Life for the Covington Catholic swimming and diving team in the post-Max Williamson era began when the Colonels reconvened with October practices under coach Richard Dickmann.

The first test of the Colonels’ resolve to remain a regional and state championship contender bereft of its superstar comes Dec. 3 in the season-opening dual meet at Sycamore. The Region 4 meet at Scott and Silverlake is Feb. 13-15. The supreme test arrives Feb. 27, the first day of the state meet at University of Louisville’s Ralph Wright Natatorium.

The coach, architect of a 15th consecutive regional championship and a runner-up state finish last season, is interested in knowing the swagger his boys will carry without the record-breaking Williamson, now swimming at Stanford.

“That dynamic is the key to winning state,” said Dickmann. “We’re the deepest we’ve ever been, and St. X graduated a lot of points. They typically reload, and they know how to make good swimmers great, but they haven’t reloaded as well this year.”

Dickmann and diving coach Kevin Bodkin led a 130-point gain on 25-time defending state champion Louisville St. Xavier at last season’s state meet. St. Xavier has won a record 49 titles. CovCath’s last of five came in 1983.

“It’s not about one good swimmer; it’s about a lot of good swimmers,” Dickmann said. “The more good swimmers you have, the better chance you have to score a lot of points. St. X has won a lot of state titles without a lot of first-place finishes and records. They win it with sheer depth.”

There’s no lack for depth at CovCath. A prime candidate to emerge from Williamson’s shadow is senior Chase Vennefron, the defending regional champion in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200 individual medley. He was part of the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. Vennefron, a University of Minnesota recruit, tied for second at state in the 100 breaststroke.

Junior Zach Smith, second in the 200 freestyle both at region and state, and second in the 500 free at region, is a University of Kentucky recruit. He swam on the state-record-breaking 400 freestyle relay team along with Vennefron and junior Todd Sheets, second individually at region in the 200 free. Junior Robbie Newman is the region’s defending 100 butterfly champion. He was fourth at state

Junior Mike Summe was region runner-up in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, and swam on the winning 200 medley relay. The Colonels swept first place in all three region relays and placed four divers in the top 10, led by runner-up Louis Hunt (second at state) and fourth-place Evan Brungs (fourth at state). They’re all back, and there’s more.

CovCath returns 15 swimmers and divers who accounted for 24 top-5 finishes at the regional, held for the first time at Silverlake, home to the majority of Colonel club swimmers. CovCath welcomes back winners in six events along with eight runners-up. With across-the-board production at the top, they crushed Dixie Heights’ regional upset bid with a 272-point win after watching Dixie win the conference crown.