Niwot Swimming Drops Times at State Championship

Although the Niwot High School girls swimming and diving team did not place highly at state, the girls had a great finish to their season at the state championships, on Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13, according to Coach Sarah Stamp.

With 10 girls making it to the championship meet, the Cougars were prepared to swim their best times possible. Those competing were Amalia Luthens, Camryn Kenkel, Hanna Luo, Kristi Vu, Sonia Martinez, Claire Jepson, Madison Barkow, and Izzie Mitchell, as well as alternates Chase Balman and Eva Kitlen.

Friday was prelims for swimming and Saturday morning was prelims for diving, with finals for both on Saturday night. Barkow, a junior, finished sixth in diving with a final score of 440.45, right behind Mountain View’s diver. She was the highest individual finisher fro Niwot.

“The girls have come a long way this season and finished with a fantastic showing this weekend,” Stamp said of how the state championship went.

All three of the relays, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay and 400 Freestyle Relay, swam their best times in prelims. The 400 Freestyle Relay, consisting of Luo, Luthens, Jepson and Martinez, snuck into the top 16 for finals with a time of 3:51.55.

Niwot’s 200 Freestyle Relay, consisting of Mitchell, Vu, Jepson and Martinez, came in as first alternate in 17th place. Stamp said, “There were some [personal records] and holdings at their best times in prelims.”

Although the Niwot swimming and diving team finished the state championship with a team score of 15 points, the girls who swam had some great times and good attitudes. Stamp said the team will hold a banquet later this month to celebrate their great season.