The Fort Thomas Sharks swim and dive team were able to accomplish something they hadn’t done in 50 years.
They won the Northern Kentucky Swim League for the first time since 1975. They won the combined score, boys and girls score. The coaches even got in on the action, winning the coaches relay.
“Sometimes you get lucky with the age groups,” Sharks coach Kevin Kampschmidt said. “Being consistent with the amount of coaching the past four to five years has helped. The coaches have really been very key to the success.”
Five swimmers in their respective age groups took home the High Point award, Noah Biemesche (8 and under boys), Gracie Biemesche (9-10 girls), Taryn Ripley (13-14 girls), Griffin Barlow (15-18 boys) and Sarah Jones (15-18 girls).
Barlow and Jones set league records in the 50-yard breaststroke and six team records were set. The 13-14 girls 200 medley relay team of Maggie Meyers, Taryn Ripley, Kayden Massie and Vivian Winkler, Jones in the 15-18 girls 100 freestyle and backstroke, Barlow in the 15-18 boys 50 breaststroke, 100 individual medley and 50 free in leading off the 200 relay.
Where the team really separated themselves Kampschmidt said was in the boys 8-and-under division.
“They were amazing. Won every event,” Kampschmidt said. “In the 25 freestyle and 25 butterfly they went 1-2-3 which was unheard of and won both relays by seven to 10 seconds.”
Kampschmidt is the Highlands high school swim and dive coach and has coached the Sharks for the past nine years. The high school team finished runner-up this past season in the state KHSAA swim and dive meet in combined points.
“I’m thrilled as a high school coach. It goes hand in hand, gives you a preview of who’s coming up,” Kampschmidt said. “I know we’ll lose some of these kids to other sports but to get them at a young age and make it fun for them and have them enjoy it is great. The high school team’s correlation of success definitely helps.”
Kampschmidt also praised the support staff and swim team board members such as Kelsey Ripley, Jill Taylor and Tara Willig for the championship. The mood is light with practices from Monday through Thursday and “Pancake Tuesday’s”.
“There’s countless parents that do things. We’ve got Pancake Tuesday’s. We do the Fourth of July parade with swimming pools in the bed of trucks. It’s about making memories for the kids and the families,” Kampschmidt said.
The Sharks beat out 10 teams in the NKSL championship meet. The team consists of about 130 swimmers aged anywhere from eight-and-under to 18 years old. They went undefeated in the six dual meets throughout the season and won the championship by 250 points.
The laundry list of NKSL champions are:
— Taryn Ripley 13-14 50 freestyle
— Alexa Borchardt 8 and under diving
— Griffin Barlow Open 200 free
— 8 and Under boys 100 Medley Relay: Jamie Peterson, Noah Beimesche, Henry Bach, and Jax Arnold
— 9-10 girls 200 Medley Relay: Allie Ko, Annalise Taylor, Gracie Beimesche, Elizabeth Ko
— 13-14 girls 200 Medley Relay: Maggie Meyers, Taryn Ripley, Kayden Massie, and Vivian Winkler
— Jamie Peterson: 8 and under boys 25 free
— Gracie Beimesche: 9-10 50 girls free
— Morgan Ripley: 11-12 girls 50 free
— Sarah Jones: 15-18 girls 100 free
— Noah Beimesche: 8 and under boys 25 breaststroke
— Annalise Taylor: 9-10 girls 50 breaststroke
— Taryn Ripley: 13-14 girls 50 breaststroke
— Griffin Barlow: 15-18 boys 50 breaststroke
— Henry Bach: 8 and under boys 25 backstroke
— Elliot Meyers: 13-14 boys 50 backstroke
— Maggie Meyers: 13-14 girls 50 backstroke
— Sarah Jones: 15-18 girls 50 backstroke
— Henry Bach: 8 and under 25 butterfly
— Sarah Jones: 15-18 girls 50 butterfly
— Gracie Beimesche: 9-10 girls 100 IM
— Maggie Meyers: 13-14 girls 100 IM
— Griffin Barlow: 15-18 boys 100 IM
— 8 and under boys 100 free relay: Noah Beimesche, Jax Arnold, Henry Bach, Cole Burke
— 8 and under girls 100 free relay: Gwen Cook, Eve Van Orsdel, Alexa Borchardt, Larkin Ripley
— 9-10 girls 200 free relay: Elizabeth Ko, Allie Ko, Annalise Taylor, Gracie Beimesche
— 13-14 boys 200 free relay: Mason Taylor, Cole Willig, Aaron Ko, Elliot Meyers