By: Enquirer Preps (Cincinnati.com)
Here's a look at the 2015 Enquirer Media Winter All Star picks for the high school boys swimming players of the year, coaches of the year and the all-city teams for the Kentucky daily and weekly editions. Where available, the all-city teams came from the coaches association lists. Many thanks to our sponsor, Tri-Health.
Cincinnati Enquirer
Swimmer of the Year
Brendan Meyer, Covington Catholic, Swimmer of the Year: The versatile junior had one individual first at the state meet in the 500-yard freestyle and a first on the 400 relay team, which set a state record. Named first-team all-state. Named most outstanding male competitor at the regional championships following a record-shattering performance. Meyer broke the longest-standing Region 4 record on the books, smashing Scott Ryan's 28-year-old standard in the 500 freestyle by a whopping 2.65 seconds with a winning time of 4 minutes, 30.18 seconds. Also won the regional 100 backstroke and swam a leg on the winning 400 relay team. Conference champion in the 500 free, 100 backstroke and 200 medley relay. Scott Eagle Classic champ in 100 back and 100 butterfly.
Diver of the Year
Louie Hunt, Covington Catholic, Diver of the Year: The senior shattered the state meet record with 569.40 points, bettering the 16-year-old mark of 552.70 set in 1999 by Phillip Jones of Tates Creek. Named first-team all-state. Leapfrogged regional champion and state-runner-up Nick Fox of Scott at the state meet while making up nearly 100 points. Fox won the regional competition by less than 10 points over runner-up Hunt. Hunt had an 87-point margin over Fox at state. Northern Kentucky claimed the state's top three divers as CovCath junior Evan Brungs finished third in Louisville.
Coach of the Year
Richard Dickmann, Covington Catholic: The Region 4 coach of the year, leading the Colonels to a win in all but one swimming event for their 17th title in a row. Also named Kentucky High School Athletic Association state meet coach of the year after guiding the Colonels to a runner-up placing for the fourth straight season behind 27-time defending champion Louisville St. Xavier. The Colonels finished 183 points ahead of third-place Louisville Collegiate and had three athletes named first-team all-state. Under Dickmann's direction, and with the aid of an influx of divers under Colonels diving coach Kevin Bodkin, CovCath has become a stronger threat to the longtime champion, finishing within 120 points each of the last three seasons. Four years ago, St. Xavier had a 250-point margin over the Colonels.
All Stars
First team
Evan Brungs, Covington Catholic: The junior finished third in the state diving tournament and was third in regionals. He was named second team all-state.
Dallas Corsmeier, St. Henry: Corsmeier finished sixth in the state diving championship with 392.35 points, ranking fourth among Northern Kentucky entrants. He finished fourth in the regional meet. He was named second team all-state.
Nick Fox, Scott: The senior finished second in the KHSAA state diving competition with 482.05 points, finishing runner-up to Covington Catholic's Louie Hunt, who broke the state record in winning the championship. Fox had beaten Hunt to win the regional title. He also swam on Scott's 200 freestyle relay team which finished 15th in the state and third in the region, and on the 200 medley relay team which placed 13th at state and third in regions.
Austin Haney, Beechwood: He won the state championship in the 200 freestyle in 1:38.97, an All-American time. He also placed third in the breaststroke in 57.05. At regionals, he won the 200 free and was second in the breaststroke.
Louie Hunt, Covington Catholic: The senior shattered the state meet record with 569.40 points, bettering the 16-year-old mark of 552.70 set in 1999 by Phillip Jones of Tates Creek. Named first-team all-state. Leapfrogged regional champion and state-runner-up Nick Fox of Scott at the state meet while making up nearly 100 points. Fox won the regional competition by less than 10 points over runner-up Hunt. Hunt had an 87-point margin over Fox at state. Northern Kentucky claimed the state's top three divers as CovCath junior Evan Brungs finished third in Louisville.
Brendan Meyer, Covington Catholic: The versatile junior had one individual first at the state meet in the 500-yard freestyle and a first on the 400 relay team, which set a state record. Named first-team all-state. Named most outstanding male competitor at the regional championships following a record-shattering performance. Meyer broke the longest-standing Region 4 record on the books, smashing Scott Ryan's 28-year-old standard in the 500 freestyle by a whopping 2.65 seconds with a winning time of 4 minutes, 30.18 seconds. Also won the regional 100 backstroke and swam a leg on the winning 400 relay team. Conference champion in the 500 free, 100 backstroke and 200 medley relay. Scott Eagle Classic champ in 100 back and 100 butterfly.
Robbie Newman, Covington Catholic: The senior was second team all-state after taking third place individually at state in the 200 freestyle (1:41.86) and 100 butterfly (49.66). He was on the state champion 400 free relay team and runner-up 200 medley relay squad. He will swim for Miami (Ohio) University. At regions, he was third in the 200 free and champion in the butterfly.
Todd Sheets, Covington Catholic: The senior finished third in the 100 butterfly (49.66) and 10th in the 50 freestyle. He was regional champion in both events. He was on CCH's state champion 400 freestyle relay team and third-place 200 free relay squad.
Nick Smith, Covington Catholic: The sophomore was a two-time state medalist, placing fourth in the 500 free (4:36.54) and fifth in the 200 free (1:42.24). He finished second in the region in both events.
Mike Summe, Covington Catholic: The senior was named first team all-state. He was on Cov Cath's state champion 400 freestyle relay team and state runner-up 200 medley relay squad. He was runner-up individually in both the 200 IM (1:51.39) and 100 breaststroke (56.28). At regionals, he won both the 200 IM and the breaststroke. He will swim for the University of Kentucky.
Second team
Josh Smith, Covington Catholic: The junior finished eighth in the 500 freestyle at state (4:52.46) to medal and also placed 13th in the 200 freestyle (1:46.85). In the regional meet, he was fourth in both events.
Jack Johnson, Covington Latin: The sophomore finished ninth in the 500 freestyle at state (4:45.72) after placing third in the regional. He was 13th in the backstroke (55.10) at state and second in the regional.
Ty Grubb, Scott: The sophomore placed ninth in the 100 breaststroke (58.95) and third in the region. He was 21st in the 200 IM (2:04.72) and third in the region. Grubb swam on both the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay which reached the consolation final on day two.
Owen Downard, Highlands: The sophomore was the Bluebirds' top performer in the postseason. He finished 10th in the 100-yard backstroke in 53.83 seconds and also 10th in the 100 freestyle in 47.73. He anchored Highlands' 400 freestyle team that finished 14th, and led off the team that finished 19th in the 200 medley relay. At regionals, he placed second in the 100 free and third in backstroke.
Robby Larson, Dixie Heights: The senior swam on all three state relays for the Colonels, lifting Dixie to the consolation final in the 200 free relay (1:32.59), which finished 12th; and the 200 medley relay (1:42.26), which was 14th.
Trey Zimmerman, Dixie Heights: The senior qualified for state in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, and swam on Dixie's point-scoring relay in the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. He was fifth in the region in the 50 free and sixth in the 100.
Evan McMillen, Covington Catholic: The junior was on the third-place 200 free relay at state and the runner-up 200 medley relay and finished 15th in the 50 freestyle (22.33).
Zach Major, Scott: The senior swam on the 200 freestyle relay which finished 15th (1:33.37) and the 200 medley relay which finished 13th (1:42.16). He was 21st at state individually in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.22) and fifth in the region.
Nick Berry, Boone County: The sophomore was a four-time state qualifier, finishing 30th in the 100 freestyle (51.35) and 30th in the breaststroke (1:05.54), plus anchoring both freestyle relays.
Blake Hanna, Covington Catholic: He finished 12th in the state in the IM and backstroke. In the 200 medley relay, he swam on the regional championship team. Also at regionals, he was second individually in the IM and fourth in the backstroke.
Honorable mention
Tyler Brown (Highlands); Bryce Day (Cov Cath); Nathan Dornoff (Ryle); Owen Finke (Holy Cross); Killian Gill (Simon Kenton); Jackson Hurtt (Dixie Heights); Jake Lentsch (Covington Catholic); Adam Leopold (Campbell County); Bailey Malkemus (Ryle); Spencer Manyet (Highlands); Christian Olmstead (Simon Kenton); Shaine Olmstead (Simon Kenton); Greyson Pendery (Highlands); Ethan Poweleit (Dixie Heights); Brandon Powell (Ryle); Timmy Sherrard (Scott); Matthew Sims (Dixie Heights); Nathan Staley (Simon Kenton); Tristan Stamm (Ryle); Gus Staubitz (Holy Cross) and Caleb Summer (Covington Catholic).