,” said Sandy Searcy, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Swimming and Diving Rules Committee. “The 2019-20 rules book changed the definition of the finish of the race by permitting the swimmer to finish at the end wall, not the touchpad. That change necessitated a more concise definition of the end wall.”

The end wall was also referenced in the change to Rule 6-3-2, which specified acceptable methods for measuring “official” times. When a legal touch is made with the end wall to signify a legal finish, buttons and/or stopwatches, which are commonly used for backup timing, are now explicitly listed as alternatives to touchpads.

Clarity to the usage of backup timing devices was also addressed in a change to Rule 6-3-4. Whereas official times could previously only be taken from backup mechanisms in the event of a malfunction to the automatic timing equipment, the rule’s new language was written to incorporate all other instances where an official time is not properly recorded.

“This rule change more accurately describes the protocol for determining an official time when the competitor contacts the end wall and not the touchpad,” Searcy said. “Backup buttons or stopwatches may need to be used in situations where the swimmer does not activate the touchpad or the touchpad malfunctions. This phrase clarifies conditions when the swimmer does not touch the touchpad initially.”

New articles were added to Rules 1-4-5 and 1-4-6 to differentiate the terms diving “round” from diving “session” and bring consistency to those definitions. Used frequently throughout Rule 9 of the rules book, a diving session refers to one of the various levels – preliminary, semifinal and final – within an 11-dive competition, while a diving round is the completion of one dive by each participant. Additionally, divers are now permitted to practice in between diving sessions at the discretion of meet management.

Alterations were made to the uniform code under Rules 3-3-3 and 3-3-4c regarding accepted and prohibited manufacturers’ logos. In addition to the mark signifying approval from the international governing body for aquatic sports, FINA, the USA Swimming checkmark logo is now considered an acceptable suit marking.

“This rule is a clarification of what the swimming community may see on suits this fall as a result of a rule change made by USA Swimming,” Searcy said. “A small checkmark will be positioned next to the FINA marking on some suits and is not considered as an additional manufacturer’s logo or advertising.”

Finally, headings were added to Rules 9-3-3 and 9-3-5 to help explain the two-step process for entering divers at championship meets. The process includes entering the divers and swimmers’ first and last names, events and school affiliations onto an official team entry document, and then submitting the document at the time and place specified by the meet manager. Subsequently, divers will submit a scoresheet/dive list to complete the process of their entry into the diving event.

According to the 2018-19 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, swimming and diving is the 10^th-most popular sport for boys with 136,638 participants in 7,704 schools, and the eighth-most popular sport for girls with 173,088 participants in 8,007 schools.

(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

The 2019 all-state boys swimming teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

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

Swimmers, divers and coaches of the year were voted upon by coaches at the state meet.

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Class 5A

Swimmer of the year: Gavin Olson, Columbine

Diver of the year: Luke VanVleet, Heritage

Swim coach of the year: Chris Loftis, Cherry Creek

Dive coach of the year: Jake Carloni, Regis Jesuit

Class 4A

Swimmer of the year: Ryan Peterson, Wheat Ridge

Diver of the year: Ryan Leach, Cheyenne Mountain

Swim coach of the year: Susan Stone, Mullen

Dive coach of the year: Mary Rose, Donahue Cheyenne Mountain

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

THORNTON — It wouldn’t be uncommon to hear high school coaches say that they’re players are going to give them a heart attack. For Greeley West boys swimming coach Colin Shaha, there’s nothing to laugh about when thinking about that scenario.

Shaha watched anxiously, paced nervously and smiled proudly through the final day of the Class 4A boys state swim meet. When the night was over, his Spartans were state champions. But there was a point in the season where there was genuine concern that Shaha would see the season through.

There was concern that his life was in danger.

What felt like heartburn for months turned out to be something more serious than that. When Shaha finally saw a doctor, it was revealed that he had an artery with a 98 percent blockage. He wasn’t having heartburn. He was having a heart attack.

“When we were first heard, I mean I was stunned,” senior Nathan Kenigsberg said. “I didn’t know the severity of it. I was scared and really worried for him.”

A stent was placed and Shaha was on his way to recovery. Word eventually got around in Greeley and Kenigsberg and his teammates were given some good news.

“Luckily my dad is a doctor,” Kenigsberg said. “I got an update fairly quickly.”

Shaha felt good enough to make it to the Spartans next meet, but the doctors advised against it. He listened. And not too long later, he was watching his athletes hoist a state championship trophy, the first in program history.

And he’ll quickly point out that it wasn’t motivation after a heart attack that brought home gold, it was the drive and determination of the Spartans to do something special for the community.

“Greeley is a punchline to a national joke,” Shaha said. “‘What’s the opposite of Hawaii?’ ‘Greeley.’ I’ve been working around swimming most of my adult life. I think about Greeley swimmers; I think a lot about Greeley kids. And this is huge.”

It took a little bit of good fortune for the Spartans to get themselves into contention. In the 200-yard medley relay, the first event of the day, two Discovery Canyon swimmers jumped in the pool at the conclusion of the race. The infraction meant they were disqualified from each of their next event.

Those DQ’s took precious points on the board and Greeley West knew it had to capitalize on it.

“We got a lucky break,” Kenigsberg said. “But there was nothing but happiness with the way the team put everything into it. Caden Gillmore had the best meet I’ve ever seen from anybody. He did incredible.”

The Spartans finished with 323 points to Discovery Canyon’s 307. It’s the second-straight runner-up finish for the Thunder.

Broomfield’s Harrison Lierz had a standout day. He claimed two individual titles for the Eagles and helped them win the 200 freestyle relay. He swam that relay race then came right back to win the 100 backstroke.

“I feel like I swam really well this week,” Lierz said. “I was really happy with how I did, especially with that being like five minutes after the relay.”

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

THORNTON — Maybe it was always fated to end this way. But the Cherry Creek boys swim team wasn’t leaving anything to chance. That was clear in the 100-yard freestyle race when the Bruins got the surprise of the meet. And it was on top of Brendan Eckerman’s win in the event.

From the No. 10 lane Nikolas Silolahti gave the performance of his life and came in second. Cherry Creek scored a combined 45 points for the one-two finish and never looked back en route to claiming the Class 5A boys swimming championship at the VMAC.

“It shocked not only our program but I think everyone in the building,” Cherry Creek coach Chris Loftis said. “Going from 10 to two from an outside lane, it took him a good 20 seconds to figure out what was going on. He just kept staring at the scoreboard until he finally figured it out.”

It gave the Bruins a surge. And that surge lasted to the very end.

They won the final two relay races of the meet, the 200 and 400 freestyle, and did so without sitting in the coveted fifth lane. It was a fitting end for a team that has grown so close over the season.

“Especially after this week,” Eckerman said. “It just felt like a family. We were a little ununited at the beginning of the season but as things went on and people started seeing each other get faster it drove everyone to work harder.”

And the roars that came from poolside when Silolahti touched the wall to finish second were living proof of that bond. The loudest cheers through the night came for someone who didn’t even get to stand at the top of the podium.

“I realized where I was off the third turn,” Silolahti said. “I just kept it going. It was a little surreal.”

Creek started the event by claiming gold in the 200 medley relay. Legacy junior Lukas Miller then grabbed the attention of the spectators when he blazed his way to a win in the 200 yard freestyle. His time of one minute, 35.72 seconds is a Colorado state record.

He grabbed himself another top finish later in the night when he won the 500 freestyle. Heading into his senior year in 2020, he couldn’t imagine a better outcome for himself.

“I’m pretty happy with all my swims,” Miller said. “I made a few mistakes and you can always improve and it’s all about learning every race. It was good.”

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Regis Jesuit picked up a fair share of wins themselves. Will Goodwin took the 200 IM (1:48.57) and the 100 breaststroke (54.67).

Sophomore diver Quinn Henninger wowed the crow each time he sprung off the board.

The Raiders finished 394 points to claim runner-up honors. Cherry Creek finished the meet with 520. The first sign of a dominant performance came in that 100 freestyle. It was then that the team knew it was its meet to lose.

“It was Nicky’s 100 for sure,” Eckerman said. “It was gigantic for him. I knew he was going to have a great race and I knew he’d come in hot, but I didn’t know he’d come in that hot.”

This marks the 11th boys swimming title for Cherry Creek and its first since 1994. And the Bruins didn’t leave anything to chance. They were taking gold at the end of the night come heck or high water.

THORNTON — After sweeping the relay races and getting outstanding individual performances, Cherry Creek claimed the Class 5A boys swimming title.

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(Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)

William Goodwin has to be liking his chances for gold medals. At Thursday’s Class 5A boys swimming prelims, Goodwin took the top spot in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke races.

He’s hoping to grab a couple of first-place finishes to follow up an overall solid first day.

From a team standpoint, Cherry Creek has a bit of an edge once Saturday’s finals get underway. The Bruins sit in either first or second in all three relay events and Brendan Eckerman is adding a boost from an individual outlook.

Eckerman finished second in the 50 freestyle at 21.19 seconds. The only swimmer to beat him was Fossil Ridge’s Knox Williams who finished in 21.03 seconds.

In the 100 freestyle, Eckerman will lead the field in the A final on Friday.

Legacy’s Lukas Miller kept his standing as one of the best distance performers of the year as he took the top spot in both the 200 and 500 freestyle. Miller took second in the 200 last year, but with Broomfield and Harrison Lierz competing in 4A this season, it appears to be the junior’s event to lose.

In the 500, he’ll have to hold off Arapahoe sophomore Fletcher Hayes. Less than a second separated the two in qualifying rounds and over the course of such a long distance, anything can happen with a margin that tight.

As a freshman, Hayes finished eighth in the event in 2019. He’ll have a busy day as he’ll also compete on the Warriors 200 medley and 400 relay teams. He’s also swimming in the finals for the 200 IM.

Boulder has a chance to make a play for some team hardware and Max Kreidl has a big role in that potential. He swam the top time in the 100 butterfly, took third in the 500 freestyle and is on both the 200 medley and 400 relay teams for the Panthers.

The 400 freestyle relay team was more than a second better than Cherry Creek’s squad which is anchored by Eckerman.

With it being the final race of the day, that could be the determining event when it comes to team standings. Regis Jesuit will be in the mix for team hardware and finished third in the 400 in prelims.

The state boys swim meet will continue on Friday with prelims for 4A. The 5A finals are set to begin at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. All boys swimming events are held at the VMAC in Thornton.