The Windsor Wizards have a record holder, a young lady who has won state titles and set new standards for the school and even for the state.
Morgan Friesen, the two-time defending Class 4A champion in the 100-yard breaststroke, not to mention the all-classification record holder in the event and the first in state history to swim sub-1:02 with a 1:01.90, is a big-time talent. She also tied the previous record of 1:02.47, set by Cherry Creek’s Kelly Naze in 2010, in prelims at state.
Windsor swimmer Morgan Friesen. (Nina Lewis/ninasart.smugmug.com)
An outstanding all-around talent in the pool, the junior also notched a third-place finish in the 200 IM at last year’s state meet, breaking the Windsor record with a time of 2:06.32. She’s swam on multiple state-placing relays, as well.
Talent is a given but, while Friesen scores points in bunches for the Wizards, her impact on the program goes far beyond the times and places she posts. She has a ripple effect in the pool.
“We have a very strong team this year,” Windsor coach Mandy Schneider said. “Morgan leads that. She leads it in the water and out of the water. I think other girls see that and they see how fast she swims and how well she does and they want to be like that. They want to do those same things that she does.”
Windsor won the Tri-Valley League title last winter and qualified nine girls to the state meet, one season after qualifying four. They return eight of them. Schneider says the work her ladies have put in during the off-season in recent years is helping to elevate the program. Friesen has been at the forefront of that.
“She is very dedicated not only to her high school team, but also her club team, which is very important to her,” Schneider said. “I think that also has been one of the reasons a lot of the girls have swam in the summer. They see what she is capable of doing.”
A stellar sophomore year didn’t come as a surprise to those who follow swimming state-wide after seeing Friesen’s ability as a freshman, when she already won the 100 breaststroke in dominant fashion and broke and rebroke her own record. For Friesen, more than anything, she was just excited for the opportunity to compete for her high school. Winning has been some icing on the cake.
“I had no idea truly,” Friesen said of being able to win a state title as a first-year. “I was super excited for high school. It was just a different experience than anything I had ever done before. Being a representative of your high school, I was super excited, but I had no idea I would have that outcome come out of it. I really didn’t see it coming.”
The amazing things she does no longer surprise, but continue to impress. She’s two-for-two in her best event. Asked if she’s thought about the possibility of going four-for-four in the 100 breaststroke, Friesen had a humble and mature response.
“That would be awesome,” she said. “You never know. There’s always people that come in. What I can control is my work in the pool and just being a part of a team. I am just looking for personal improvements. If I could, it would be awesome. I would be so honored to be able to do that, but right now I’m just working on what I can control.”
Like anyone the caliber of Friesen, she has natural physical gifts. Schneider says her dedication is what’s allowed her to take full advantage of those gifts.
“You can look at times and see that she’s talented, but she is dedicated to swimming in every way,” Schneider said. “She always makes sure that everything she does, she does 100 percent. She is very focused. She swims with her full heart every time she gets in the water.”
So, what’s ahead for the Windsor star? Two more years of high school and then she wants to continue her career in college. With her talent, she might be doing this for a long time. Before that, Friesen wants to see what’s possible with the Loveland Swim Club and Windsor, a program that placed ninth in 4A last season and might be top five this year.
“It takes a team to win a swim meet, it doesn’t take just one swimmer, but her points are definitely one of the things that help boost us at every single meet,” Schneider said. “She is very good at helping everyone else improve too.”
Friesen won’t be the only stellar returner in 4A as 12 all-state performers are back, including two from Evergreen, the two-time defending champions, and four from Valor Christian, the third place team last year.
As for Class 5A, Fossil Ridge, after winning their second state title in the sport, has four all-state returners, three of which were only freshmen or sophomores last season. The Sabercats should be powerful again. Regis Jesuit also returns four all-state honorees.
Girls swimming preview
Class 4A
Defending champion: Evergreen
Runner-up: Cheyenne Mountain
Regular season begins: December 1
State championships: February 12-13, VMAC (Thornton)
All-State returners: Morgan Friesen, Jr., Windsor; Madison Hoehn, Jr., Valor Christian; Kethrys Buffa, Jr., Manitou Springs; Raili Carter, Sr., Valor Christian; Emily Dolloff-Holt, Jr., Manitou Springs; Katelyn Kenchel, Jr., Evergreen; Brook Landt, Sr., Valor Christian; Kate McDonald, Jr., Evergreen; Veronica Morin, Sr., Manitou Springs; Brooke Stenstrom, Sr., Valor Christian; Samantha White, Sr., Manitou Springs; Cat Wright, Soph., Cheyenne Mountain
Class 5A
Defending champion: Fossil Ridge
Runner-up: Regis Jesuit
Regular season begins: December 1
State finals: February 12-13, EPIC (Fort Collins)
All-State returners: McKensi Austin, Sr., Regis Jesuit; Zoe Bartel, Soph., Fossil Ridge; Jennae Frederick, Jr., Regis Jesuit; Lesley Ann-Knee, Jr., Fossil Ridge; Abigail Kochevar, Sr., Rock Canyon; Bailey Kovac, Jr., Fossil Ridge; Amy Lenderink, Sr., Regis Jesuit; Lindsay Painton, Sr., Regis Jesuit; Bayley Stewert, Soph., Fossil Ridge