Friday’s girls state swimming meet featured a friendly rivalry – and a 1-2 finish.
Notre Dame freshman Clare Herfel and Panda senior Sadie Hartig dueled in the 500-yard freestyle at the University of Kentucky’s Lancaster Aquatic Center. Herfel won in 4 minutes, 51.22 seconds, and Hartig 4:53.78.
“I love we can race each other and have fun together,” said Hartig, who won last year’s 500. “It’s nice to have someone to race and have fun with. I’m glad she’s the next state champ. She definitely deserves it; she works really hard.”
To Herfel, winning the 500 wasn’t as big a deal as Notre Dame finishing second to Louisville Sacred Heart in the team standings.
“Everybody put so much effort into it,” Herfel said. “It was a team effort, so it’s just really fun.”
Hartig, who’s committed to the Air Force Academy, finished third in the 200 freestyle in 1:50.96, a little more than a second sooner than Herfel’s fourth-place 1:52.09.
Friday was a battle between Herfel, Hartig and Sacred Heart’s Ava Grazziani. Grazziani, who finished third, led Hartig after 100 yards.
Herfel took her first lead after 300 yards – she was a hundredth of a second ahead of Grazziani – and pulled away over the final 100.
“I just knew that if I could stay with them and stay in the race, I could probably pull it off ‘cause I’m pretty good at finishing my races most of the time,” Herfel said.
Pandas place second
Notre Dame finished second to Louisville Sacred Heart, 371-249. What was more, the Pandas moved up two spots over last year.
“I’m very pleased,” Notre Dame coach Jamie Kelly said. “We’re just a lot deeper this year. We were able to have some pretty strong relays.”
They were strong – a fourth in the 200 medley and second in the 200 and 400 freestyle.
Highlands was fifth with 125 points, a half-point ahead of Ryle. Beechwood was seventh with 114.
Ryle senior Reese Yauger, who’s headed for the University of Cincinnati, finished third in the 100-yard butterfly (56.50 seconds) and fifth in the 200 individual medley (2:06.59).
“I made it to state ever since seventh grade,” Yauger said. “… I started getting good at state last year. Last year and this year were my best years by far.”
NKY places four divers in top eight
Savannah Bien did not make the 1-meter diving top eight a year ago.
Different story Friday. Notre Dame’s sophomore moved up seven spots, finishing third with 435.80 points.
“I worked really, really hard in the offseason,” Bien said. “I practiced six days in the pool diving, and then three days in the pool swimming for conditioning. I just worked really hard, so I’m proud of myself.”
Bien led a Northern Kentucky quartet to the medals. Cooper junior Chris Nowak was fifth with 418.85, Scott’s Rylee Pernell was seventh with 376.50, and Campbell County’s Grace Hedger was eighth with 375.75.
Notre Dame dive coach Emma Lehmkuhl said Bien’s back 1 ½ pike was the best dive on the list because she scored 49.50 points. Her final dive, a forward 2 ½ somersault tuck, was better – 50.40 points.
Nowak also improved over 2024 – she placed eighth last year.
“I’m excited, very excited,” Nowak said. “I’m just excited I completed all my dives, and I did them good.”
What is different about Nowak – she does not dive for a club team. Track and field is her stronger sport – she runs the 100- and 200-meter dashes plus the long jump and high jump.
Cooper diving coach Kristina Jenny said Nowak’s best dive was her fifth, a Forward 1 ½ Somersault 1 Twist; she scored 50.60 points.
“Previously, that’s never been my best dive,” Nowak said. “It’s good that that one brought me back.”
Pernell had not made the state top eight since finishing fifth in 2022. On Friday, nine of her 11 dives scored over 30 points; a Reverse 1 ½ somersault ½ twist (39.60 points) was her best.
Finishing in top eight was not a new thing for Hedger, either – she placed sixth as a sophomore in 2023 and fifth last year.
Like Pernell, Hedger scored over 30 on nine dives. Her last one, a Back 1 ½ Somersault ½ Twist Free (38.85) was her best.
Hedger plans to attend Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. After receiving her medal Friday, Hedger was equally excited about finishing eighth and upset her high school diving career is over.
“I’m very excited about how I did, and I don’t want people to think I’m not excited about it,” Hedger said. “I’ve been high school diving for seven years, and for it to just stop is weird.
Giving ‘em the bird (bath)
It may have been the best $40 Highlands senior Sarah Jones ever spent.
When Jones bought a white plastic birdbath at a Newport hardware store, she continued a Bluebird tradition – the team signed the bowl with black permanent markers.
Jones said 2021 Highlands graduate Jack Banks bought the first birdbath.
A plastic Bluebird swimming a lap, however, was missing.
“Maybe next year,” Jones said.
The boys meet starts at 2 p.m. Saturday with 1-meter diving, followed by swimming finals at 6:40 p.m.
For complete results, visit bit.ly/437egxZ.