Every time Ian Woon peruses the times being turned in for his primary event, the senior from the Highlands Ranch boys swim team often finds himself shaking his head in disbelief.
Those times have left Woon with the unsettling realization that defending his state championship in the 50-yard freestyle will be a difficult chore. But, as for the rest of the Highlands Ranch swim team as it attempts to capture another Class 5A state title this weekend in Fort Collins, it is a challenge Woon is prepared to face.
“We’ve talked about this, and it’s definitely more competitive this year,” Woon said. “Not just in the 50 and 100 freestyle for me, but for everyone. I’m going out with the mind-set to do great at the end of my career and just have fun.
“Obviously I would love to defend my title. But I’ve followed the results of the league meets, and there are some great times out there. I’ll try to buckle down this week and do the best I can, and hopefully everything will fall into place.”
Woon and his fellow seniors — a group also led by Andrew Hartbarger and Kevin Stoddard — turned in a monumental feat last year, helping Highlands Ranch knock Regis Jesuit from the top of the team standings after a 15-year reign as Colorado’s king of boys swimming.
Woon played a large role in that victory, swimming on two top-three relay teams and sharing the title in the 50 freestyle with Cherry Creek’s Daryl Turner.
Those two athletes turned in winning times of 21.72 seconds, but Woon will be challenged to repeat his title with a similar mark this weekend. Woon enters the state meet with the third-best qualifying time in the 50 freestyle at 21.41. Although Turner will not be competing in the 50 freestyle, Woon will face stern challenges from Cherry Creek’s Andrew Behrend (21.36), Chatfield’s Bryce Carter (21.39), and Clark Smith of Regis Jesuit (21.47).
“In swimming, it’s not always about winning, but it’s about doing the best you can possibly do,” said Woon, who will swim at Dartmouth next year. “Another different aspect of high school swimming is that you don’t want to let your team down. I’ve been with these guys since my freshman year. I can definitely say swimming has been the highlight of my high school experience.”
Woon also owns the No. 3 seed time in the 100 freestyle, behind Fossil Ridge’s Josh Ginsborg and Turner, yet Highlands Ranch coach Will Iaia believes Woon’s leadership ability will be as critical to his team’s effort as any of the times he turns in.
“Ian, last year and this year, is one of our team captains,” Iaia said. “He definitely is a person the younger guys look up to, and even the older guys look to for guidance. He’s one of those quiet kinds of leaders that knows exactly when he has to make sure that everyone gets serious.”
Boys swimming and diving
5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Edora Pool, Fort Collins
5A swimmers to watch: Josh Ginsborg, Fossil Ridge; Jared Markham, Cherry Creek; John Martens, Grandview; Nolan Tesone, Pomona; Ian Woon, Highlands Ranch.
4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Mesa State, Grand Junction
4A swimmers to watch: Micah Blackwell, Green Mountain; Connor Dwyer, Longmont; Sawyer Franz, Conifer; Jeff Garnier, D’Evelyn; Alex Nickell, Mountain View.
SCHEDULE (both meets)
Today: Swimming preliminaries, 4 p.m.
Saturday: Diving preliminaries, 9 a.m.; State finals, 2 p.m.
