Take a bow, Mark Dylla. And while you’re at it, take another.
The Heritage Eagles senior seems more than likely to achieve Colorado swimming immortality this weekend at EPIC in Fort Collins by becoming the first eight-time individual champion.
“He’s obviously the real deal,” said Wally Hultin, who was Colorado’s first six-time champion, from 1959-61 at East and George Washington. “I wish him the best of luck this weekend and in the years ahead at Georgia and the Olympics.”
Dylla already holds state records, which can only be set at the state meet, in the 100-yard butterfly (48.76 seconds) and the 500 freestyle (4:28.42).
Already a three-time champion in the butterfly, Dylla will swim for his fourth title in that event and will also go for his first 100 backstroke crown. Regis’ Luke Wagner set the record in 2000 with a 49.38-second performance. Dylla’s seed time is 49.04.
“Anyone with an interest in sports, whether it’s swimming or not, loves to see stuff like this happen,” Regis coach Mike Doherty said.
As impressive as Dylla’s feat is expected to be, so is that of Coach Doherty’s Raiders. Regis is a heavy favorite to win its 13th consecutive title and 15th in the past 16 seasons. But rest assured, the coach and his crew are taking nothing for granted.
“And if it ever gets to that, I should quit,” he said. “I’m not taking anything for granted. You can’t just mail it in.”
The points are double for victories in the relays, and Regis is the top seed in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Individually for the Raiders, junior Jay Kim has posted stellar times all season and will go for titles in the 200 individual medley and the 100 freestyle.
Fort Collins’ Tyler Bush is 10 seconds faster than the rest of the field in the 500 freestyle, and could make it a distance double with the 200 freestyle.
An outstanding team race in Class 4A will have upward of four coaches doing the quick math during the course of the meet.
Defending champion Thompson Valley, which did not crown a single champion in 2006, joins Cheyenne Mountain, Ralston Valley and Silver Creek in the title mix.
The rubber match in diving pits 2006 champion Ben Grado of Conifer against 2005 champion Taylor Sishc of Mountain View.
Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
