Where are they now: Widefield grad still rocks in pool

Junior Aimee Stinson, a 2005 Widefield graduate, helped make University of Wyoming history at the Mountain West Conference Swimming Championships earlier this month. She became the second Cowgirl to win an individual title when she set a school record in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 16 minutes, 52.52 seconds.

She also set school records in the 200, 500, and 1,000 freestyle and was a part of record-setting 400 and 800 relays.

"It was really fun and exciting," Stinson said. "It's always nice to take down the old ones."

The Cowgirls tied their best finish, placing fourth at the conference championships that were held Feb. 27-March 1 in Oklahoma City. Between men and women, Wyoming broke 15 school records and 20 swimmers, including Stinson, earned all-conference honors.

"When we were in second place after the first day, the girls just really came together," she said.

Stinson held 10 school records, set as a freshman and sophomore, when she graduated from Widefield. She chose to swim at Wyoming because her club coach had gone there and they also offered what she wanted academically.

"I'm majoring in secondary education. Because of my geology teacher in high school, I have wanted to also be a high school geology teacher and they have a really great geology program," she said.

Stephanie Ortiz, Liberty 2006
Sophomore Stephanie Ortiz was also a member of the Wyoming's record-breaking team. She finished eighth in the platform diving portion of the MWC championships with a score of 198.85.

Ortiz also earned all-conference honors. She and the rest of the Wyoming dive team also competed in the NCAA Zone "E" Diving Championships held March 13-15 in Oklahoma City. She finished 22nd (out of 23).

As a senior at Liberty, Ortiz won the 4A state diving title in 2006 and was named The Gazette's Swimmer and Diver of the Year.

Danielle Page, Lewis-Palmer 2004
Danielle Page, the lone senior on the University of Nebraska's women's basketball team, was recently honored before the March 5 game against Iowa State. Page started all 31 games for Nebraska.

The 6-foot-2 forward has set multiple blocked shot records: most in a single game (nine), most for a junior during a season (60) and most during an NCAA Tournament game (five). She is also second on the school's all-time blocks list with 140 in 98 games.

She was also recently awarded her third academic All-Big 12 honors and led the Cornhuskers to a 20-11 record, going 9-7 in conference play. Her career at Nebraska ended after losing 73-67 to Kansas during the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.

Page was an Colorado state all-star. She was the 2004 MVP in "The Show," the Colorado all-star game, and was named The Gazette's Player of the Year that same year.