LOVELAND — The route to the top of the awards stand could not have been more different for Conifer’s Christian Treat and Lewis-Palmer’s Ryan Arata.
Treat, a senior, waited his turn over his four-year career and progressed slowly from a fourth-place finish as a freshman to his two victories Saturday in the 200- and 100-yard freestyle swims.
The highly touted Arata, a freshman, wasted little time getting to the top of the podium, winning the butterfly and the backstroke and in the process helping the fifth-year Rangers to a decisive Class 4A swimming and diving title at the Mountain View Aquatic Center.
“I hadn’t had a best time until this meet, so to come in here and swim those times feels great,” said Arata, who also added a relay championship to his dossier.
Lewis-Palmer, with victories in the 200 medley and 200 free relays, ran away from the field with an impressive 322 points. Fossil Ridge finished second with 220 points, and Cheyenne Mountain was third with 211.
“I thought the competition this year was outstanding, and I don’t know if we helped some of that,” said Lewis- Palmer coach Alan Arata, who was not a big fan of the two- class swimming system.
Treat, a senior at Clear Creek in Idaho Springs, was impressive in the opening individual meet of the finals. A 1-minute, 41.79-second swim in the 200 freestyle was nearly two seconds better than Cheyenne Mountain’s Pat Scally, who later won the 500 freestyle.
Treat was equally good in the 100, fending off Lewis-Palmer swimmers Pat Cardillo and Jeremy Hayes for the victory.
“To have the small school support I got is just incredible,” said Treat, who will swim next season at Bucknell.
Cole Worsley, one of two returning Class 4A state champions, won the sprint title that eluded him last season. Worsley was dominant in the 50, winning in 21.22 seconds, a day after setting the Class 4A state record with a 21.05 swim. He was unable to defend his butterfly title, finishing second to Ryan Arata.
Pueblo South’s Tanner Krall, who won his breaststroke title last season at Centennial, defended his title with the third fastest time in state history — 56.72.
Arvada’s Eric May became the first swimmer from that school to win a title in the pool. The last Bulldog to win was diver Erik Seaver in 1987.
The factory that is Thompson Valley diving turned out yet another champion in Travis Hartman, whose final dive was enough to hold off teammate Greg Conway for the title. Eagles divers finished 1-2-3-6.
