By: Marc Hardin, Enquirer contributor
Notre Dame Academy and Covington Catholic reasserted their dominance at Saturday's Region 7 swimming and diving championships at Silverlake and Scott High School by winning 19th consecutive crowns.
Notre Dame totaled 520 points, far outdistancing girls' team runner-up Ryle (316).
"Obviously, a victory is always sweet," said Notre Dame coach Courtney Sorrell, who has guided the Pandas to their last two regional crowns. She was named female coach of the year. "But, our focus since the beginning of the season has been on the state meet. Our attitude is get it done at the region and set us up for state."
The top two finishers in each event automatically qualify for the Feb. 24-25 KHSAA state swimming and diving championships at Louisville's Ralph Wright Natatorium.
CovCath outpaced boys' team runner-up Highlands, 494-375.5, giving rookie coach Scott Vennefron his first regional title. "It feels really good," Vennefron said. "These kids are an awesome group of young men."
Highlands also continued its regional streak by capturing a sixth straight combined team championship. The Bluebirds boys and girls totaled 644.50 points, far ahead of runner-up Dixie Heights (560.5)
"I can't believe this is my 10th, with four at Beechwood ," said Bluebirds coach Amanda Johnson, named boys' coach of the year. "The kids did great. They amaze us."
It was a day featuring record times, multiple winners, program firsts and some oddities, including a pair of ties.
Individual regional records were set by Notre Dame's Sophie Skinner in the girls' 200-yard freestyle (1 minute and 48.47 seconds), teammate Allie Piccirillo in the 100 butterfly (55.24), and CovCath's Nick Smith in the boys' 200 freestyle (1:38.59) and 500 freestyle (4:27.99).
Skinner and Piccirillo won all four events they entered. Skinner also won the 100 freestyle and swam legs on the victorious 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. Piccirillo added a win in the 500 freestyle and swam legs on the winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
Skinner, a junior was named outstanding female athlete of the meet for the third year in a row. "It's just an honor," Skinner said. "I've been practicing really hard and it's good to see it pay off."
NDA's Amanda Smith was in on three wins in the 100 backstroke, and 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
CovCath's Smith also won four events, adding wins in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays en route to winning the outstanding male athlete of the meet award for the first time. "I feel blessed. It's awesome," he said.
Covington Catholic's relay team wins the 200 yard relay a Saturday's Region 7 swimming championships at Silverlake,Saturday, Feb. 11. (Photo: Tony Tribble for the Enquirer)
Notre Dame and CovCath both swept the relays. The Pandas set a regional record in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:28.31.
Dixie's Daniel Sims won two races, taking the 100 freestyle and tying for first in the 50 free. Twin brother Matthew Sims won the boys' 100 butterfly. Dixie also received wins from Seth Young in the boys' 200 individual medley and Kenady Beil in the girls' 50 freestyle.
In the 1-meter boys' diving competition at Scott, Gus Staubitz of Holy Cross and Highlands' Finn Murphy fashioned the first-ever tie atop local regional diving standings. Both divers totaled 455.15 points for their first regional crowns. Staubitz is the first Holy Cross swimmer or diver to win a regional title.
Scott's Lindsey Fox (489.60) repeated as girls' diving champion. She heads to Lexington looking for her second consecutive state championship.
Tying Daniel Sims in the 50 free was Boone County's Rob Winterman. Both finished with a time of 22.41 seconds. By sharing the win, Winterman accomplished a couple Boone County firsts. He became the first Rebel boy or girl to win a regional swimming event. He's the first Boone County boy to automatically qualify for state as an individual.
Results
Saturday's Region 7 swimming and diving championships at Silverlake and Scott High School.
Girls event winners: 200 medley relay-Notre Dame Academy 1:46.46, 200 freestyle-Sophie Skinner (NDA) 1:48.47, 200 individual medley-Sam Glass (NDA) 2:03.67, 50 freestyle-Kenady Beil (Dixie Heights) 24.08, 1-meter diving-Lindsay Fox (Scott) 489.60 points, 100 butterfly-Allie Piccirillo (NDA) 55.24, 100 freestyle-Sophie Skinner (NDA) 51.15, 500 freestyle-Allie Piccirillo (NDA) 4:56.95, 200 freestyle relay-NDA 1:40.16, 100 backstroke-Amanda Smith (NDA) 56.10, 100 breaststroke-Mollie Bushelman (Beechwood) 1:03.91, 400 freestyle relay-Notre Dame 3:28.31.
All-region: Lindsey Fox (Scott), Sophie Skinner (NDA), Sam Glass (NDA), Kenady Beil (Dixie Heights), Allie Piccirillo (NDA), Amanda Smith (NDA), Mollie Bushelman (Beechwood), Mallory Beil (Dixie Heights), Caroline Sand (Highlands).
Girls team standings (top 10): Notre Dame 520, Ryle 316, Dixie Heights 302, Highlands 269, Beechwood 169, Cooper 125, Campbell County 117, Holy Cross 114, St. Henry 97, Conner 96.
Boys event winners: 200 medley relay-Covington Catholic 1:39.09, 200 freestyle-Nick Smith (CovCath) 1:38.59, 200 individual medley-Seth Young (Dixie Heights) 1:56.67, 50 freestyle-Daniel Sims (Dixie Heights) and Rob Winterman (Boone County) 22.41, 1-meter diving-Gus Staubitz (Holy Cross) and Finn Murphy (Highlands) 455.15 points, 100 butterfly-Matthew Sims (Dixie Heights) 51.50, 100 freestyle-Daniel Sims (Dixie Heights) 48.90, 500 freestyle-Nick Smith (CovCath) 4:27.99, 200 freestyle relay-CovCath 1:28.78, 100 backstroke-Ethan Hanna (CovCath) 52.84, 100 breaststroke-Ty Grubb (Scott) 58.16, 400 freestyle relay-CovCath 3:13.70.
All-region: Finn Murphy (Highlands), Gus Staubitz (Holy Cross), Nick Smith (CovCath), Seth Young (Dixie Heights), Rob Winterman (Boone County), Daniel Sims (Dixie Heights), Matthew Sims (Dixie Heights), Ethan Hanna (CovCath), Ty Grubb (Scott).
Boys team standings (top 10): Covington Catholic 494, Highlands 375.5, Dixie Heights 258.5, Beechwood 180, Holy Crosws 155.5, Boone County 148.5, Cooper 125, Scott 107, Simon Kenton 99, Ryle 95.
Combined team standings: Highlands 644.5, Dixie Heights 560.5, Ryle 411, Beechwood 349, Holy Cross 269.5, Cooper 250, Campbell County 193, Scott 167, Conner 166, St. Henry 160, Boone County 156.5, Simon Kenton 153, Villa Madonna 28.