In the 2nd edition of the 2018 Colorado High School boys’ state rankings, the battle in Class 4A (small schools) has opened up ever-so-slightly, while 5A (big schools) has conversely tightened as more times enter the event ranks.
In 5A, Fossil Ridge are still heavy favorites, holding a 47-point edge over Regis Jesuit in the scored-as-state ranking. That, however, is way down from the 107-point margin that they had in the initial rankings last week.
Among the biggest drivers of that jump for Regis Jesuit was a 21.40 in the 50 free from senior Elijah Warren. That ranks him 4th in the state so far this season. He also ranks 1st in the 100 breaststroke with a 57.55 already on his ledger from a meet earlier this season. Warren is verbally committed to Arizona State.
But Fossil Ridge, with depth and power, still sits comfortably in 1st place in the latest rankings. They continue to hold the fastest times, by some margin, in both the 200 and 400 free relays, and rank 2nd in the 200 medley as well.
Meanwhile, in 4A (the smaller schools), previous #2 Windsor High School jumped Silver Creek for the #1 ranking, holding a 17-point margin based on a seed-scored state meet. The change wasn’t driven so much by a whole lot of new information about either of those teams; it was moreso the result of other teams much further down the rankings adding swims to the database and bumping down both teams’ scorers – which impacted Silver Creek more than Windsor.
Charging hard in the rankings are Cheyenne Mountain, who now have the top-ranked 200 medley relay with a 1:38.56 and also saw senior Missouri commit Kyle Leach move to the top of the 500 free rankings with a 4:45.88. Leach now ranks 1st in class 4A in 4 different events: the 50 free, 100 free, 500 free, and 100 fly. It seems just a matter of opportunity, not quality, that keeps him from the top of the 200 free rankings as well.
Rankings Methodology
Per the rankings’ administrator, Rob Nasser:
- A team scores points just like a championship meet by placing an athlete or relay in the top 16 and points are awarded in that fashion.
- Adjustments have been made that account for athletes ranked in more than 2 individual events so that the scores are not skewed from one athlete/school.
- The main reason for this is to hopefully generate more publicity for all the kids who have worked so hard for it and swimming and diving in general.
- This is geared more for prediction of how the state championship meets will turn out, rather than how a dual meet against two teams will fare.
- Times/scores have been pulled in only from data submitted to MaxPreps. If you do not see times in there that should be, then you most likely did not submit them. This should help to motivate people/coaches to submit them in a timely manner. (Hint: Submit your meets to MaxPreps ASAP)
- An exhaustive listing of all submitted times is located at MaxPreps.com.
- If there is a media outlet that you would like me to include when I send these out, please let me know and I will add them in.
