With Cherry Creek winning its fourth consecutive Class 5A state girls swimming title Friday, the Bruins seniors don't know what it's like not to win.

But sophomore Christine Wixted, who transferred from Grandview, said her first individual title in the 100-yard breaststroke was better than she dreamed because it went hand in hand with being a part of a state championship team for the first time.

"I can't explain how happy I am and how great this feels," said Wixted, who finished fifth in the 200 individual medley and was part of the Bruins' 200 medley team that finished second. "The attitude and the atmosphere here, it totally gives you that boost you need. It's so great to be a part of this team. I miss Grandview, but a state championship team is a state championship team."

Cherry Creek won at the Edora Pool Ice Center with a score of 349 points, followed by Fairview (269) and Regis Jesuit (1931/2). The Bruins went seven events without a victory until junior Loren Brandon pulled through in the 500 freestyle, earning automatic All-American status with a time of 5 minutes, 1.63 seconds.

"It's funny, because I was really excited to win, and then everyone told me that it really pushed them," said Brandon, also a member of the 400 freestyle relay team. "I felt really happy that I could do something to help the team. This is so exciting for all of us."

Brandon finished second in the 200 freestyle, behind Lewis- Palmer junior Jackie Cromer.

"I knew I was right up there, and I never felt like I was the lesser competitor in this race," said Cromer, who finished fifth last year and had the fastest time this season. "I know I hit the wall first and I just looked up at the clock to make sure. I was in it to win it."

Wixted wasn't the only underclassman with an impressive performance. Fairview sophomore Lauren Rigg won the 100 butterfly (57.50), Rampart sophomore Jenna Gregoire won the 100 freestyle (52.03) and Smoky Hill freshman Caroline Piehl won the 200 individual medley (2:07.16) in earning automatic All-American status.

In the 50 freestyle, Chatfield junior Shelley Perkins tied with Fort Collins sophomore Tricia Nelson, who won the event in Class 4A last year.

Brighton senior Breann Fuller was the only 5A defending champion to retain her title, winning the 100 backstroke for the second year in a row. Fuller (57.17) was pushed by Boulder junior Sophie Allen (57.41), and both were fast enough to swim automatic All-American times.

"It definitely would have been terrible not to win it in my senior year," said Fuller, who will swim at Colorado State next season.

"But I am so thankful. I just wanted to win it so bad."

Chaparral senior Elizabeth Yovich won her first diving title and was selected the Colorado Diver of the Year by coaches throughout the state. She had finished ninth last year.

CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Team scores: 1. Cherry Creek 349; 2. Fairview 269; 3. Regis Jesuit 1931/2. 4. Boulder 1501/2, 5. Mountain Vista 131. 6. Arapahoe 129, 7. Rampart 128, 8. Grandview 107, 9. Chatfield 1061/2. 10. Fort Collins 961/2.

11. Smoky Hill 72, 12. Monarch 59, 13, tie, Eaglecrest, Littleton 49, 15. Heritage 47, 16, tie, Dakota Ridge, Brighton 41, 18. Lewis-Palmer 40, 19. Wheat Ridge 34, 10. Denver East 33.

200-yard medley relay: 1. Boulder (Sophie Allen, Mackenzie Cooke, Ellie Shetter, Alex Scrimgeour), 1 minute, 48.92 seconds (All-American); 2, Cherry Creek, 1:48.93 (AA); 3. Fairview, 1:49.75; 4. Rampart, 1:50.71; 5. Regis Jesuit, 1:50.83; 6. Mountain Vista, 1:51.15; 7. Monarch, 1:51.38; 8. Arapahoe, 1:52.12.

200 freestyle: 1. Jackie Cromer, Lewis-Palmer, 1:53.16; 2, Loren Brandon, Cherry Creek, 1:53.97; 3. Jordan Mattern, Cherry Creek, 1:54.87; 4. Hanna Cox, Dakota Ridge, 1:55.49; 5. Alyssa Swanson, Regis Jesuit, 1:56.48; 6. Mikella Zgliczynska, Fairview, 1:57.23; 7. Katherine Glassner, Chatfield, 1:58.22; 8. Devon Smith, Arapahoe, 1:58.45.

200 individual medley: 1. Caroline Piehl, Smoky Hill, 2:07.16 (AA); 2, Katie Naze, Cherry Creek, 2:08.32; 3, Paige Newell, Arapahoe, 2:08.96; 4. Lindsey Morris, Eaglecrest, 2:09.84; 5. Christine Wixted, Cherry Creek, 2:11.40; 6. Morgan Kimminau, Cherry Creek, 2:11.54; 7, Lauren Rigg, Fairview, 2:13.26; 8. Vanessa Pollitt, Regis Jesuit, 2:14.03.

50 freestyle: 1. Shelley Perkins, Chatfield, 24.17; (tie) Tricia Nelson, Fort Collins, 24.17; 3, Jenna Gregoire, Rampart, 24.18; 4. Kristin Schmid, Regis Jesuit, 24.27; 5. Sophie Lucas, Fairview, 24.79; 6. Kyla Dahlquist, Mountain Vista, 24.84; 7. Laura Kollar, Fort Collins, 24.95; 8. Tasia Demuth, Fairview, 25.29.

Diving: 1. Elizabeth Yovich, Chaparral, 479.10; 2, Hanna Tautz, Littleton, 467.6; 3, Courtney Fieldman, Cherry Creek, 445.05; 4. Aubrey Bush, Eaglecrest, 442.0; 5. Raleigh Williams, Arvada West, 430.15; 6. Lauren Rone, Grandview, 393.10; 7. Abby Cook, Bear Creek, 389.90; 8. Annie Rhoades, Brighton, 387.0.

100 butterfly: 1. Lauren Rigg, Fairview, 57.50; 2, Alex Todd, Regis Jesuit, 58.32; 3, Olivia Martens, Grandview, 58.34; 4. Sophie Lucas, Fairview, 58.35; 5. Frances Mathias, Ponderosa, 58.47; 6. Jennifer Oster, Cherry Creek, 58.79; 7. Lindsay Zeberlein, Mountain Vista, 59.15; 8. Kelly Stone, Wheat Ridge, 1:00.15.

100 freestyle: 1. Jenna Gregoire, Rampart, 52.03; 2, Tricia Nelson, Fort Collins, 52.64; 3, Caroline Piehl, Smoky Hill, 52.87; 4. Jordan Mattern, Cherry Creek, 52.95; 5. Jackie Cromer, Lewis-Palmer, 53.00; 6. Kyla Dahlquist, Mountain Vista, 53.28; 7. Sophie Allen, Boulder, 53.31; 8. Kristin Schmid, Regis Jesuit, 53.31.

500 freestyle: 1. Loren Brandon, Cherry Creek, 5:01.63 (AA); 2, Paige Newell, Arapahoe, 5:05.89; 3, Mikella Zgliczynska, Fairview, 5:06.01; 4. Alyssa Swanson, Regis Jesuit, 5:10.58; 5. Olivia Martens, Grandview, 5:11.99; 6. Sydney Pair, Fairview, 5:12.01; 7. Heidi Culver, Green Mountain, 5:15.20; 8. Katherine Glassner, Chatfield, 5:19.73.

200 freestyle relay: 1. Cherry Creek (Jordyn Ambrosich, Jordan Mattern, Katie Naze, Gretchen Cohen), 1:38.55; 2, Regis Jesuit, 1:38.59; 3, Fairview, 1:39.00; 4. Boulder, 1:39.51; 5. Chatfield, 1:39.64; 6. Arapahoe, 1:40.34; 7. Heritage, 1:40.47; 8. Grandview, 1:40.48.

100 backstroke: 1. Breann Fuller, Brighton, 57.17 (AA); 2, Sophie Allen, Boulder, 57.41 (AA); 3, Yana Garvey, ThunderRidge, 58.38; 4. Taylor Kitayama, Fairview, 58.50; 5. Morgan Kimminau, Cherry Creek, 59.39; 6. Lindsay Zeberlein, Mountain Vista, 59.77; 7. Elizabeth Glenn, Cherry Creek, 59.92; 8. Jasmine Hawkins, Rampart, 59.96.

100 breaststroke: 1. Christine Wixted, Cherry Creek, 1:06.49; 2, Emily Kuhr, Dakota Ridge, 1:06.83; 3, Kylie Rathbone, Lakewood, 1:06.98; 4. Kelly Mathews, Denver East, 1:07.19; 5. Kyrene Clark, Rampart, 1:07.40; 6. Linsey Morris, Eaglecrest, 1:07.67; 7. Katie Naze, Cherry Creek, 1:07.70; 8. Whitney Dougherty, Monarch, 1:08.83.

400 freestyle relay: 1. Cherry Creek (Jordan Mattern, Morgan Kimminau, Katie Naze, Loren Brandon), 3:32.60 (AA); 2, Regis Jesuit, 3:33.44 (AA); 3, Fairview, 3:35.02; 4. Boulder, 3:35.45; 5. Chatfield, 3:37.43; 6. Rampart, 3:37.54; 7. Grandview, 3:40.26; 8. Arapahoe, 3:42.37.