5A Boys Swimming & Diving: Cherry Creek Wins Back-to-Back State Titles

THORNTON – The Cherry Creek boys swimming and diving team is the Class 5A state champion… again.

At Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center on Friday night, the Bruins posted a scored of 417 to claim the 5A team title and notch their second-straight state championship. It was also the Bruins’ 14th boys swim title all-time.

“We haven’t ever gone back-to-back, at least not during my tenure, and we’re hopefully going to continue to build on that,” Bruins head coach Chris Loftis said. “These guys have done everything we’ve asked and then some.

“We ask a lot of our kids. I know I say this every year, but I mean it every year – the things they’ve overcome and the things they’ve persevered through as young men and as a team, and as brothers, I could not be more proud.”

Regis Jesuit, which has combined with Cherry Creek to finish either first or second in the past five state meets, was runner-up with a team score of 335.

The Bruins’ 200 medley relay team of Camille Trinquesse, Talen Palmateer, Hayden Watkins, Connor Kelly  won the event with a time of 1 minute, 29.70 seconds, while Cherry Creek’s 200 freestyle relay team of Palmateer, Watkins, Kelly and Jamie Crawford won that relay with a time of 1:22.45.

On Thursday, Cherry Creek’s Luke Ogren won his third-straight diving title with a score of 622.85.

“Yesterday’s preliminary session set us up for today and to be able to just relax and enjoy and be successful,” Loftis said. “Almost every swim yesterday was a surprise because everyone swam so well and so fast and out of their minds. I’m definitely pleased.”

Grandview’s Gherman Prudnikau (1:38.19) won the 200 freestyle title. The senior also won the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:27.14. Also for Grandview, Oliver Schimberg finished the 100 butterfly in 47.52 seconds to take first place and took home a second first-place finish with a time of 47.32 seconds in the 100 backstroke.

Douglas County’s Jacob Smith (44.76) won the 100 freestyle, while Fossil Ridge’s Brennen O’Neil (1:49.60) took home the gold in the 200 IM. Columbine’s Tobin Uhl won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 55.14 seconds.

Farview’s 400 freestyle relay team – Wesley Schlachter, Anders Koschmann, Jack Garnett and Soren Koschmann – won gold with a time of 3:01.92.