The pool decks at Scott High School were buzzing Friday and Saturday at the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference swimming and diving meet, even though not every team arrived at full strength.
Some programs had swimmers competing downstate and in Ohio. Others sent only divers, and a few split their rosters across multiple events on a crowded mid‑season weekend. The athletes who did show up created a lively, championship‑level atmosphere — and Highlands left with nearly everything.
“We are very proud of our swimmers at this point in the year,” Bluebirds coach Kevin Kampschmidt said.
Highlands again swept all three team titles, winning the boys, girls and overall championships. The boys posted 550 points.
The Highlands girls were even more commanding, scoring 616. In the combined standings, Highlands piled up 1,166 points. Highlands and Simon Kenton finished 1-2 in the overall D-1 standings. Scott and St. Henry finished 1-2 in D-2.
Because the conference is broken down into two divisions, not all schools competed against each other for points. For example, the Scott Eagles outscored a lot of D-1 teams because they are D-2 but their scoring was not tied to the bigger schools. The Eagles were only competing against smaller schools even though all competitors swam together.
The Bluebirds liked the results.
“This is my third year coaching Highlands,” said Kampschmidt, who also chairs the school’s mathematics department. “We have won the meet on the boys, girls and combined side in each of the last three years.”
Holy Cross senior Barrett Dirst was one of four swimmers earning honors. He repeated as the Division II Male Competitor of the Meet. Indians coach Seth Jansen believes more is coming.
“He’s looking to have a strong regional and state run,” Jansen said. “He was the first Holy Cross male swimmer to qualify for two individual events last year at state.”
Dirst characterized his performance and the subsequent accolades as both exhilarating and validating.
“This win means a lot to me because it is the result of every early morning, every tough practice and all of the work that most people never see,” Dirst said. “None of this would be possible without the support of my family, teammates and coaches. They push me, believe in me and make days like this happen. I’m proud of what we accomplished together.”
Other Saturday honorees included Highlands’ Stella Kendon, the Division I Girls Competitor of the Meet, and teammate Chanith Abeysinghe, the D‑1 Boys Competitor of the Meet. St. Henry’s Addison Dees earned the D‑2 Girls award.
championships at Scott. Photo provided | Highlands High School
Highlands’ roster produced some standout individual moments. But the Bluebirds won the same way they’ve won all season — with depth, balance and a long list of contributors.
Among the Highlands girls individual event winners were Kendon in the 200-yard medley, Ella Kate Reynolds in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle races, Vivian Winkler in the 50-yard freestyle and Margaret Meyers in the 100-yard backstroke. Reynolds was runner-up to Kendon in the girls power points race.
Bluebirds boys winners included Abeysinghe in the 100-yard freestyle and Max Taylor in the 100-yard butterfly. Elliot Meyers won the 500-yard freestyle.
Highlands also won a handful of relay races with help from Kendon and Abeysinghe.
Friday’s 1-meter diving champions included Simon Kenton’s Isaiah Reinhart with 445.90 points in the boys event. Cooper’s Chris Nowak won the girls competition with 386.70 points. Highlands’ Addie Tinkler was girls runner-up with 362.50.
“Our depth has been a strength all year,” Kampschmidt said. “We had lots of great performances including Chanith and Stella being named swimmers of the meet via power points.”
All teams expect to have full lineups for the regional meet. The annual event returns to Scott High School in two weeks.
On Saturday, with rosters stretched across multiple meets, the Bluebirds made a statement with another set of championships.
The Highlands coach said winning big meets like the NKAC speaks to his depth and the team’s promise.
“We are really looking forward to competing at regionals in two weeks,” Kampschmidt said. “It is always a highly competitive and fun meet.”