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Fossil Ridge's Brennen O'Neil wins 5A state swimming title to lead local record-setters

chris abshire, fort collins coloradoan
·4 min read

THORNTON — State titles haven't been a given for the Fossil Ridge boys swimming program over the last half-decade.

But SaberCats' swimmer Brennen O'Neil showed it was his turn Saturday, bringing home the Colorado Class 5A 200-yard individual medley state title at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center.

The junior went wire-to-wire, his lead never in doubt as he set a new personal record with a time of 1 minute, 49.13 to take the gold.

It was just Fossil's second boys state crown since Danny Kovac's two-title performance in 2018, which included a 200-IM win.

"It feels amazing," O'Neil said. "Danny's a guy I always think of with this program, so it's awesome to follow his footsteps.

"I've been chasing 1:49 for a while. It's nice to have a breakthrough."

Fossil Ridge's Brennen O'Neil takes to the podium for his first place finish in the 200 yard IM during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.
Fossil Ridge's Brennen O'Neil takes to the podium for his first place finish in the 200 yard IM during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.

Fossil's Carter Ruthven also won a 100 fly state title in 2022.

This win was a glimpse into O'Neil's fierce work ethic, allowing him to excel in just about any event.

"Brennen's a great story," said first-year Fossil coach Keaton Brown. "He’s a swiss-army knife for any team and maybe the hardest worker I’ve ever coached. Our job is just directing him, and he's learned how to direct that energy in the right moments."

"I definitely take pride that I can swim them all well and be diverse," O'Neil added.

He also helped two Fossil Ridge relay squads (200 and 400 free) finish fifth, strong finishes against a deep 5A field. The SaberCats finished fourth as a team, too.

That's emblematic of where the program is right now.

Fossil only brought 12 swimmers to state. For context, champion Cherry Creek had 38.

"We're smaller but mighty right now," Brown said. "We have great swimmers but we need more reinforcements, more guys to move up and provide depth."

O'Neil is a good focal point going forward, with Fossil only losing two seniors from this year's squad.

"It’s my first (state title) and that’s pretty sweet," O'Neil said.

"What’s unique in high school swimming is your success is individual but it’s also about your team. I was just happy to do it for those guys next to me."

Fossil Ridge's Brennen O'Neil competes in the 200 yard IM during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.
Fossil Ridge's Brennen O'Neil competes in the 200 yard IM during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.

Rocky Mountain's Lofstrom sets two school records in top-3 finishes

It was also a big day for Rocky Mountain standout Sam Lofstrom.

The sophomore took runner-up honors in the torrid 50 free and then took third in the 100 fly.

He set school records in both events, with a 50-free time of 20.35 seconds and a 100-fly time of 49.00.

Lofstrom, younger brother of former Lobos swimmer Matthew, shaved time off his prelim times in both races and helped Rocky's relay teams make the top-20 in the 200 medley and 400 free.

Rocky Mountain's Sam Lofstrom competes in the 100 yard butterfly during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.
Rocky Mountain's Sam Lofstrom competes in the 100 yard butterfly during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.

Fort Collins' 200 medley relay unit set a new school record in dramatic fashion, clipping the mark set in 2013 by just .02 seconds in a time of 1:35.63.

The Lambkins' Danny Rinchiuso also set new school bests in the 200 IM (1:53.43) and 100 breaststroke (57.00).

More: Back from traumatic brain injury, Windsor's Jake Eccleston again wins two 4A swimming titles

Fossil Ridge (4th, 215.5 team points)

  • Brennen O'Neil: 1st (200 IM), 11th (100 fly)

  • Ryan Stahl: 3rd (200 free), 6th (100 fly)

  • Owen Walsh: 7th (100 back), 19th (100 free)

  • Jake Barela: 8th (50 free), 14th (100 free)

  • Pierce Bickerton: 11th (200 free), 11th (500 free)

  • 200 free relay: 5th (O'Neil, Bickerton, Stahl, Barela)

  • 400 free relay: 5th (O'Neil, Bickerton, Barela, Stahl)

  • 200 medley relay: 16th (Walsh, Matthew Campbell, Nathan Pretorius, Ryan Lautzenhiser)

Fossil Ridge's Ryan Stahl competes in an event during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.
Fossil Ridge's Ryan Stahl competes in an event during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.

Fort Collins (12th, 108)

  • Daniel Rinchiuso: 8th (100 breaststroke), 9th (200 IM)

  • Jack Devincenzi: 9th (500 free), 17th (200 free)

  • Aidan Favela: 9th (1-meter diving)

  • Jaden Putman: 15th (500 free)

  • Axel Erickson: 16th (100 breaststroke)

  • 200 medley relay: 10th (Devincenzi, Rinchiuso, Erickson, Hudson Casady)

  • 400 free relay: 16th (Devincenzi, Zekiah Rentfrow, Noah Wojcik, Rinchiuso)

Fort Collins' Danny Rinchiuso competes in the 100 yard breaststroke during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.
Fort Collins' Danny Rinchiuso competes in the 100 yard breaststroke during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.

Rocky Mountain (19th, 74)

  • Sam Lofstrom: 2nd (50 free), 3rd (100 fly)

  • Parker Edwards: 11th (1-meter diving)

  • 200 medley relay: 12th (Allen Zwicke, Soren Campbell, Lofstrom, Cole Simon)

  • 400 free relay: 19th (Lofstrom, Zwicke, Simon, Ezra Ferguson)

Rocky Mountain's relay team competes in the 400 yard freestyle relay during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.
Rocky Mountain's relay team competes in the 400 yard freestyle relay during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.

Poudre (21st, 65)

  • Micah Moore: 6th (200 IM), 15th (100 fly)

  • 200 free relay: 9th (Moore, Luke Foster, Josh Rogers, Veerachai Kritayapong)

  • 200 medley relay: 14th (Rogers, Dylan Pallickara, Moore, Foster)

Poudre's relay team is announced before the start of the 200 yard freestyle relay during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.
Poudre's relay team is announced before the start of the 200 yard freestyle relay during the Class 5A state swimming championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton, Colo.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado state swimming: Fossil Ridge's Brennen O'Neil wins 5A 200 IM title