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Sister act making waves for Fairview swimming

Lessing sisters are part of a strong Fairview team eyeing a state championship title.

BOULDER – If anybody knows a little something about success in swimming, it's Fairview girls swim and dive coach Robert Smartt.

Smartt has his girls ranked No. 1 in Class 5A after knocking off two-time defending state champion Fossil Ridge.

“You can see character in the water, in terms of developing a work ethic that is a life skill,” Smartt said.

This year's Fairview team is very skilled, led by senior and University of Kansas commit Amelie Lessing.

“I’ve grown up swimming," Lessing said. "My dad was a five-time world champion in triathlon.”

Swimming indeed runs in the Lessing blood and it doesn’t stop at Amelie. Her toughest competition just may be her younger sister Karla.

“I hate when she beats me because sometimes when I beat her in practice I feel so good about myself; but when she beats me I feel so bad” Karla said laughing.

With a smile, Amelie responded: “I feel bad swimming next to her, racing my younger sister and beating her, but also it’s nice.”

A little sibling rivalry could be a good thing for the sisters, according to Smartt.

“They get along well and they use that in training to both push each other,” he said.

The Fairview girls won the state championship in 2016, and Smartt knows that if this year's team is going to have success at the state level again the team is going to have to work together ... just like family.

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