Student Athlete of the Week Evan Welding

The fourth and final season of Evan Welding's prep swim career is shaping up nicely.

Already an accomplished swimmer for Silver Creek High School's boys team, Welding has qualified for the Class 4A state championships in the 50-yard freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 free, 100 fly and 100 individual medley. He is also a member of two relay teams that have made the cut for state.

In a dual meet against Broomfield High on March 16, he took first in the 50 free thanks to a season-best 23.61-second sprint. Welding, a senior at Niwot High School, admitted afterward that he was "surprised" at the result.

"The first 25 (yards) took it out (of me)," Welding said. "I just didn't breathe the entire time and then in the second 25, I slowed down a little bit. But I'd say I still finished pretty strong."

Welding's win wasn't his first - or last - of the afternoon, however, at the Aquatic Center of St. Vrain Valley. To open the meet, Welding, Stephen Codevilla, Josh Dowlin and Hudson Kammerer combined for a first-place time of 1:44.06 in the 200 medley relay, and in the day's final event, Welding joined Brayden Stalcup, Henry Milam and Justin Gawrych to lead the 400 free relay (3:37.96). Both results were also well under the state cut times.

Success in the pool is nothing new for Welding as his Raptors won the 2021 team state title and finished runner-up last season. Then a junior, Welding contributed a top-10 finish in the 100 fly and 100 back to help Silver Creek place second in Class 4A last May.

This year, the expectations remain high.

"When we get to state, I'm pretty confident we can get second and maybe first if we really try," Welding said.

Winning another team title would be quite the cherry on top for Welding, but the senior is also taking time to relish his final high school meets. He added that he has grown close with teammates Luke Sarris, Codevilla and Hudson, in particular, throughout his career.

"I'm probably going to be really sad to leave all these guys because they're really cool people," Welding said. "(In my) last year, I'm just trying to have fun and enjoy the last month or two with them."