Hitting the club scene/ Air Academy sophomore gains experience

While most athletes have off-seasons in which to pursue other interests, top high school swimmers have little time for anything but their sport.

An example of this consummate swimmer is Air Academy sophomore Jenn Beiner. Last season, as a freshman, she won the state 50- and 100-yard freestyle titles.

Beiner was not fazed with the experience of competing against older girls.

"I had been competing against the same girls in club meets, so I knew how they swam," she said. "We pretty much know each other because we've been competing against each other for a few years, although not in high school meets.

"I didn't look at it like I was a freshman and they were seniors. I just looked at it like they were just competitors. In club, there's no distinction after the age of 15. So I'm used to competing against older swimmers."

Beiner credits year-round swimming as the reason she won the state titles in her first year of high school competition.

However, that leaves little time for anything other than practicing and doing schoolwork.

"I don't have time to do a lot, so I just hang around with my friends, when I have a chance," she said. "I can't think of anything else that I do. Swimming is what I love. So that's what I spend my time doing, and there is no 'free' time."

Beiner, like many of the top Metro League swimmers, started at an early age, 3, and was competing in New Jersey at 5.

"I started competing in all events and liked it so much that I started swimming all year," she said.

As a member of Colorado Springs Swim Team, Beiner also competes in club meets during the high school season.

"I really like doing both. High school is a lot more team oriented than club swimming. It's a lot bigger deal to do well in a relay at high school state than it would be to do well in it at club state. Both my high school and club coaches work really well with us. They want us to have fun, and that's what keeps me doing both."

Air Academy, Cheyenne Mountain and Palmer look to be the best of the Metro League. Beiner believes that Cheyenne Mountain will probably take the league title.

"Pretty much everyone on Cheyenne Mountain's team is from my club team. I'm the only one who is not (at Cheyenne). They are probably the best 4A team in the state."

Cheyenne Mountain senior, and fellow Colorado Springs Swim Team member, Karen Long will be Beiner's chief competition in the Metro League.

The Colorado High School Activities Association has increased the number of schools in 5A, including Air Academy.

This means that Beiner and Long will compete for the Metro title, but they will compete in separate classes at the state meet. Air Academy will be facing perennial 5A powers such as Cherry Creek at state (Feb. 15-17 at Fort Collins).

"I don't know who I'll be swimming against at state," Beiner said. "There are some pretty good swimmers at some of the Denver schools."

- Paul G. Wallace may be reached at 636-0250 or at gtsports@gazette.com

Tadpole with state titles

Air Academy sophomore Jenn Beiner won the state 50- and 100-yard freestyle titles as a freshman.

Teams to challenge for Metro League title

Cheyenne Mountain - Returning junior Anna Trinidad leads a strong contingent for the 4A state title. Trinidad is strong in 200 individual medley and breaststroke as well as swimming in the relays. "Anna will do fine wherever I put her," said coach Dusty Campbell. Seniors Karen Long (freestyle, backstroke), Allison Johnson (freestyle), and Elizabeth Harrison (butterfly, freestyle) return. Top distance swimmers McKenzie Clark and Megan Frye, along with diver Kaley Knafelc round out the team to beat in the Metro League.

Air Academy - With state freestyle sprint champion Jenn Beiner, new coach Kari Christy hopes to make a splash at state. Ivey Boyer, Amber Collins, and Lindsey Phillips will be counted on in the relays. Sarah Tuder (200 freestyle) and Julia Melendez (butterfly, IM) should contend for state. AA has two strong divers in Karissa Tuthill and Ashlyn Forster.

Palmer - Freshman Amy Krakhauer is expected to be a strong contender in the breaststroke and IM. Caitlin Anderson (backstroke), Amy Gosch (sprint freestyle), and April White (50-200 freestyle) are expected to give senior leadership. Others to watch are Katrina Fenlon, Andrea Fesler, and Jenny Marshall.

Liberty - Junior Katie Chmielewski (all freestyles) and senior Laura Cutter (diving) hope to lead the team to state. Seniors Sarah Gardner (IM, breaststroke), Sarah Lichtwardt(backstroke, 500 freestyle) and Breanna Newkirk (IM, freestyle) give experience. Juniors Anna Hollinger, Michelle Shafer and Meghan Wood give the team depth.

Rampart - Strong junior and senior leadership is the key for this team. The seniors are: Sally Corrie (50-100 freestyle) and Megan Taylor (200 freestyle, 100 backstroke). Juniors Dee Dalros (200 & 500 freestyle), Meg Densmore (200 IM, 100 butterfly, all freestyles), Andrea Dorsey (200 IM, 100 backstroke) and Nicole Marshall (200 IM, 100 butterfly, 50 & 100 freestyle) will greatly help.

Other teams and players to watch

Coronado - Seniors: Simone Weil (200, 500 freestyle, relays), Kerry Peterson (200 freestyle, 200 IM, 100 butterfly, relays); juniors Shannon Lamport and Amy Feurhaken (diving); sophomores Kate Mahler and Lindsey Williams (50, 100 freestyle, relays).

Lewis-Palmer - Senior: Vanessa Rivers (100 backstroke, 500 freestyle); juniors Jamie Keyes (100 backstroke, 200 IM), Jen Lehman (50 freestyle).

Fountain-Fort Carson - Senior: Melinda Chidester (100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke); juniors: Jennifer Ferjak (200, 500 freestyle, 200 IM)

Harrison - Seniors: Miriam Sallee (100 breaststroke, 50 freestyle), Crystal Kubiak (freestyle); junior Candice Powell (diving); sophomore Eve Briggs (freestyle).

Sierra - Seniors: Tara Strachan holds school records in 50, 100, 200 freestyle, Elizabeth Ferrara (all strokes); juniors Tiffany Lawson (breaststroke, relays), Laurie Dane (freestyle).

Widefield/Mesa Ridge - Senior Aimee Hakala (50 & 100 freestyle); juniors: Amanda Ledford (backstroke, 200 & 500 freestyle, IM), Amanda Witt (200 & 500, IM); sophomore Jessie Martin (50, 100 freestyle).

- Paul G. Wallace; The Gazette

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