Camels and Thoroughbreds are rolling right along on the bowling lanes. Things have gone swimmingly for some rapid Bluebirds in the pool. These are fast times at Highlands High. On your mark. Get set. Go! The fastest 800 words in sports:
HIGHLANDS SWEEPS MEET: Highlands won the girls, boys and combined team titles at the NKAC swimming/diving meets. Highlands’ girls took first place with 452.5 points, just ahead of runner-up St Henry (451). The team was well ahead of third-place Villa Madonna (396) and Notre Dame Academy (375). Highlands’ boys won with 606 points, well ahead of runner-up Scott (451) and third-place Holy Cross (355) which, notably, finished ahead of city rival Covington Catholic (349). That gave the combined team crown to the Bluebirds, who amassed a whopping 1058.5 points. Scott (783) finished second, followed by St Henry (744) and Villa Madonna (731).
“Holy Cross had a good day for the boys, finishing second in Division II,” coach Seth Jansen said “Barrett Dirst was a double conference champ in the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke. He lowered his school record in the 100 back. The boys also won the 200 freestyle relay.”
Individually, Highlands’ girls were led by 13-year-old Clare Herfel, who won the Division I 200-yard freestyle in 2 minutes and 1.74 seconds and the 500-yard freestyle (5:17.59). The Bluebirds’ Sarah Jones won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.
For the Highlands boys, Charlie Herfel won the Division I 200-yard freestyle in 1:52.26 and the 500 freestyle (4:59.53). Luke Deegan won the Division I 200-yard individual medley and 100 backstroke. Chanith Abeysinghe won the 50 freestyle and the 100 free. Griffin Barlow won the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke.
Cooper’s Peytton Moore won the Division I girls 1-meter diving competition with a final score of 504.15. Scott’s Rylee Pernell won in Division II with 358.05. Ryle’s Landon Isler took the boys D-1 diving event with a score of 510.70. St. Henry’s Sam Baker (330.55) won the D-2 event.
PANTHERS REPEAT IN DIVISION III: The Ludlow boys basketball team has clinched the NKAC Division III title for the second year in a row. The Panthers have a 9-1 conference record. They are 19-1 over the last two seasons. They are getting balanced scoring this season. Elijah Perrin leads the team with 17.9 points per game, followed by Spencer Brandenburg (17.8) and Ethan Powell (14.1).
NDA’S GIBSON GETS NIL DEAL: Notre Dame Academy 6-foot-4 junior center Sophia Gibson has signed a name, image and likeness deal with Pliable, which will help her develop her personal brand as she bridges her prep and college careers. Among those offering college basketball scholarships to Gibson include DePaul, Yale, Evansville and Lafayette. Gibson leads Notre Dame with 13.8 points per game and 9.2 rebounds.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, NEWCATH ROLLING IN BOWLING: The Newport Central Catholic girls bowling team won the Region 5 championship and advanced to the state tournament with a three-game sweep of Simon Kenton in the finals: 134-129, 157-128, 134-84. Kree Brewer from Pendleton County won the girls individual title over teammate Madison Crawford. The highest local individual finisher in the girls stepladder final was Lily Bauer from Simon Kenton.
Campbell County’s Bryce Sargent won the boys individual championship with a win over Pendleton County’s Kyan Brewer, 217-195. Pendleton County rolled past Scott in the boys team final. The region’s top two teams and top four individuals advance to the Feb. 5-7 state tournament at Kingpin Lanes in Jeffersontown.
Dayton lost to Pendleton County in a battle for the region’s unified team final.
WARRICK WATCH: Marques Warrick has the joined the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team’s exclusive 2,000-point club. With 2,007 career points, the senior guard has tied Craig Sanders for second on the NKU all-time scoring list and needs 60 points to break the Norse record of 2,066 held by Drew McDonald. Those are the only three players with 2,000 points in an NKU men’s uniform. NKU’s next three games are at home: Feb. 4 vs. Wright State, Feb. 8 vs. Oakland and Feb. 10 vs. Detroit. Warrick leads the Norse and ranks third in the Horizon League with 19 points per game.
SPEED READS: The NKAC Division III girls basketball title will come down to the Feb. 7 Bellevue-Ludlow game at Ludlow. If Bellevue wins, the Tigers take the title. If Ludlow wins, the teams share the crown. . . The Cooper boys basketball team has won five straight games, six of its last seven and nine of 13 after a 5-4 start marred by injuries. Shaun Pouncy (14.4 ppg) and Yamil Rondon (13.7 ppg) rank 1-2 in scoring. . . The Cooper girls had their 15-game winning snapped Jan. 27 by Sacred Heart while going 1-1 at the Louisville Invitational Tournament. . . St. Henry senior center Taylor Hill joined the 500-point club and reached 500 rebounds in her Crusaders career.