High school swimmers from across the state are gearing up for the highly anticipated Boys State Swim Championship, set to start Thursday, promising fast paced races, force competition, and a celebration of athletic excellence.
The annual meet will bring together top qualifiers from regional competitions with hundreds of swimmers competing in events ranging from the 50-yard freestyle to the 500-yard distance races, along with relays and diving. With team titles and individual medals on the line, the atmosphere is expected to be electric. The boys team finished third behind Fossil Ridge and Ft. Collins at a conference over the weekend, breaking three school records. 100 back Timothy Keenigsberg swam the 100 backstroke with a time of 52.52. Keenigsberg, Hayden Bley, Kris Greenberg, and Ian Spooner swam the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:27.11, but Keenigsberg finished with a school record of 21.14 previously set 30 years ago by Jeremy Everett.
The boys competing are Spooner, Keenigsberg, Greenberg, Bley, Sam Sasakai, Alex Calhoun, and Kern Chahal. “We have kept getting a little bit faster, keep being better teammates and continuing to support each other,” said head coach Colin Shaha. “They hold each other accountable, they make the best out of practices because I think swimming practice is really hard.”
“I am personally excited for the 100m breaststroke because that is my best event and I could make the cut for the first time,” said junior Alex Calhoun. He dropped over two seconds in the 100 breast with a time of 1:02.00.
Sophomore Sam Sasakai mentally prepares especially when under pressure by “staying calm and keeping his head in the same mental space by listening to music and talking to friends.”
The following are scheduled to swim prelims at on Thursday with the following events: 200 Medley Relay – 1:40.72: Kern, Chahal, Calhoon, Sasaki, Greenberg, 200 Free – Spooner 1:42.85, Sasaki 1:50.30, 200 IM – Greenberg 2:03.91, 50 Free – Kenigsberg 21.14, Bley 22.15, 100 Free – Spooner 47.17, Greenberg 49.36, 100 Fly – Kenigsberg 51.01, 500 Free – Sasaki 5:04.51, 200 Free Relay 1:27.21 (Kenigsberg, Bley, Greenberg, Spooner), 100 Back – Bley 56.82, 100 breast – Calhoon 1:02.00, 400 Free Relay 3:13.39 (Kenigsberg, Sasaki, Bley, Spooner)
With personal bests, school pride, and coveted state titles all on the line, the energy surrounding this weekend’s championship meet is reaching an undeniable intensity. Months of early morning practices, grueling workouts, and team bonding have led to this moment. As swimmers take their marks and dive into the water, the pool will be filled not just with talent, but with determination, heart, and the dreams of athletes pushing toward greatness. All eyes will be on the lanes—where races will be won, records may fall, and the next generation of swimming stars will emerge.
