Silver Creek boys swim and dive makes a tidal wave in postseason awards

The Silver Creek Raptors made waves this season, not only claiming the Class 4A state championship, but also securing second place in the 4A Northern League and earning numerous postseason accolades.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Debbie Stewart, the team, which is comprised of talented swimmers and divers from Niwot High School, Mead High School, Erie High School, Dawson School, and Silver Creek High School, showcased the strengths of their athletes, leading to numerous honors and new school records.

James Story, a junior from Mead High School, had a standout season, earning All-Conference honors in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, and 400 freestyle relay. At the state level, he set new school records with his finishes in the 200 freestyle and as part of the 200 medley relay team, along with Stephen Codevilla, Chayakorn Ngampatipatpong, and Justin Leyba. Story also swam to a first-place finish in the 100 freestyle at state. In addition, Story, Codevilla, Ngampatipatpong, and Justin Gawrych earned a fourth-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay.

Story’s remarkable performance established his place as one of the CHSAA Co-Swimmers of the Year, sharing the honor with Jake Eccleston from Windsor High School and Duncan Salmen from Evergreen High School. He was also named to the 4A All-State First Team in the 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, and 200 medley relay. Story was also recognized as the Times-Call Swimmer of the Year, a testament to his storybook finish this season.

As a senior at Niwot High School, Codevilla also made an outstanding mark on the Raptor team this season. Earning All-Conference honors in the 200 individual medley, 100 backstroke, and 400 freestyle relay, Codevilla showcased his skill in his final season. On the state stage, he excelled, achieving first place as a member in the 200 medley relay and 100 backstroke, setting new school records in both events and obtaining an All-American Consideration for his 100 backstroke performance.

Codevilla also placed fourth in the 100 freestyle and contributed to the team’s success in the 400 freestyle relay. His season’s achievements landed him All-State First Team honors in the 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, and 200 medley relay. Codevilla’s contributions were crucial in leading Silver Creek to the state championship, and his accomplishments cemented his legacy as one of the program’s top swimmers.

Ngampatipatpong, a junior at Silver Creek, earned All-Conference honors in 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke, and 400 freestyle relay, as well as a place on the 4A All-State First Team for 100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley, and 200 medley relay. As a member of the first-place 200 medley relay team, Ngampatipatpong played a crucial role in setting a new school record. He walked away from the state meet with a sixth-place finish in the 200 individual medley, a third-place finish in the 100 breaststroke, and was a member of the fourth-place 400 freestyle relay team.

As a freshman, Leyba, from Niwot High, made a significant impact on the Silver Creek swim and dive team in his debut season. Concluding the season with All-Conference honors in the 50 freestyle and contributing to the record-breaking 200 medley relay, Leyba has quickly established himself as a formidable competitor.

At the state level, he also swam to a tenth-place finish in the 100 freestyle, a twelfth-place finish in the 50 freestyle, and was a member of the seventh-place 200 freestyle relay, with Gawrych, Geoffrey Waller (Erie High School), and Lincoln Miller (Niwot High School). In the 100 freestyle and 200 medley relay, Leyba was named to the 4A All-State First Team. His impressive start to his high school career is promising looking ahead at the Raptors’ future.

Gawrych, a senior at Niwot High, played a crucial role in the team’s achievements. He earned All-Conference honors in the 500 freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay. At the state meet, Gawrych finished ninth in the 500 freestyle and 11th in the 200 freestyle, while also contributing to the fourth-place 400 freestyle relay. His finishes landed him Class 4A All-State Honorable Mention recognition.

In diving, Rider Neeb, from Dawson School, and Levi Walker, from Silver Creek High School, earned All-Conference honors in 1 Meter-11 Dives. Neeb finished eighth and Walker finished 13th in the same event at the state meet. Their performances were complemented by fellow Raptor divers, Oliver Fischaber and Sam Harding, both from Silver Creek High School. Neeb's efforts earned him a 4A All-State Honorable Mention.

As if these accolades were not enough for the Silver Creek swim and dive team, Coach Debbie Stewart was named CHSAA’s Class 4A Coach of the Year for swimming and diving. Her guidance not only resulted in a state championship, but also established a historic season for the team, setting a high bar for the program’s future.