Samantha Dole of Highlands Ranch was disappointed she did not hit her desired times at the Class 5A state swimming meet. Still, winning two events, the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, did a lot to alleviate her disappointment.

Being selected to the Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado swimming team for a second consecutive season, this time as the 2007 swimmer of the year, also strengthened Dole.

Dole is the second swimmer from Highlands Ranch to earn the top honor in as many years, following Lisa Caprioglio last season.

Joani Glidewell-Anderson of Ralston Valley is the coach of the year after guiding the Mustangs to their first Class 4A state title. The Mustangs, state runners-up last season, also won their third successive Jefferson County League title this season.

Dole, a member of the All-Colorado 200-medley relay team last year, won the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.16 seconds and the 100 in 52.70.

She placed second in the 50 and third in the 100 a year ago.

"To be recognized as the swimmer of the year is amazing," Dole said.

"My times were not what I hoped to achieve, but to win two events is an unbelievable feeling. Knowing you are a state champion in two events is something that can never be taken from you.

"Now I'll be taking a look at college," Dole said. "Washington, Missouri and Penn State are at the top of my list right now. I will probably stay with sprinting in college, maybe some backstroke and the relays. I'll just have to see how it works out."

There is little doubt Glidewell- Anderson has turned Ralston Valley into a power. She has been at the school for five seasons after coaching at Arvada for seven.

"It was a remarkable season," said Glidewell-Anderson, who was assisted by her daughter, Becca Anderson. "We had a goal at the beginning of the year and the girls were determined to win everything, including state. But I didn't think it would happen so fast.

"You can go a whole lifetime and never win a state team title as a coach. I'm still on cloud nine over this. It also is wonderful coaching with my daughter, and she is a very big part of what we have accomplished. We are only losing two seniors, which should make it very exciting next year."

The All-Colorado team is composed of the swimmers/divers who record the best time/score in each event in the state championship finals, regardless of classification.

Fairview's Julie Giehl and Cherry Creek's Michelle Menezes, also a repeat All-Colorado selection, were on the cusp of being two- event champions. However, they split their races with each other.

Giehl won the 200 freestyle and finished second in the 500, while Menezes reversed the order, winning the 500 and taking second in the 200.

Chatfield's Maiya Otsuka did win two events at the 5A championships, the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly.

Class 4A champion Taylor Curado of Rock Canyon is the All-Colorado honoree in the butterfly, though, after recording the top time.

Curado, a sophomore, swam last season for Highlands Ranch and also was on the winning 200 medley relay team with Dole and Caprioglio.

Ralston Valley's Arianne Lujan picked up two gold medals in 4A and makes the All-Colorado squad as a co-winner with Otsuka. Lujan, who swam anchor on Ralston Valley's state champion 400 relay team, posted an identical time as Otsuka in the 200 IM.

Kristin Schmid of Regis had an opportunity to bring home three gold medals. She was on the winning 200 and 400 relays for the Raiders but finished second in the 50 to Dole.

Schmid's teammate, Alyssa Swanson, joined her on both relays. Carrie Markle and Vanessa Pollitt also were on the winning 200 relay team, while Stephanie McNicol and Kelsey Olson teamed with Schmid and Swanson on the 400 foursome.

Cherry Creek, which won the 5A championship, is represented by its 200 medley relay team: Gretchen Cohen, Katie Keller, Morgan Kim-Minau and Katie Naze.

Brighton's Breann Fuller, third in the 100 backstroke last season, vaulted two positions this season to win the event.

Pomona's Cori Swango, who won 5A diving, and Emily Kuhr of Dakota Ridge, the 5A champion in the 100 breaststroke, round out the All-Colorado squad.

All-Colorado girls swimming

Event Swimmer School Yr. Time/Pts.

200-medley relay Gretchen Cohen Cherry Creek Fr. 1:49.88 Katie Keller So. Morgan Kim-Minau So. Katie Naze Fr.

200 freestyle Julie Giehl Fairview Sr. 1:52.27

200 ind. medley Maiya Otsuka Chatfield Sr. 2:07.14 Arianne Lujan Ralston Valley So. 2:07.14

50 freestyle Samantha Dole Highlands Ranch Sr. 24.16

100 butterfly Taylor Curado Rock Canyon So. 57.39

100 freestyle Samantha Dole Highlands Ranch Sr. 52.70

500 freestyle Michelle Menezes Cherry Creek Sr. 5:03.39

200 freestyle relay Carrie Markle Regis Jr. 1:39.20 Vanessa Pollitt So. Kristin Schmid Jr. Alyssa Swanson So.

100 backstroke Breann Fuller Brighton Jr. 58.05

100 breaststroke Emily Kuhr Dakota Ridge Jr. 1:04.91

400 freestyle relay Stephanie McNicol Regis Sr. 3:34.51 Kelsey Olson Jr. Kristin Schmid Jr. Alyssa Swanson So.

Diving Cori Swango Pomona Sr. 458.1

• Swimmer of the year: Samantha Dole, Highlands Ranch.

• Coach of the year: Joani Glidewell-Anderson, Ralston Valley.

• Honorable mention: Loren Brandon, Cherry Creek, So.; Joy Bunting, Greeley West, Sr.; Kyla Dahlquist, Mountain View, Jr.; Ellie Freeman, St. Mary's Academy, Sr.; Shannon Garlie, Fossil Ridge, Jr.; Jenna Gregoire, Rampart, Fr.; Lauren Hewson, Estes Park, Jr.; Katie Johnson, Ralston Valley, So.; Kirsten Milberg, Rock Canyon, Jr.; Patricia Nelson, Fossil Ridge, Fr.; Annie Perizzolo, Smoky Hill, Sr. ; Lauren Rigg, Fairview, Fr.; Kylie Sellers, Ralston Valley, Sr.; Caroline Shea, Mullen, Jr.; Lindsay Zeberlein, Mountain Vista, So.

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