Girls swimming: Legacy's Forsman edges Fairview's Mason for gold

Feb. 9—THORNTON — Legacy senior Isabella Forsman and Fairview junior Amelia Mason shared the spotlight for one final showdown in the 100-yard butterfly, this at the Class 5A girls state swimming meet Friday night. The elder got her this time.

Forsman edged Mason in the fly for the only 5A win by a Boulder or Broomfield school at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center, touching in 54.81 seconds, the best time in the state this season.

Mason had been the top swimmer in the event most of the year. She was best out of Thursday's prelims, and before that she had the top time of the season of 55.04. But Forsman had always been within fingertips of her, just fractions of a second back. Though, her reaction following the first individual title of her career hinted otherwise.

Mouth agape, it was a look of surprise that could've been confused as bewilderment. Forsman said she was in "awe" as she peered up at the timing board before turning to embrace Mason. A small grin eventually crept across her face.

"It was kind of a mix of everything. My best time, then obviously winning," Forsman said. "I think I put together one of the best races I've had this season."

Forsman and Mason now have bigger goals for the rest of the year.

Mason, who is committed to the University of Tennessee, said she didn't swim in some events she had top state times in — like the 100 or 200 freestyles — and instead focused on getting times up elsewhere ahead of national and world competition.

"Getting second at a meet like this, it's alright," Mason said. "I'm happy with my time and I think I swam (the fly) as best as I could. And I'm really happy for Bella."

Forsman made it two years in a row that a swimmer from the Boulder or Broomfield area won the 5A fly. Fairview graduate Edith Simecek, now at Princeton, won it in 53.57 last winter.

Forsman, going to the University of Buffalo, also finished second in the 200 individual medley. Even with all the state accolades, however, she said she doesn't get out of club practice tomorrow morning.

"I'm OK with it," she smiled.

Mason added a third-place finish in the 50 freestyle for Fairview, while Yale commit Morgan Cady went second and set a school record in the 500 freestyle, and took third in the 200 freestyle.

The Knights — opening and closing the meet with third-place finishes in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays — finished an area-best fourth as a team. With six top-five finishes, they were less than 10 points back of third-place Heritage but more than 100 behind winner Cherry Creek, which beat second-place Regis Jesuit by three points.

"Overall, it was just a super fun day," Cady said. "Everyone is super proud of themselves. We had some really great swims today."

Legacy finished seventh behind top-eight swims from Emerson Henkel and its 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Boulder, led by five top-eight finishes, including two from Sloan Zallen and Hazel Huilman, was 12th.

Forsman's individual win came a year after three different local swimmers won 5A gold. Simecek, Boulder's Zara Zallen and Legacy's Sabrina Rachjaibun all went on to swim at Division-I schools.

Full area results are below.

200 medley relay

Cherry Creek, first, 1:41.23; Fairview, third, 1:45.81; Boulder, eighth, 1:47.55; Legacy, 14th, 1:51.11.

200 freestyle

Marissa Inouye, Mountain Range, first, 1:49.16; Morgan Cady, Fairview, third, 1:52.42; Sloan Zallen, Boulder, fourth, 1:52.48; Maggie Hansel, Fairview, eighth, 1:54.95.

200 IM

Charlotte Wilson, Cherry Creek, first, 2:00.13; Isabella Forsman, Legacy, second, 2:03.08; Emerson Henkel, Legacy, eighth, 2:09.51.

50 freestyle

Ella Gaca Thiele, Fossil Ridge, first, 22.98; Amelia Mason, Fairview, third, 23.08; Lexi Byrn, Fairview, 13th, 24.18; Valerie Xin, Legacy, 18th, 24.55; Caroline Bruno, Fairview, 19th, 24.68.

1-meter dive

Sydney Ovesen, Fossil Ridge, first, 506.45.

100 butterfly

Isabella Forsman, Legacy, first, 54.81; Amelia Mason, Fairview, second, 55.15; Hazel Huilman, Boulder, fifth, 56.33; Lexi Byrn, Fairview, sixth, 56.37; Agnes Mu, Legacy, 10th, 58.86; Alivia Weaver, Legacy, 18th, 59.55.

100 freestyle

Ella Gaca Thiele, Fossil Ridge, first, 50.02; Valerie Xin, Legacy, 20th, 54.01.

500 freestyle

Mila Nikanorov, Douglas County, first, 4:42.49; Morgan Cady, Fairview, second, 4:53.78; Sloan Zallen, Boulder, seventh, 5:05.20; Maggie Hansel, Fairview, 20th, 5:25.98.

200 freestyle relay

Cherry Creek, first, 1:34.66; Legacy, fifth, 1:37.06; Fairview, sixth, 1:37.44; Boulder, 16th, 1:42.02.

100 backstroke

Charlotte Wilson, Cherry Creek, first, 52.90.

100 breaststroke

Charlotte Burnham, Regis Jesuit, first, 1:01.91; Hazel Huilman, Boulder, fourth, 1:05.00; Emerson Henkel, Legacy, 11th, 1:06.96; Claire Burkhard, Fairview, 17th, 1:07.86; Allie Inman, Fairview, 18th, 1:08.34; Embla Weibring, Boulder, 19th, 1:08.41.

400 freestyle relay

Cherry Creek, first, 3:24.99; Fairview, third, 3:29.62; Legacy, sixth, 3:31.62; Boulder, 13th, 3:35.81.

Team results

Cherry Creek, first, 362 points; Fairview, fourth, 245.5; Legacy, seventh, 175; Boulder, 12th, 130.