4A Boys Swimming & Diving: Silver Creek Wins Second State Title in Four Seasons

THORNTON – In both 2022 and 2023, Silver Creek came painfully close to winning another boys swimming and diving state championship, but was forced to settle for the title of runner up, as it watched Cheyenne Mountain hoist the title. This season, the Raptors finally got over the hump.

Silver Creek won the first two events, and never looked back. First, the Raptors’ relay team of senior Stephen Codevilla, juniors Chayakorn Ngampatipatpong and James Story and freshman Justin Leyba won the day’s first event, the 200 IM relay, and then Story hopped right back in the pool to nab the 200 freestyle crown.

A little later in the day, Story would win another event, capturing the 100 freestyle state title.

“Coming back and winning is great,” Story, who took the last season off of his high school team, said. “I feel like I definitely did my part, with the two first-place finishes. I’m just glad we had some amazing swims and such a strong team effort.”

Silver Creek’s final first-place finish of the day would come in the 100 backstroke, where senior Stephen Codevilla outpaced the pack to extend the team’s lead.

“I’m going to savor every bit of this,” Story said, while grinning ear to ear, soon after hoisting the trophy. “I’m going to go get some dessert affter this, celebrate, and savor it.”

The Raptors’ remarkable teamwork resulted in 329 points and a state championship. On top of the team crown, Silver Creek head coach Debbie Stewart brought home the title of CHSCA Coach of the Year.

Outside of Silver Creek, Windsor senior Jake Eccleston set the state record on his way to winning the 100 breaststroke (53.67 seconds) and also took home the 200 IM title. That performance led to Eccleston being named the CHSCA Swimmer of the Year.

Meanwhile, Evergreen junior Duncan Salmen won the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. Cheyenne Mountain sophomore Barrett Kerrigan earned the 500 freestyle crown.

On Thursday, Evergreen junior Carson Harrington repeated as the diving state champion for 4A boys.

Rounding out the top 10 teams, you had Windsor in second place, with 267 points; Cheyenne Mountain in third place, with 265 points; Glenwood Springs and Mullen tied for fourth place, with 225 points; Northfield in sixth place, with 222 points; Evergreen in seventh place, with 221 points; Broomfield in eighth place, with 217 points; Golden in ninth place, with 200.5 points; and Air Academy in 10th place, with 134 points.