THORNTON - Coach Kate Doane is no stranger to winning. 
 
The 2025 CHSAA 4A Girls Swimming and Diving Championship allowed Doane's Cheyenne Mountain team the opportunity to once again revel in the welcoming embrace of yet another championship trophy. Saturday night the Red-Tailed Hawks finished with 350 points, beating out second place Monarch, which scored 304. 
 
In the last decade Doane has helped Cheyenne Mountain capture three 4A state titles, the most of any 4A program in that time frame. 
 
Each championship run has its defining factors. In 2025, preparedness was one of those factors. Across all individual and team heats, Cheyenne Mountain did not lose any time from its preliminary rounds. 
 
"They came in hungry," said Doane, 2025 CHSCA Swimming Coach of the Year. "And they just kept feeding off one another and even getting the best times, but slipping a spot or two didn't matter because they were just picking it up left and right."
 
Among those who came in hungry were seven seniors, all of whom qualified for state, something Doane credited as another factor in her team's path to victory. 
 
Among those seniors was Sam Synsvoll, who successfully defended her 200 yard individual medley title, adding more hardware to her collection. But that's not what was important to her. Instead, she showcased what it means to be a true team player. 
 
"I love being able to win individually, but being with my team on relays, we had so many options on relays which shows our depth," Synsvall said. "Getting three girls in the 200 IM and three girls in the 200 free was insane. I think that really helped us in the end."
 
One thing that makes swimming such an interesting sport is being able to experience individual domination as part of a team effort. 
 
While only one team can take home a banner, there's a school of athletes who also get that experience of being a victor. 
 
Along with Synsvall, Monarch's Eliza Lennox was also able to defend her titles in the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle. Lennox's teammate, Audrey Shambo, joined the two as the only repeat champions, with Shambo doing so in the 100 yard breaststroke. 
 
Among the other individual victors, Ponderosa's Addison Herl stood out. Not only did Herl take home CHSCA 4A Senior Swimmer of the Year honors, but she broke the 4A state record in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 54.18. She beat the previous mark of 54.22 set by Audrey Reimer in 2018. 

Individual glory almost can't be beat. Almost of course being the key word there. 
 
When Synsvall reminisces about her time swimming in the 2025 state championships, one memory is going to stand above all the rest. 
 
"I'll honestly think about jumping into the pool with my team after we won," Synsvall said. "Knowing that after the 400 free relay we had won, it's just insane I am so excited."