St. Mary’s Academy is proud to announce that its Swim & Dive Team is the 2024 Colorado 3A Girls Swimming & Diving State Champions, following the finals on Saturday, Feb. 10. 

The Wildcats clinched the victory with a total score of 384 points, surpassing the five-time defending champions. SMA dominated in seven out of 11 events, taking first place in the 400 Yard Freestyle, 200 Yard IM, 200 Yard Medley, 50 Yard Freestyle, 100 Yard Butterfly, 100 Yard Freestyle, and 200 Yard Freestyle Relay. SMA athletes also broke the 3A record for the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay with 3:34:04, and the 200 Yard IM with 2:03:11. 

The complete placements of the Swim & Dive Team:

Dive:

• 3rd place in 1 Meter Dive - Mia Williams 

Swim:

• 1st place in 400 Yard Freestyle Relay and record-breaking swim time of 3:34.04 - Riley Mills, Blair Franciscus, Kate Callender, and Caitlin Crysel
• 1st place in 200 Yard IM and record-breaking swim time of 2:03.11 - Caitlin Crysel 
• 1st place in 200 Yard Medley Relay - Blair Franciscus, Caitlin Crysel, Riley Mills, and Madison Crysel
• 1st place in 50 Yard Freestyle - Riley Mills
• 1st place in 100 Yard Butterfly - Riley Mills
• 1st place in 100 Yard Freestyle - Caitlin Crysel
• 1st place in 200 Yard Freestyle Relay - Madison Crysel, Lauren Anderson, Annika Damon, and Kate Callender
• 4th place in 200 Yard IM - Madison Crysel
• 4th place in 500 Yard Freestyle - Kate Callender
• 4th place in 100 Yard Breastroke - Madison Crysel
• 5th place in 200 Yard Freestyle - Kate Callender
• 7th place in 200 Yard Freestyle - Blair Franciscus 
• 10th place in 100 Yard Backstroke - Blair Franciscus 
• 13th place in 200 Yard Freestyle - Lauren Anderson 
• 14th place in 100 Yard Freestyle - Lauren Anderson
• 18th place in 200 Yard Freestyle - Annika Damon
• 19th place in 500 Yard Freestyle - Annika Damon

Caitlin Crysel broke the 3A state record in the 200 IM with 2:03:11 to make it four titles in four years in that event in her high school career. She became the sixth swimmer in state history to win four titles in a single event, and the third person to do so in the 200 IM. Caitlin also placed first in the 100 Freestyle to mark her seventh individual state title, making her the 10th swimmer in state history to win seven or more events at the state championships. 

Riley Mills, Blair Franciscus, Kate Callender, and Caitlin Crysel were the final winning relay team for the 400-yard Freestyle that had the lead in the entire race. They broke the 3A record with a time of 3:34.04.

The 200 Medley team of Blair Franciscus, Caitlin Crysel, Riley Mills, and Madison Crysel took the first place of the night. Riley took first place in the 50 Freestyle and the 100 Butterfly. Madison Crysel, Lauren Anderson, Annika Damon, and Kate Callender rounded out the first placements with the 200 Freestyle Relay. 

Caitlin Crysel was also named the 3A Swimmer of the Year! 

Congratulations to the entire Swim & Dive Team for exemplifying the true spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship through their unwavering support and friendship for each other.

Lauren Anderson, Grade 11 
Elly Bante, Grade 10
Maddy Bante, Grade 12
Lola Bruns, Grade 9
Kate Callender, Grade 10
Devon Chambers, Grade 12
Caitlin Crysel, Grade 12 
Madison Crysel, Grade 10 
Annika Damon, Grade 10 
Victoria Davis, Grade 9
Blair Franciscus, Grade 12
Tori Fowler, Grade 12
Alexandra Harrington, Grade 10
Malika Haro, Grade 10
Ryan Hilgers, Grade 9
Sappho Hummel, Grade 9
Isabella Hurley, Grade 9
Ginna Jacoby, Grade 11
Olivia Link, Grade 12
Riley Mills, Grade 11
Theodora Mechem, Grade 10
Vivienne Mesko, Grade 9
Mary Sarah Mounsey, Grade 12
Kaitlin Mueller, Grade 11
Sara Orrego, Grade 11
India Phoenix, Grade 10
Sofia Redhead, Grade 9
Elena Russell, Grade 9
Laney Sims, Grade 10
Clara Sissel, Grade 9
Gabby Stein-Plog, Grade 10
Sydney Tatar, Grade 12
Noelle Thompson, Grade 9
Violet Turner, Grade 10
Mia Williams, Grade 10
Claire Wilten, Grade 10

Prior to the state meet, Caitlin Crysel was named the Tri-Peaks League Swimmer of the Year, Coach Kelly Shipley was named Tri-Peaks League Coach of the Year, and our Swim & Dive won the Tri-Peaks League Championship! 

These incredible athletes are led by Coaches Kelly Shipley, Jason Hubbard, and Lise Kafka!