Colorado state swimming championship outcomes from 2026 CHSAA 5A meet

It wasn’t a back-to-back title swim for Sam Lofstrom.

You would not have identified it from his response within the pool, although.

Lofstrom got here up simply wanting a second straight Colorado Class 5A championship, ending in 20.51 seconds to take runner-up within the 50-yard freestyle on the CHSAA 5A state swim state meet May 9 at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center.

This wasn’t a crushing defeat for the Georgia-bound swimming star, not less than based mostly on his personal response.

He poured any disappointment into a direct celebration with first-place finisher Ethan Swafford (Douglas County), who bested the reigning champ by 0.3 seconds with a time of 20.21.

Lofstrom regarded on the instances after which immediately embraced Swafford, with the pair lifting their arms collectively in unison whereas flashing jubilant smiles.

In a aggressive world like prep swimming, it was a second of pure sportsmanship.

“If I was going to lose to anybody, I wanted it to be him,” Lofstrom stated of Swafford.

“He’s my bro, we do Bible studies together and connect a lot even though he lives in Castle Rock. It was just cool to have a brother in faith and in the pool. He’s such a good guy, so I’m really happy for him.”

Lofstrom’s time was over half a second off his 19.99 profitable time final 12 months however nonetheless good for All-American consideration.

In Lofstrom’s different solo swim, he took fifth in a crowded 5A subject, touching in 45.77 seconds.

“My 100 swim was alright, but I wasn’t crazy happy with it. I’m definitely feeling pretty tired at this point and maybe didn’t have quite my best,” Lofstrom stated.

That was far off his private report within the occasion, however maybe a symptom of shuffled preparation this spring as Lofstrom balances membership, highschool and future faculty coaching priorities.

For instance, Lofstrom was a fourth-place 5A finisher within the 100 butterfly final 12 months, but didn’t even compete within the occasion at state this season.

“It’s been a tough balance, honestly. I’m just trying to go to as many practices as I can because that’s going to prepare me for how much work it’s going to take in college,” Lofstrom stated.

Still, after a remaining swim within the 400 free relay, it was a bittersweet farewell for the Lobos’ standout. Lofstrom’s illustrious profession included the varsity’s first swimming state title since 1994 along with his 50 free triumph final season.

“It’s crazy. I almost feel kind of old,” Lofstrom stated with a giant chuckle. “But I’m happy to finish it out racing with these guys on my team. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

The Lobos senior led the way in which in an abnormally-light 5A state meet for locals, with solely Lofstrom, a Rocky relay and a Fossil relay qualifying for ‘A’ finals.

And amongst different metropolis swimmers, it was a 12 months for near-misses.

Fort Collins and Fossil Ridge every had a number of swimmers end eleventh or twenty first in prelims, that means they only missed out on spots in an ‘A’ remaining (prime 10) or a ‘B’ remaining (prime 20).

Fort Collins’ Drew Bickerton gained his ‘B’ finals warmth within the 500 free to complete eleventh, whereas the Lambkins additionally gained the ‘B’ warmth within the 200 free relay to take eleventh.

Fossil Ridge’s Parker Grissom additionally gained the ‘B’ remaining within the 200 particular person medley.

Rocky Mountain (eleventh general, 119.5 group factors)

• Sam Lofstrom: 50 free (2nd), 100 free (fifth)
• Edison Doebbeling: 100 breaststroke (twelfth), 200 IM (14th)
• Ezra Ferguson: 100 fly (fifteenth), 200 IM (seventeenth)
• Tristan Johnson: 100 backstroke (sixteenth)
• 200 medley relay: seventh
• 400 free relay: twelfth

Fort Collins (seventeenth, 76 factors)

• Drew Bickerton: 500 free (eleventh), 200 free (twelfth)
• Lucas DeVries: 100 fly (14th)
• Noah Wojcik: 100 breaststroke (18th)
• Eli DeVries: 100 fly (nineteenth)
• 200 free relay: eleventh
• 200 medley relay: twelfth
• 400 free relay: nineteenth

Fossil Ridge (twentieth, 59 factors)

• Parker Grissom: 200 IM (eleventh), 500 free (seventeenth)
• Jaxson Mania: 200 free (fifteenth)
• Kyle Spencer: 1-meter diving (twenty first)
• 400 free relay: tenth
• 200 free relay: fifteenth

Windsor’s Everitt leads locals at 4A state

Windsor senior Elias Everitt led the Fort Collins-area contingent within the 4A state meet at Arvada Aquatic Center.

Everitt took third within the 100 backstroke and seventh within the 200 IM, serving to the Wizards take seventh within the 4A group standings.

Noah Abram additionally positioned seventh within the 4A 1-meter diving competitors, whereas Dawson Hansen completed eighth within the 100 free for Windsor.

Poudre’s Liam Moore was a fifth-place finisher within the 100 again, and Impalas teammate Elan Tamez positioned ninth within the 500 free.

Chris Abshire covers highschool and neighborhood sports activities for the Coloradoan.