GILLETTE - Most observers had a hunch that Cheyenne Central would retain its spot as the top girls swimming program in the state. No one, however, expected the Indians to do it by just one point.

Central won its second straight team title at the Class 4A Wyoming State High School Swimming and Diving Championships, overcoming a disqualification in the first event of Friday's finals and beating Gillette 261-260.

"How we swam (Thursday) set us up for (Friday)," said Central coach Mark Miller. "Without some good performances in the prelims, it would have been difficult. (Thursday) was huge for us."

The only performance that matched Central's gutsy team effort was the performance of Kelly Walsh's Kristen Heiss in the final prep meet of her career.

The senior defended her individual titles in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100 backstroke. She won both events for the third straight year and broke the 4A state records she set in both events at the 2003 finals.

She also helped the Trojans to a third straight first-place finish in the 200 medley relay. Heiss and junior Carrah Haley were on all three of those championship teams, and were joined on Friday and in '03 by Courtney Hicks and Kelsey Higginson.

Heiss was named the Athlete of the Meet and Athlete of the Year for the second straight season and her times in both of her individual events earned her automatic All-American honors from the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association.

Central, which had hoped to sweep all three relays at the Campbell County Aquatic Center, picked up three individual titles and placed second in three other events.

"Our expectation was to repeat and to win two in a row with our program - which has been in the top-three year-in, year-out - is really awesome," Miller said. "We're going to take some time to enjoy this one and then we're going to get ready for next year."

Juniors Sarah Ruppert (100 butterfly) and Kaella Hartigan (100 breaststroke) defended titles, and senior Elizabeth Carlton picked up the other victory in the 50 freestyle. The trio added second-place finishes in their other individual events, and each swam legs on Central's winning 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.

Those relays and Carlton's effort in the 50 freestyle qualified for All-American consideration from the NISCA.

Heather Robinson was the other big point-getter for the Indians, swimming on the winning relays and scoring championship-heat points in her individual races.

"We knew Sarah and Kaella were going to win events, Elizabeth swam awesome, and Heather stepped up as a senior," Miller said. "But without people like Morgan Craver, who dropped nine seconds off her personal best in the 200 freestyle, we wouldn't have had a chance."

KW's Haley was the meet's other repeat individual champion. She took by 500 freestyle by almost 16 seconds over Rupert.

The junior notched her first 200 individual medley title earlier in the meet. She beat Laramie's Mariah Moore by more than 3 seconds after losing to the sophomore by 16 hundredths of a second last year.

Gillette sophomore Jessie Andrews led the Camels' run for the title, winning the 100 freestyle. She also finished second in the 50 and posted All-American consideration marks in both events, as well as Gillette's 200 freestyle relay.

Laramie's Morgan Hobbs rounded out the individual champions by winning the diving title.

Team Scores: 1. Cheyenne Central 261; 2. Gillette 260; 3. Laramie 183; 4. Kelly Walsh 163; 5. Sheridan 114; 6. Cheyenne East 106; 7. Riverton 74; 8. Rock Springs 67; 9. Green River 53; 10. Evanston 43; 11. Cody 41; 12. Natrona County 10.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Kristen Heiss, Kelly Walsh. ATHLETE OF THE MEET: Kristen Heiss, Kelly Walsh.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Phil Rehard, Gillette. ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR: Elizabeth Nowak, Laramie.

200 Medley Relay

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Kelly Walsh (Kristen Heiss, Kelsey Higginson, Carrah Haley, Courtney Hicks), 1:53.96; 2. Gillette 1:57.52; 3. Laramie 1:59.47; 4. Sheridan 2:00.53; 5. Cheyenne East 2:02.90; DQ. Cheyenne Central.

CONSOLATION: 1. Green River 2:04.87; 2. Rock Springs 2:07.12; 3. Cody 2:07.12; 4. Evanston 2:08.40; 5. Riverton 2:18.96; 6. Natrona County 2:20.05.

200 Freestyle

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Kristen Heiss, KW, 1:51.79 (broke state record of 1:53.13 set by Heiss in 2003; automatic All-American time); 2. Kaella Hartigan, CC, 2:01.62; 3. Colleen Urbatchka, She, 2:02.85; 4. Morgan Craver, CC, 2:03.82; 5. Ashley Page, Lar, 2:04.11; 6. Julie Elliott, Gil, 2:06.08.

CONSOLATION: 1. Beth Garrett, CE, 2:06.14; 2. Amy Friend, Eva, 2:07.07; 3. Amanda Watson, Cod, 2:07.15; 4. Kala Farley, Lar, 2:07.30; 5. Stacy Mallak, Gil, 2:07.42; 6. Laura LeMasters, Riv, 2:10.16.

200 Individual Medley

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Carrah Haley, KW, 2:12.69; 2. Mariah Moore, Lar, 2:15.75; 3. Gwen VanBaalen, Lar, 2:20.59; 4. Annie Shackelford, Gil, 2:21.72; 5. Madison Roberts, Gil, 2:24.31; 6. Jay Diller, CC, 2:29.33.

CONSOLATION: 1. Naomi Ballard, CC, 2:27.10; 2. Ashley Alden, She, 2:28.39; 3. Chelsea Delaplaine, CE, 2:28.87; 4. Robin Ferguson, Gil, 2:30.67; 5. Callie Holcomb, KW, 2:32.04; 6. Elizabeth Schribner, CC, 2:32.48.

50 Freestyle

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Elizabeth Carlton, CC, 24.23 (All-American consideration time); 2. Jessie Andrews, Gil, 24.32 (All-American consideration time); 3. Heather Robinson, CC, 25.16; 4. Rachael Holst, She, 25.52; 5. Krissy Schumacher, GR, 25.81; 6. Paige Young, Gil, 25.84.

CONSOLATION: 1. Kayla Buss, Riv, 26.01; 2. Brenna Peters, Lar, 26.15; 3. Amanda Rawson, RS, Riane Menardi, RS, 26.40; 5. Genna Phillips, Gil, 26.53; 6. Casey Stadel, CE, 26.98.

Diving

1. Morgan Hobbs, Lar, 333.60; 2. Monica Pointon, Riv, 329.55; 3. Lindsey Hall, CE, 327.75; 4. Anya Weschler, She, 318.55; 5. Lana Christensen, KW, 316.20; 6. Nicole Zans, RS, 315.70; 7. Brandi Johnson, Riv, 309.70; 8. Shannon Smith, Eva, 304.35; 9. Natalie McKeown, Gil, 303.65; 10. Marie King, Riv, 263.25; 11. Lacie McIntire, Eva, 256.85; 12. Kayla Rider, GR, 255.75.

100 Butterfly

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Sarah Ruppert, CC, 1:01.34; 2. Mariah Moore, Lar, 1:01.72; 3. Colleen Urbatchka, She, 1:02.13; 4. Shannon Dixon, Gil, 1:03.20; 5. Annie Shackelford, Gil, 1:03.86; 6. Aliina Lahti, CC, 1:04.65.

CONSOLATION: 1. Kelsey Higginson, KW, 1:04.14; 2. Amanda Forister, She, 1:06.53; 3. Erin Murray, CC, 1:07.51; 4. Christin Roberts, Gil, 1:08.08; 5. Megan Tysse, Eva, 1:08.50; 6. Elizabeth Schribner, CC, 1:08.90.

100 Freestyle

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Jessie Andrews, Gil, 52.42 (All-American consideration time); 2. Elizabeth Carlton, CC, 53.17; 3. Heather Robinson, CC, 54.92; 4. Morgan Craver, CC, 56.16; 5. Brenna Peters, Lar, 56.84; 6. Julie Elliott, Gil, 56.92.

CONSOLATION: 1. Madison Roberts, Gil, 57.71; 2. Riane Menardi, RS, 57.74; 3. Genna Phillips, Gil, 58.32; 4. Kayla Buss, Riv, 58.70; 5. Maggie Zaback, CC, 58.81; 6. Casey Stadel, CE, 1:00.98.

500 Freestyle

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Carrah Haley, KW, 5:18.97; 2. Sarah Ruppert, CC, 5:34.73; 3. Ashley Page, Lar, 5:39.54; 4. Shannon Dixon, Gil, 5:42.36; 5. Kristina Kline, Gil, 5:43.55; 6. Stacy Mallak, Gil, 5:47.04.

CONSOLATION: 1. Beth Garrett, CE, 5:44.91; 2. Amy Friend, Eva, 5:44.95; 3. Ashley Alden, She, 5:51.23; 4. Laura LeMasters, Riv, 5:53.60; 5. Kelly McMahill, Gil, 5:53.90; 6. Chase Stonecipher, Riv, 5:56.61.

200 Freestyle Relay

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Cheyenne Central (Elizabeth Carlton, Heather Robinson, Kaella Hartigan, Sarah Ruppert) 1:39.42 (All-American consideration time); 2. Gillette 1:40.82 (All-American consideration time); 3. Laramie 1:47.46; 4. Cheyenne East 1:48.57; 5. Rock Springs 1:49.24; 6. Riverton 1:49.37.

CONSOLATION: 1. Kelly Walsh 1:50.29; 2. Cody 1:52.65; 3. Evanston 1:53.44; 4. Natrona County 1:56.97; 5. Green River 1:58.62; DQ. Sheridan (prelims).

100 Backstroke

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Kristen Heiss, KW, 56.05 (broke state record of 57.14 set by Heiss in 2003; automatic All-American time); 2. Krissy Schumacher, GR, 1:01.67; 3. Amanda Watson, Cod, 1:03.76; 4. Chelsea Delaplaine, CE, 1:04.45; 5. Rachael Holst, She, 1:05.90; 6. Paige Young, Gil, 1;05.94.

CONSOLATION: 1. Kaia Christofferson, Gil, 1:06.84; 2. Maggie Zaback, CC, 1:07.31; 3. Erin Murray, CC, 1:08.53; 4. Katrina Anderson, KW, 1:09.22; 5. Amy King, CE, 1:09.40; 6. Julianne Gern, Lar, 1:01.68.

100 Breaststroke

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Kaella Hartigan, CC, 1:07.50; 2. Gwen VanBaalen, Lar, 1:10.16; 3. Naomi Ballard, CC, 1:11.10; 4. Christin Roberts, Gil, 1:13.99; 5. Jay Diller, CC, 1:14.44; 6. Amanda Rawson, RS, 1:14.64.

CONSOLATION: 1. Courtney Hicks, KW, 1:14.05; 2. Kathryn Bagby, Lar, 1:16.05; 3. Katya Abulashuilli, RS, 1:16.63; 4. Katie Slebiska, GR, 1:16.79; 5. Kaitlin Kominsky, Lar, 1:16.97; 6. Kelly Baxter, CE, 1:18.09.

400 Freestyle Relay

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Cheyenne Central (Elizabeth Carlton, Heather Robinson, Kaella Hartigan, Sarah Ruppert) 3:39.02 (All-American consideration time); 2. Gillette 3:42.96; 3. Kelly Walsh 3:44.97; 4. Sheridan 3:54.04; 5. Laramie 3:54.66; 6. Cheyenne East 4:00.32.

CONSOLATION: 1. Riverton 4:02.55; 2. Evanston 4:05.96; 3. Green River 4:12.40; 4. Cody 4:17.10; 5. Rock Springs 4:19.42; 6. Natrona County 4:22.51.