Craig Daily Press

Photo by John Vandelinder

Kelsey Conci receives the gold medal, along with a handshake, from a Colorado High School Activities Association representative Saturday after winning the 50-yard freestyle swimming state championship.

Fort Collins — Sleeping.

That’s what you would have found Kelsey Conci — the No. 1 ranked 4A swimmer in the state — doing Saturday about a half hour before her championship meet.

With the inside of Colorado State University’s Edora Pool and Ice Center full of anticipation, screaming fans, parents and coaches as well as a band, it was hard enough trying to hear yourself think, let alone sleep.

Nobody wanted to wake the sleeping giant, because when they did, Moffat County’s swimming giant did what she does best.

Win.

Kelsey stormed the EPIC pool, blazing to a gold-medal-winning time of 24.48 seconds.

She captured her first state championship in a highly decorated four-year career.

“I thought I would win, and I did. I set the goal of winning the state title in the free and here it is,” Kelsey said holding the medal up for all to see. “Now it’s mine.”

Kelsey dominated her “favorite race” all season for the Bulldogs. She won the race at each swim meet this season and entered the championships with the fastest qualifying time in the state, regardless of classification.

“I’ve worked hard all year to get here,” she said. “It’s all paid off. I knew in the final stretch I would win. I could tell. I’ve beaten all these girls before and I knew today would be no different.”

What was different was the senior’s results in the 100-yard backstroke.

She entered the championship round of the backstroke ranked third in the state.

She left with the silver medal, missing gold by a mere .08 seconds.

Her time of 58.64 seconds was a new personal best.

“I wanted gold in this event, too,” she said after receiving her silver medal. “A fraction of a second. That’s it. It’s OK though, I had a great run.”

Kelsey’s sister Caitlin also competed on the final day of competition, placing third in the consolation bracket of the 100-yard butterfly.

Entering the championships ranked 13th, Caitlin placed 11th overall.

“I finished higher than when I came into this event,” Caitlin said. “I can’t ask for anything more. I gave it my all.”

Sophomore diver Genevieve Bradley made a huge splash on the 4A diving scene.

Qualifying as the 28th seed entering the season-ending tournament, she climbed through three-round competition to finish seventh in the state.

Her finish was the highest by an underclassman in the event.

“I’m just speechless,” Bradley said. “Each year I’m getting better. I keep climbing, and that makes me really excited for the next few years. I’m already thinking about next year.”

There will be no next year for the Conci sisters as well as Clare Sorrentino.

Caitlin is moving on to swim at the University of North Dakota, Kelsey is going to swim at the University of Wyoming, senior Sorrentino is graduating and coach Marin Campbell is retiring.

When the question was posed to Caitlin about her finishing her last race as a Bulldog, there was no reply.

Just tears.

As the afternoon came to a close, and the realization of a season now over set in, the Moffat County girls swimming team was full of emotion.

“It’s sad to see it all come to an end,” Sorrentino said. “We have had a great year. It was so much fun. We came in here and swam our butts off. We’ve all learned so much this year and become such good friends. I don’t want it to end.”