Creek is 5A state swim champ

Bruins take title for third year in a row

BY JIM BENTON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Cherry Creek’s Lawson Ficken won two events, Charlotte Wilson captured a third individual title and the Bruins’ three relay teams were also rst. at all added up to Cherry Creek winning its third straight Class 5A state swimming championship on Feb. 10 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in ornton.

It was the 29th overall state title for the Bruins since the sport was rst sanctioned in 1972.

“It’s always fun to win,” said Cherry Creek coach Karin Olmstead Dinsdale. “ is is an amazing group of kids. We have seven that have carried on the last four years and they have become part of my family and in many ways they are a special group.

“ e leadership we have on this team has been really good. When these seniors lost four years ago and were runners-up, they came back with vengeance and said never again. ey love to win and I love that. ey’ve got that taste of winning.

Cherry Creek’s dominance can put a lot of pressure on Bruins swimmers to keep being one of the top state contending teams each season, but it seems like nobody feels any undue pressure.

“Pressure is a privilege,” added Dinsdale, who is a former Cherry Creek swimmer.

Highlands

BY JIM BENTON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Hard work is starting to pay dividends for Highlands Ranch basketball player Ezra Simonich.

Simonich, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, scored 23 points on Feb. 7 in a Continental League showdown against Regis Jesuit which matched two top ten teams in the CHSAANow state rankings.

“I’ve been working real hard to get my shot going and I felt like the habit paid o ,” said Simonich.

She made ve 3-point baskets to lead the way for the fth-ranked Falcons, who used a strong second and third periods in which they outscored the Raiders 38-19 to pull away from the Raiders, who came into the game ranked sixth.

“We passed really well and we came out a lot faster and harder

I’m really lucky to be in a scenario to feel that. I put it on myself because I don’t want to let my team down but it’s fun. It’s de nitely scary. I was really nervous and I just tried to channel mine into being excited.” e Eagles’ Mary Macauley, a twotime state champ last season, added championship with a winning time of 2:00.67.

Cherry Creek amassed 448 points in the title victory while Regis Jesuit was the runner-up with 367.5 points.

Two-time Class 4A state champion Heritage, which this season moved up to 5A, was third with 321 points.

Ficken, a senior who will continue her education and swimming at Auburn next season, won the 50 freestyle in 22.64 and the 100 freestyle with a time of 48.77.

“It feels so good,” she said. “I’m just so lucky to swim with these girls and I’m just so honored to be able to pick it up and compete.”

Wilson, a junior, captured the 100 backstroke in 52.95.

Both Ficken and Wilson were on