Aurora – Mike Doherty said the construction of Regis’ swimming dynasty was nothing complex.
But start from the beginning, when Doherty took over the program in 1981 while a student at the University of Colorado, and follow the path until now, with the Raiders looking to win a 14th state title in 15 years, and the project seems nothing less than daunting.
Regis had just two top-20 finishes before Doherty arrived, and his first roster had only 13 names on it.
Ten years later, the Raiders started a run that ties them with Cherry Creek’s girls tennis team for the most state titles in the past 14 seasons.
From the 1991-92 season to the 2004-05 season, the Regis boys swimming team and Cherry Creek girls tennis team have won 13 titles apiece. The Cherry Creek boys tennis team won 12 titles over that span.
“I don’t think it was real complicated. … Workouts used to be come if you want, but we tried to emulate more of a college style with two-a-day workouts,” Doherty said. “We were trying to get the kids to buy into these things, and we doubled the number of kids the second year. Now kids want to be a part of something like this.”
The Raiders will look to extend that run at the Class 5A swimming and diving state championships May 19 at Edora Pool Ice Center in Fort Collins. The 4A finals will be held May 20.
Since 1990, the Raiders have gone 209-2 in dual meets, including winning 80 straight and earning the top national ranking four times (1992, 1997, 2004, 2005).
Beginning with Lawrence Kough in 1983 and ending with last season’s crop of Seth Urban, Max Maris and Chris Good, 84 athletes have gone on to swim at the collegiate level under Doherty’s watch.
The future looks bright, too, as this season’s crop is led by sophomore Jay Kim, and juniors Charlie Patch, Sean Moore and John Buckley.
“They always seem to reload,” Arapahoe coach Mike Richmond said. “In years past everybody thought they would be down, and then they show up with four of the best freshmen in the state.”
Regis will not go unchallenged. Arapahoe is loaded with talented seniors, notably Marty Erzinger, Eric Anderssen, Vinny Crispino and Brock Logan, and the Warriors return the most individual points from last season’s state meet.
Erzinger is the reigning 100 freestyle champion.
Smoky Hill is led by Kyle Johnson, Doogie Cohen, Kevin Shaw and Stephen Virgil, and Heritage’s Mark Dylla returns to defend his titles in the individual medley and the butterfly.
In 4A, the past two state champions, Thompson Valley and Montrose, again lead the way. Montrose’s 200-yard medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams return to defend their titles.
5A
TOP FIVE
1. Regis
2. Arapahoe
3. Smoky Hill
4. Heritage
5. Cherry Creek
4A
TOP FIVE
1. Montrose
2. Thompson Valley
3. Pine Creek
4. Pueblo Centennial
5. Moffat County
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Trevor Andersen, Pine Creek, So.
Eric Anderssen, Arapahoe, Sr.
Nick Anderson, Arapahoe, Sr.
Ben Biefnes, Grandview, Sr.
Drew Brown, Grandview, Jr.
John Buckley, Regis, Jr.
Paul Bunge, Broomfield, Sr.
Tyler Bush, Fort Collins So.
Matt Butters, Thompson Valley, Sr.
Chris Byrne, Cheyenne Mountain, Jr.
Doogie Cohen, Smoky Hill, So.
Vinny Crispino, Arapahoe, Sr.
Scott Dawkins, Cherry Creek, Sr.
Mark Dylla, Heritage, Jr.
Marty Erzinger, Arapahoe, Sr.
Nathan Fuller, Brighton, Jr.
Kyle Gordon, Monarch, Jr.
Ben Grado, Evergreen, Jr.
Ian Gregoire, Pine Creek, Jr.
Josh Gregory, Thompson Valley, Sr.
Johnny Gurule, Pueblo Centennial, Sr.
Jeff Hansen, Cheyenne Mountain, So.
Hunter Helmstaedter, Cherry Creek, Jr.
Mike Hoenig, Thomas Jefferson, Jr.
Josh Holly, Arapahoe, Jr.
Kyle Johnson, Smoky Hill, Sr.
Jay Kim, Regis, So.
Max Laney, George Washington, Sr.
Will Leonhart, Grand Junction, Sr.
Rick Levy, Fairview, Jr.
Brock Logan, Arapahoe, Sr.
Pat Martelli, Pine Creek, Jr.
James McClelland, Thomas Jefferson, Sr.
Drew McCormick, Thompson Valley, Jr.
Sean Moore, Regis, Jr.
Tyler Long, Cherry Creek, Sr.
Clay Myers, Ralston Valley, So.
Vince Neiman, Mullen, Sr.
Phil Oleksiak, Regis, Sr.
Charlie Patch, Regis, Jr.
Luke Pavlakovich, Regis, Jr.
Bryan Roth, Pueblo Centennial, Jr.
Matt Schlesinger, Evergreen, Sr.
Kevin Shaw, Smoky Hill, Sr.
Taylor Sichc, Mountain View, So.
Max Smith, Evergreen, Jr.
Eric Spencer, Kennedy, Sr.
Eric Sramek, Montrose, Sr.
Tyler Svendsen, Poudre, Sr.
John Thomas, Montrose, Sr.
Stephen Virgil, Smoky Hill, Jr.
Alex Walpole, Cheyenne Mountain, Jr.
Kyle Weiss, Montrose, Sr.
Steve Wiesner, Montrose, Sr.
Nathan Young, Littleton, Jr.
