Northern Kentucky had four state champions in boys swimming last year. All four boys champions graduated along with nine of 10 first-teamers in last year’s Enquirer All-Star selections. Both of the girls state champions return.
Highlands is the reigning Region 7 boys team champion and finished second in the state. Ryle won the girls team regional title and finished fourth in the state. Traditional powers Covington Catholic and Notre Dame haven’t gone away and have strong teams.
Boys
Nick Bonta, Covington Catholic
The senior finished third in the 100 backstroke and ninth in the 200 freestyle at the regional meet, finishing 15th in the backstroke at state.
Austin Cutcher, St. Henry
The junior finished sixth in the region in the 500 freestyle and 10th at state. He finished eighth in the 200 IM at regionals and helped the Crusaders finish fourth in two relays.
Roman Furuta, Ryle
The junior finished third in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 200 IM at the regional meet, and helped the Raiders finish top-three in two relays. He finished 12th in the state in the 200 IM.
Matt Herfel, Highlands
The sophomore finished third in the regional meet in the 200 IM and fourth in the 100 breaststroke while helping the Bluebirds win the 200 free relay. He finished 13th in the 200 IM at state. His points helped the Bluebirds win the region and finish second in the state.
Evan Jones, Highlands
The junior finished fourth in the regional meet in the 200 freestyle and fifth in the 500 free. He finished top-16 in both events at state to score points. His points helped the Bluebirds win the region and finish second in the state.
Sam Jones, Highlands
The senior finished second in the regional meet in the 200 freestyle and 500 free, and helped the Bluebirds win two relays. At state, he finished fifth in the 500 free and seventh in the relay, and helped a relay team finish second. His points helped the Bluebirds win the region and finish second in the state.
Blake Koenigsknecht, Ryle
The junior finished fourth in the regional meet in both the 200 IM and 100 backstroke, plus helped in two top-three relays. He helped Ryle finish 14th in the state in the 200 free relay.
Jake Larkin, Covington Catholic
The sophomore is one of the top returning divers in Northern Kentucky, finishing second in the regional meet and sixth at state.
Rene Reil, Dixie Heights
The senior finished fourth in the regional meet in the 100 freestyle and fifth in the 50 free.
Bode Russell, Highlands
The junior finished second in the 50 freestyle at the regional meet and fifth in the 100 free while helping the Bluebirds win the 200 free relay. He helped the relay team finish eighth in the state.
Girls
Elizabeth Brewer, Dixie Heights
The junior finished third in the 200 freestyle at the regional meet, second in the 500 freestyle, and finished top-three in two relay events. She finished fifth in the state in the 500 free, winning a state medal.
Lainy Kruger, Notre Dame
The junior won the state championship in the 100-yard breaststroke, meeting the All-American time standard. She finished second in the 100 freestyle, just 0.09 seconds off of the previous state record. Kruger set a school record in the event. She was regional champion in both events. Ranked 18th in the nation in the class of 23, she recently gave a verbal commitment to the University of Florida.
Emma Littrell, St. Henry
The junior won the regional title in the 50 freestyle and finished second in the 100 while also helping two relays to top-four finishes. At the state meet, she finished fifth in the 50 free and sixth in the 100 free.
Ameliya Lynn, St. Henry
The junior finished fourth in the 200 freestyle at the regional meet and finished fifth in the 100 free. She also helped the Crusaders finished second and fourth in her relays.
Peyton Moore, Cooper
The sophomore won the KHSAA state diving championship, the first in school history in the event, winning a close battle by 10 points. She won the regional championship by more than 64 points.
Riley Quinn, Notre Dame
The junior finished in the regional in the 200 IM, fifth in the 100 breaststroke and helped the Pandas finish third in two relays. She finished eighth in the state meet in the 200 IM to win a medal.
Mackenzie Tucker, Dixie Heights
The senior won the 100 butterfly and the 200 freestyle at the regional meet, and she helped the Colonels to one relay victory and a runner-up finish. She finished sixth in the 100 butterfly to win a medal.
Bethany Weber, Ryle
The senior finished second in both the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle at the regional meet, and helped the Raiders win two relays as they won the team championship for the second straight season. She finished ninth in the 100 free at state and helped the 200 free relay finish eighth to help the Raiders finish fourth in the state by just half a point.
Reese Yauger, Ryle
The freshman finished third in the region in the 200 IM and 500 freestyle, and helped the Raiders win one relay and finish runner-up in another. She helped the relays finish in the top six and scored points in her solo events to help the Raiders finish fourth in the state by just half a point.
Callie Young, Dixie Heights
The junior won the 100 backstroke and finished fifth in the 50 free, plus helped the Colonels win a relay and finish third in another,at the regional meet.
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