The end is near. And it will all start in Loveland.
That’s where Rock Canyon is expected to win the Class 4A state girls swimming championship Saturday after two years of being the bridesmaid and only five seasons of existence. That’s where coach Ruthie Milberg will see athletes — including her daughter, Kirsten — she has coached since they were in elementary school swim for the last time under her watch.
Mountain View High School is where Rock Canyon hopes its program, which began with seven swimmers and now has grown to 52, will validate years of hard work and anchor itself as one of the top aquatic programs in the state.
And while a lot will end, it could also be the beginning of a program taking flight.
“Winning state means a lot. I wouldn’t say that’s everything, because I thought last year was a great year,” Ruthie Milberg said. “I really enjoy watching the girls develop that might not be club swimmers, and the friendships that have developed . . . But definitely, winning state would be the icing on the cake.”
And it would be a fitting end for seniors such as Kirsten Milberg, Taylor Curado and Tia Totura, who will go on to swim in college.
Kirsten Milberg, who will swim at University of Denver, and Curado (Rutgers) were on the Jaguars’ record-setting 200-yard medley relay squad last season. Breaking the 4A record of 56.92 seconds in the 100 butterfly is well within Curado’s grasp, while Kirsten Milberg is the favorite to win the 100 backstroke for the fourth time.
Totura (Denver) returns after taking her junior year off from the squad.
The Jaguars were worthy runners-up the past two years to two-time champion Ralston Valley. With the Mustangs up at 5A this season, the consensus is that depth and talent make the school from Highlands Ranch the favorite to add a title to its small trophy case (the boys soccer team won state this past fall).
And while Thompson Valley and Lewis-Palmer are expected to push the Jaguars this weekend, they kind of wish Ralston Valley were still around. They’ve tried to match that kind of depth and feel they can score very well at state behind the likes of Jessica Holley, Kara Schweitzer, Londyn Clawson, Allie Berger, Jehan Atoe and freshman diver Ellen Strample.
“I’m both nervous and excited, but I can definitely say being excited is overpowering the nerves,” said Curado, who chose Rutgers because of academics and the beautiful trees on campus. “It’s almost anticipation at this point. Knowing that we’re a team that is strong this year makes you more excited for state.”
The Jaguars get excited for just about everything else. They remind their school of their swim meets by dressing up in outlandish garb based on themes such as ugly sweaters, neon, pink and superheroes.
Ruthie Milberg, a Thomas Jefferson graduate, started a neighborhood summer swim team when Kirsten was 5. The kids on the team became friends, the swimming got better and better and many of those girls became the foundation of the Jaguars.
“It’s been fabulous,” said Ruthie Milberg, who has worked with assistant Nicole Vanderpoel for many years. “It really keeps you young, and you just get a different perspective of kids growing up. I feel like I have a great relation with a lot of these girls.”
A bittersweet sideshow, however, will be Mom coaching daughter for the last time this weekend. Although Kirsten will still have club swimming and will be at DU this fall, this special chapter is coming to a close with perhaps the perfect ending.
“I think it’s going to be hard for her,” Kirsten Milberg said. “I think she’s kind of grown up with us. She’s just been so close to us; it’s going to be hard watching this class graduate.”
State swimming
Class 5A girls
At Edora Pool Ice Center, Fort Collins
FRIDAY
Preliminaries: 4 p.m.
SATURDAY
Diving preliminaries: 9 a.m.
Championship finals: 2 p.m.
Class 4A girls
At Mountain View Aquatic Center, Loveland
FRIDAY
Preliminaries: 4 p.m.
SATURDAY
Diving preliminaries: 10:30 a.m.
Championship finals: 3:30 p.m.
