Fort Collins – Who would have guessed a freshman at the University of Southern California would have been the inspiration for one of the best performances at the Class 5A state swimming and diving championships on Friday?
Highlands Ranch senior Lisa Caprioglio watched a season ago as Kristen Lahey, then a Fairview senior and now a USC freshman, finished her brilliant high school career by setting a state record in the 100 butterfly.
One year later, Caprioglio wiped Lahey’s name out of the record books in stunning fashion, besting the state mark of a year ago by .89 seconds, finishing in a time of 55.16 seconds at the Edora Pool and Ice Center.
“I couldn’t even believe it, I had to look up again and do a double take,” said Caprioglio, who stared at the board for what seemed like an eternity after the race. “The last 25, I told myself ‘OK, this is it.’ I knew I had given it everything I had, but I had no idea.”
It capped off a dream day for Caprioglio, who also won the 50 freestyle and was the lead leg on what she called the highlight of her day, the winning 200 medley relay team.
“I know the work I have done, and I come in every day to practice, and I don’t let myself slack off,” said Caprioglio, who hasn’t made up her mind on a college but has visits to swimming powerhouses Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin.
Caprioglio’s teammate Colleen Schweitzer, bound for Ohio State, capped off her high school career with a second consecutive 100 breaststroke title, winning in 1:04.77, just off the record in the event of 1:04.59 by Desiree Frega of Kent Denver in 1997.
“I really wanted to go 1:04.58, but I’ve never broken 1:05, so I’ll take it,” Schweitzer said. “Lisa is my best friend, and this is an amazing way to cap off a high school career.”
The night belonged to Cherry Creek. The Bruins won their 22nd state title with a total of 385 points, just 10 shy of the mark they set in 1998. Fairview took second place with 202 points, with Highlands Ranch third with 196.
The Bruins’ highlight came when future University of Arizona teammates Caitlin Iversen of Cherry Creek and Carley Beaudreau of Fort Collins dueled for the fourth consecutive year in the 200 individual medley. Iversen, who watched Beaudreau win in 2003 and 2004, won for the second consecutive year, finishing in 2:03.33, just .10 of a second off Beaudreau’s state mark.
“I just wanted to go out there and have a good race with her,” said Iversen, who also won the 100 backstroke. “I’m pleased with the outcome.”
Said Creek coach Eric Craven, who won his ninth title with the Bruins: “Carley is such a great competitor, and she set the standard of excellence, and Caitlin has just raised hers. Because of Carley, Caitlin has become a better swimmer. It will be fun to watch them at UA.”
Cherry Creek won a state meet-record eight events. The Bruins cruised home in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Senior Natasha Menezes edged her younger sister Michelle in the 200 freestyle and sprinted to victory in the 100 freestyle. Sophomore Jessica Rodriguez won the 500 free, winning by nearly six seconds in a time of 4:55.80.
Fairview’s Meili Carpenter was the lone champion not from Cherry Creek or Highlands Ranch, winning the diving competition. The University of Buffalo-bound senior scored 493.60 points and pulled away from Pomona’s Cori Swango in the final three dives.
Despite the victory, Carpenter enjoyed last year’s record-breaking performance of 527.85 points more.
“Last year was just way better, because I really felt like the judges were more on my side,” Carpenter said. “I just had more fun last year….Not so much this time around.”
Staff writer Jon E. Yunt can be reach at 303-820-5446 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
