Death, taxes and Regis boys swimming and diving.
There are those certain few things you can count on. The Raiders have won 14 consecutive Class 5A team titles and are in line for No. 15.
“There is no shame in taking second in Class 5A,” Highlands Ranch coach Will Iaia said. “Creek has been doing it for who knows how many years in a row.”
The Falcons, a conglomerate of all the Highlands Ranch-area schools, are the latest in a long line of challengers to the Raiders crown and firmly believe that if things go just right they can challenge the mighty Raiders.
“The numbers don’t lie, and we will certainly have this discussion as the season gets going,” Iaia said. “It’s up to the seniors and the captains of this team to see it and say to the rest of the guys, ‘Here’s the numbers, we can do this.’ ”
Sure, the likes of Kyle Noser, Kyle Milberg, Cole Hackney and freshman Davis Fraser have the skills and the speed to hang with everyone in the state, but the key to piling up points at state is in depth. Regis’ depth is unmatched, and Iaia knows that getting quality performances from top-to-bottom is of utmost importance if you want to challenge the Raiders.
Individually, no swimmer was as fun to watch last season as Legacy’s Steve Schmuhl. The freshman became the school’s first titlist when he captured the 100- and 200-yard freestyles. The only other individual champion to return this season is Regis’ Blas Yslas in the 100 breaststroke.
In Class 4A, Thomas Jefferson’s Marc Houghton (200 free), Moffat County’s Cole Worsley (100 butterfly) and Pueblo Centennial Tanner Krall (100 breaststroke) all are back to defend their titles.
CLASS 5A BOYS SWIMMING TOP 5
1. Regis
2. Highlands Ranch
3. Cherry Creek
4. Fort Collins
5. George Washington
CLASS 4A BOYS SWIMMING TOP 5
1. Cheyenne Mountain
2. Thompson Valley
3. Mountain View
4. Conifer
5. Pueblo Centennial
SWIMMERS TO WATCH
(returning all-state selection from both classifications)
Matthew Arthur, Pueblo County, Jr.; Nick Beaulieu, Regis, Jr.; Tim Biegel, Loveland, Sr.; John Brittan, Heritage, Sr.; Greg Conway, Thompson Valley, Sr.; Tyler Davis, Ralston Valley, Sr.; Kyle Duffee, Pueblo South, So.; John Fox, Chatfield, Sr.; Sawyer Franz, Conifer, So.; Travis Hartman, Thompson Valley, Jr.; Marc Houghton, Thomas Jefferson, Sr.; Mike Johnson, Cheyenne Mtn., Jr.; Tanner Krall, Pueblo Centennial, Jr.; Brian Krump, Arapahoe, Sr.; Jeff Lassen, Regis, Sr.; Kyle Milberg, Highlands Ranch, Jr.; Kevin Moore, Regis, Sr.; Kyle Noser, Highlands Ranch, Jr.; Jake Ores, Mountain View, So.; Dominic Ponce, Thompson Valley, Sr.; Alex Reinhardt, Regis, Sr.; Steve Schmuhl, Legacy, So., Pat Scally, Cheyenne Mtn., Jr.; Bryce Suchomel, Regis, Sr.; Nicholas Suder, Chatfield, Sr.; Christian Treat, Conifer, Sr.; Beau Wagner, Mullen, Sr.; Derek Wedel, Pueblo South, So.; Dylan Westover, Estes Park, Sr.; Cole Worsley, Moffat County, Sr.; Matt Voell, Cherry Creek, Sr.; Blas Yslas, Regis, Sr.
