Fairview finishes second at 5A swim meet behind Lexi Byrn's win in the butterfly

Fairview takes second at the 5A state meet as Lexi Byrn wins the 100 butterfly.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 9:07pm

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Fairview's girls swimming team finished second at the Class 5A state meet, led by junior Lexi Byrn's victory in the 100-yard butterfly. Byrn also helped Fairview take second in the 200 medley relay and added bronze medals in the 100 backstroke and 400 freestyle relay. Despite being outmatched in numbers by powerhouse Cherry Creek, Fairview's small but mighty squad impressed with 12 top-10 finishes, including silver medals for Marin DeNeen in the 200 IM and Callie Marks in the 500 freestyle.

Why it matters

Fairview's strong performance at the 5A state meet, despite being significantly smaller than perennial champion Cherry Creek, showcases the program's depth and the ability of its athletes to punch above their weight class. This result highlights the continued growth and competitiveness of the Fairview swimming program.

The details

Fairview junior Lexi Byrn won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 54.26 seconds, edging out reigning champion Hazel Huilman of Boulder (54.34). Byrn also helped Fairview's 200 medley relay team finish second (1:44.31) and took bronze medals in the 100 backstroke (56.25) and 400 freestyle relay (3:30.98). Other top finishers for Fairview included Marin DeNeen (second in 200 IM, sixth in 100 breaststroke), Callie Marks (second in 500 freestyle), Ava Teunnisen (fourth in 100 backstroke), and Rachel Lev-Tov (fifth in 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly).

  • Fairview junior Lexi Byrn won the 100-yard butterfly on Wednesday at the Class 5A state meet.

The players

Lexi Byrn

A junior swimmer at Fairview High School who won the 100-yard butterfly at the Class 5A state meet.

Hazel Huilman

A swimmer from Boulder High School who finished second in the 100-yard butterfly at the Class 5A state meet.

Fairview High School

The high school whose girls swimming team finished second at the Class 5A state meet, despite being significantly smaller in numbers than powerhouse Cherry Creek.

Cherry Creek High School

The high school that won the Class 5A girls swimming state championship, continuing its dominance in the event.

Stacey Tobey and Francoise Bentley

The co-coaches of the Fairview High School girls swimming team, who were named the Class 5A Coaches of the Year.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know if you noticed or not, but our numbers compared to Cherry Creek's numbers. Just the mere fact that we were able to get second is a true definition of small but mighty.”

— Stacey Tobey, Fairview High School girls swimming co-coach

“There was this infectious enthusiasm that rolled through from Marin, Lexi, Rachel, Callie and it just spread across the team event by event. I truly believe it gave each of the girls (the belief) that they can (do well).”

— Francoise Bentley, Fairview High School girls swimming co-coach

“It feels great to win, but it also just feels good to help get my team more points and contribute to that. That's what makes it really special. We all come together so we can place well.”

— Lexi Byrn

The takeaway

Fairview's girls swimming program continues to punch above its weight, finishing second at the 5A state meet despite being significantly smaller than powerhouse Cherry Creek. The Knights' small but mighty squad, led by standout junior Lexi Byrn, showcased the program's depth and competitiveness, providing hope that they can continue to challenge the state's swimming giants in the years to come.