LEWIS-PALMER EYES INVITATIONAL TITLE

The Lewis-Palmer boys swimming and diving team has an opportunity to end Cherry Creek's six-year run as Indians Invitational champions this weekend at Cheyenne Mountain. Both schools are deep enough to enter two teams in the seventh annual invitational.

The event begins with swim preliminaries at 4:20 p.m. Friday and finals starting at 2:20 p.m. Saturday. Diving preliminaries are at 8:40 a.m. Saturday with finals that afternoon. About 300 are expected to compete.

"My money is on Cherry Creek," said Cheyenne Mountain coach Pete Nichols. "They have a pretty rich swimming history, but Lewis- Palmer could give them a good run."

Senior freestylist Josh Day has qualified for state in each of his individual events and anchors the 200 freestyle and medley relays for the Rangers, who are fresh off of a dual meet win over Highlands Ranch.

Senior Matthew Grooms and sophomore Adam Kriete are also expected to do well in the 100 butterfly along with Heath Glover in the 500 freestyle.

Nichols hopes that the strong competition will help with some time drops.

"Our pool can post some fast times," he said. "You want to do fairly well, but it's still the middle of the season."

Senior Devin Wahl has done well and Nichols is really pleased with the production of sophomore Pat Scully in multiple events.

Pine Creek has its 200 and 400 free relays qualified, anchored by junior Greg Hutto. Hutto already has qualified in the 50 freestyle and will swim in the 200 medley relay.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0250

or sports@gazette.com

Copyright 2008
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.