After impressive showings at Semi-State, Daviess County, Owensboro, and Owensboro Catholic all had athletes compete in the 2026 KHSAA State Swimming & Diving Championships this past weekend.
The Lady Panthers relay team of Alaina Mason, Grace Bullock, Ryleigh Bevil, and Ellie Girten advanced to the finals in both of their events, finishing 16th in the 200 medley relay, while they DQed in the 200 freestyle relay.
In the individual events, Bevil reached the finals for the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle, placing 12th in both. Girten was 24th in the 50 freestyle, and Bullock was 24th in the 100 freestyle.
Daviess County had two athletes compete in the one meter diving with freshman Reed Burton 28th (130.15) in the girls’ competition 130.15, while seventh grader Cole Taylor finished 37th overall (83.20) in the boys’ preliminaries.
“I feel extremely proud of the relays,” Daviess County Head Coach Megan Bevil said. “They performed at an elite level all through the post season. At prelims, our senior, Alaina Mason, swam season-best times in both relays to push us through to finals. We needed her to do that, and she stepped up in a big way. It was good to see her finish her high school career on a high note. Going into finals night, we were seeded 16th and 15th. We had to push our relay exchanges and had nothing to lose. I just wanted them to leave everything in the pool and we did that, so I’m proud.”
Owensboro Catholic’s 200 freestyle relay team of Vince Coyne, Miller Bowman, Jeremy Danetz, and Zachary McDole finished 21st and missed the cutoff to advance to the finals. As an individual, Bowman advanced to the finals for both the 50 and 100 freestyle after placing fifth and sixth in his respective preliminary races. In the finals, he finished seventh in the 100 freestyle (47.14) and was eighth in the 50 freestyle (21.35).
“I couldn’t have asked for more from the team at State,” Owensboro Catholic Head Coach Sam Howard said. “I am proud of how the team performed this season, particularly during Regionals.”
Owensboro was represented by Ethan Lippert, who finished 19th in the 100 backstroke and 22nd in the 100 freestyle.
