Area swimmers begin their pursuit for a Region 2 title today as the two-day tournament gets underway this afternoon at Owensboro Health Healthpark. Prelims will take place today, and championship heats in each event will be held Saturday.
The top two swimmers in each event earn an automatic bid to the KHSAA State Championships, held Feb. 20-22 in Lexington. The next fastest 22 times in each events among all regions will also qualify for the state.
Other Region 2 teams are Allen County-Scottsville, Barren County, Bowling Green, Butler County, Franklin-Simpson, Glasgow, Greenwood, Logan County, Monroe County, Muhlenberg County, Ohio County, Russellville, South Warren, Warren Central and Warren East.
OWENSBORO
The OHS girls’ team is again entering the postseason with high expectations after another record-breaking year that featured several new team records and city records. They also won all three invitationals they entered for the second year in a row.
Head coach Brad Schmied said they suffered a setback earlier in the season but adjusted well.
“We lost our senior leader and all-star swimmer Julia Smith due to an injury earlier this year,” he said. “That forced us to make major changes in our overall regional and state strategies. We reconfigured two relays and expect to compete at just as high a level this year as in previous years, despite losing Julia to injury.”
A handful of other swimmers will be in contention for titles in their events. Samantha Phillips will try to win the 500 freestyle for the fourth time. while Addison Callis, Abby Warren, Paige Neal and Phillips are all potential automatic qualifiers in various other events.
“We are positioned for another successful regional across multiple individual events and relays,” Schmied said. “We are looking for many personal best times and top-three finishes, and we are trying to break several regional records in the process.”
OWENSBORO CATHOLIC
Co-head coaches Abby Hampton and Erica Crabtree said the OCHS boys are ready for regionals after putting in a lot of work since returning from Christmas Break.
In addition to high expectations for individual events, the Aces will be in contention to win relays.
“Our boys 200 medley and 200 free relays will be among the top relays in our region,” Crabtree said. “Swimming is a team sport, but is full of personal best times and personal goals set by each swimmer at the beginning of the season. I feel that our swimmers have achieved this and will see many personal records.”
Jude Neal will be among the top competitors in the 50 and 100 freestyle events, and Jack Raymer is a contender in the 100 fly and 200 freestyle. Cort Hobelmann is trying out a new event with the 100 freestyle, and he will also be swimming the 100 backstroke.
“Our boys team is in a great place. We have talent, strength and depth,” Hampton said. “We have a lot of middle school and underclassmen on both the boys and girls team and underclassmen that are ready to step up.”
DAVIESS COUNTY
First-year coach John Mark Griffin is proud of the season the DC team has put together, and he’s excited to see what they can accomplish this weekend.
“We have had a great year,” he said. “This team just keeps getting better. I am proud of the work they have put in and their desire to improve.”
Griffin said he knows there is a lot of talent throughout the region, but his team is still going to put forth their best effort to finish off the season on a high note.
“It’s incredible to see the talent in this area,” he said. “I am amazed by the growth I have seen this year, and I am constantly impressed by this team’s will to win. No matter what happens, I know they will give it all they’ve got, and that’s already a win in my book.
“If they try their best and have fun doing it, I will count this year as a success. We have approached every meet this way, and I haven’t been disappointed. This is a special team.”
APOLLO
First-year head coach Katlynn Lanham said she’s proud of how much effort everyone on Apollo’s team has put into having a good season.
“The swimmers have worked hard in and out of the pool,” she said. “We have incorporated new things to push and challenge them everyday. I am excited to watch them at regionals. There are going to be great swims from the Apollo swim team.”
Lanham said their top swimmers — seeded in the top 16 — are Luke Mallot (200 freestyle, 100 backstroke), Reese Wethington (200 IM, 100 breaststroke), Connor Satterly (200 IM, 100 breaststroke), Paige Payne (200 IM), Jan Cihlar (50 and 100 freestyle), Emma Ladnier (100 freestyle) and Sierra Crabtree (100 freestyle).
“I want my swimmers to get out of the pool and tell me they gave everything in their race, and I would consider that a successful region,” she said. “These kids have been working hard and I want them to see their hard work pay off. I would love to see Luke and Jan qualify for individual state races — it’s been a couple years since Apollo had someone qualify individually.”
