Silver Creek boys swimming team builds momentum in new conference

The Silver Creek district-wide boys swim and dive team, which includes Niwot High School swimmers, has shown both strength and resilience as the season hits its stride, with swimmers and divers competing in a new conference and continuing to improve in the pool. With several standout performances already under their belt, veteran coach Debbie Stewart’s team has balanced individual growth and team unity while adjusting to the heightened competition.

Silver Creek and Longmont are the only boys swim and dive teams in the St. Vrain Valley School District, and both compete in Class 4A as part of the Granite Peaks Conference, which includes both 4A and 5A teams.

“The season’s been going good,” said team captain Shobhit Joshi. “We moved up a conference so the swim meets have been tougher than they were in the past. While this is more difficult, we’ve remained motivated to succeed as a team.”

On Monday, April 15, Silver Creek faced Windsor High School in a highly competitive meet. Despite the final score tilting in Windsor’s favor, 159-155, Silver Creek came away with a number of strong finishes that highlighted the depth of talent across the roster.

Rider Neeb delivered a win in the one-meter diving competition, continuing his streak as one of the team’s top performers. Lincoln Miller claimed victories in both the 100 free and 100 breaststroke, while James Story also doubled up with wins in the 100 butterfly and the 200 individual medley.

Mosiah Milam dominated the 500 free, and both the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay teams finished first, giving the Raptors major points in the meet. Despite falling short by just four points, the performances reflected the team’s ongoing improvement and ability to compete against tough programs.

Two days later, the team bounced back in a big way with a commanding win over Longmont High School on April 17. The final score was 234-43 in favor of Silver Creek, with consistent contributions from across the team.

Neeb once again took the top spot in diving, scoring a 246.40 in the one-meter competition. Niwot High School sophomore Danny Donovan earned second in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:22.12 and 3rd in 100 back with a time of 1:08.39, showcasing a solid performance in two of the meet’s longest and most technical events.

Up and coming sophomore Ben Codevilla, younger brother of Niwot alumni and swim champ Mary Codevilla, placed 8th in the 50 free with a time of 00:26.48 and 5th in the 100 fly with a time of 1:18.86.

Joshi, a senior, has focused this season not only on competing at a high level but also on creating a stronger sense of team unity. “My focus has been to build a community and a bond between all the swimmers—especially between different grade levels and swimming skill,” he said. “Everybody on the team has been improving and hitting new personal bests, which is great on a personal level and whole team level.”

That emphasis on connection has played a big role in how the team approaches the mental aspect of racing. “To mentally prepare for a big meet, we try not to think about it as an intimidating event but rather an opportunity to show our abilities,” Joshi said.

As the season progresses, swimmers are staying motivated by reflecting on progress and setting their sights on what still lies ahead. “To remain motivated, we focus on what’s going well and what we need to work towards and how we are going to accomplish that,” Joshi said.

While the wins and personal records are important, Joshi shared that the team dinners have been one of the most memorable parts of the season so far. “They are an amazing opportunity for the team to bond and have fun together in a stress-free environment,” he said.

Looking ahead, Joshi hopes that his leadership leaves a lasting impact on the team’s culture. “I hope to leave a legacy of having been a fun and motivating captain which made people excited to show up and improve.”

The Silver Creek boys swim and dive team will compete again on Monday, April 22, in a dual match against Boulder High School, and then at the Boulder County Invite on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 in Broomfield.