Year: 2019
Award: Swimming, High School
Location/Affiliation: Fossil Ridge High School, Ft. Collins
- 5A Swimmer of the Year
- 200 & 500 Freestyle State Champion
Swimming is big on individual glory. But, when it all comes together for team success, too, that’s really making a splash. And, freestyler Coleen Gillilan helped make it happen for her Ft. Collins Fossil Ridge team.
By the time Coleen graduated, the Sabercats had won the 5A state title three straight years, they’d set a national record in the 200 medley relay, and she’d set a state high school record in the 100 butterfly. In her final state meet, she won individual titles in both the 200 and 500 freestyle.
The one thing Coleen didn’t attempt in that final meet was to lower her state mark in the 100 butterfly. Instead, her younger sister Renee swam the event and made her own splash by winning her first state title! Afterwards Renee said, “It’s just really cool following in Coleen’s footsteps because she’s my idol.”
Now, the big sister’s making a splash in the college ranks. Early in her career at Notre Dame, Coleen Gillilan was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Swimmer of the Week.
