The Niwot Girls Swim Team set seven new school records on the way to a third place finish at state in Class 4A this past season.  Kristen Lahey, only a freshman, topped the previous marks in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 200 IM, 100 backstroke and the 500 freestyle.  Her time in the backstroke was a new state 4A record.  She joins NHS grad Travis Kummer, now swimming at UNLV, as the only state swimming record holders from Niwot.  Kummer set his mark in the 100 butterfly. 

Lahey’s times in the backstroke and 200 freestyle were both good for All America consideration as among the top 1% of times in the nation. 

New school records were also set in the 200 freestyle relay by Kylee Allen, Ahsley Pruett, Trisha Roiniotis and Lahey, and in the 400 freestyle relay by Whitney Humble, Annamarie Novinger, Pruett and Lahey.  Both relay times were also good for All America consideration. 

Coach Alain Valette noted that Lahey also set new conference records in the backstroke and 200 IM.  The 400 freestyle relay team set a new conference record as well, with Allen, Novinger, Pruett and Lahey swimming the event at conference. 

“Everybody had a good year,” Valette said.  “We had such a deep team.  We should have had six or seven in the top 12 in each event at conference, but we can only take four swimmers per event.”  As it was, Niwot took 15 swimmers to the state meet. In addition to Lahey, Novinger, Roiniotis, Allen, Pruett and  Humble, the state squad included Marley Prystupa, Theresa O’Connor, Abby Brandenmuehl,Caity McGannon, Stephanie Spurgeon, Vanessa Paswaters, Jessica Elshoff, Courtney Douthit and Katie Billings. 

Seven of the NHS swimmers swim for the Longmont Redtails club swim team.  “Club teams are more competitive, but high school teams seem to have more fun,” Valette noted.