Most Viewed Stories
This week's Peak Performer: Katie Roach, Cheyenne Mountain girls' swimming
HOCKEY
Jakub Myska, Fountain Valley
In three wins last week Myska scored nine goals and added five assists, as the Danes asserted themselves as one of the top teams in the state with an 8-4 win over Rampart, 6-3 win against Mountain Vista and 11-2 drubbing of Liberty.
BOYS' BASKETBALL
Josh Smith, Sand Creek
The junior had 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists in a 65-33 win over Palmer Ridge, then led the Scorpions with 22 points in a 59-45 win against Vista Ridge to keep Sand Creek undefeated.
GIRLS' BASKETBALL
Kassady Huffman, Air Academy
In a 53-42 win over Falcon, the sophomore collected a triple-double, scoring 15 points and adding 10 blocks and 10 rebounds. Later in the week in a 54-22 win over Cheyenne Mountain she had five points, 10 steals and nine rebounds.
WRESTLING
Ryan Mahan, Doherty
The two-time state qualifier went 5-0 in matches to help the Spartans go 3-2 in duals over the weekend. The senior had three wins by pin fall, winning in 1 minute, 12 seconds, 2:34 and 3:45.
Hearing that Cheyenne Mountain cranks out exceptional swimmers each year might sound like a broken record, but the hits just keep on coming.
The Indians are loaded again and are hoping to make some sweet music behind one of the best swimmers in the state — Katie Roach.
The senior had quite a weekend at the Hornet Invitational at Pueblo County, taking home titles in the 200-yard freestyle and 100 breaststroke, while also being the key on relay teams which broke pool records in both the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.
“Katie’s biggest strength is how she is able to excel in any event she dives in for; wherever we place her she does amazing,” said Cheyenne Mountain coach Kate Doan, who has coached a lot of top talent in her tenure with the Indians. “She’s one of the top swimmers who has come through Cheyenne Mountain and she can do all of the events well, which will make any college coach happy.”
Roach is still undecided about where she’ll be hitting the pool next season as a college freshman. Among those considered at the moment are Brown University, Notre Dame, Michigan and Stanford.
While Roach considers her future, her eyes are definitely on the prize immediately in front.
“I know I’m ranked first in the 100 breaststroke right now (in 4A), but there are some very fast girls and it will be a battle at state,” said Roach, who thinks she will probably also swim the 200 IM at state.
But it’s not just her individual performance at the Hornet Invitational that has her looking for big things; she was very happy with how her team performed as a whole.
“I think as far as cohesiveness goes, this is the closest team I’ve been on in my four years here,” Roach said. “People have no idea how much that helps, even though it might not seem as important as having the best talent in every event. I know our relays are strong, and I’m excited by the fact that we have so many swimmers that can win points at state.”
Doan is pleased with how Roach and the rest of the Indians are progressing. She says one of the keys is to keep the girls rotating in different events to keep things fresh.
“We’re definitely above where we were a year ago at this point in the season,” Doan said. “We knew going in that Katie wanted to swim the 200 free, but athletes get stale if they do the same things over and over again, so it’s up to us to give her different challenges like the 200 IM.”
