The LINK nky Team of the Season: Highlands swim and dive

With the winter high school sports season at its end, the LINK nky Team of the Season (TOS) winner is the Highlands swim and dive team. 

The Bluebirds were one of 10 teams during the winter season that won LINK nky Team of the Week and came away as the TOS, after compiling 28,302 votes. We received nearly 60,000 votes!

They will be awarded a commemorative plaque and a student-athlete of their choice will be awarded a $500 scholarship, thanks to OrthoCincy in sponsoring the award and plaque. The Bluebirds will be presented the plaque and scholarship at a later date.

HIGHLANDS SWIM AND DIVE

A memorable season for the Highlands swim and dive teams gets more recognition to it.

They won the KHSAA combined team title at the state meet, in which boys and girls scores are added, over Louisville Eastern, 272.5-268. 

Two things helped Highlands: scoring over 130 points in both boys and girls (139.5 Friday by the boys, Saturday’s 133 by the girls); and finishing in the top five in five of the six relays – the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and the 400 freestyle. 

Highlands received its first boost in 1-meter diving when senior Addie Tinkler finished sixth. 

Highlands’ Margaret Meyers, Taryn Ripley, Keira Kobida and Vivian Winkler finished sixth in the 200 medley relay in 1 minute, 51.66 seconds. Ripley, Kobida, Ella Kate Reynolds and Moore placed third in both the 200 (1:39.24) and 400 freestyle relays (3:36.71).

The boys team was fourth with 139.5 points – the best finish since the Bluebirds took second in 2020 and 2021. 

They cemented their supremacy in Northern Kentucky by sweeping the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference 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.

Other 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.

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.

Highlands’ Addie Tinkler was girls runner-up with 362.50 in the 1-meter diving competition.

Congratulations to our other nominees as well: Ryle boys swim and dive, Boone County boys basketball, Conner boys wrestling, Ludlow girls basketball, St. Henry girls basketball, Ryle archery, Highlands dance, Beechwood boys basketball and Conner archery.

Our spring sports Team of the Week program will start next week so be on the lookout for nominees on Monday, March 30! Thanks again for participating.