Divers have had their say at the KHSAA Region 7 Swimming and Diving Championships at the Kenton County Aquatics Center at Scott High School. Now it’s the swimmers’ turn as the annual meet reconvenes Thursday, the first of a three‑day push to determine who advances in the chase for state titles.
“It’s the most competitive region there is in the state,” Highlands head coach Kevin Kampschmidt said. “It’s going to be a great weekend with a lot of fast swimming at a great facility.”
Highlands swept local crowns earlier this month at the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference championships and enters Thursday as the region’s defending combined team champion. But the Bluebirds are already in a tight battle after last week’s diving events opened the scoring.
Notre Dame Academy’s Savannah Bien and Simon Kenton’s Isaiah Reinhart claimed Region 7 individual diving titles, giving their teams important points out of the gate. Both divers are products of the Cincinnati Diving Academy.
“I’ll take those 20 points,” Simon Kenton coach Carol Franzen said. “Isaiah has been great all season. He has a shot at a state title.”
Bien edged defending champion Chris Nowak of Cooper. Defending girls team champion Notre Dame placed three divers in the top 11. Ryle’s Emmalee Albertson finished third, one of two Raiders in the top five. Highlands’ Addie Tinkler placed fourth, one of two Bluebirds in the top eight. The Bluebirds were girls region runners‑up last year behind the Pandas.
Campbell County, led by sixth‑place Abby Schuchter, put two divers in the top nine and three in the top 15. “It’s good to build a program with divers and swimmers,” said coach Amanda Johnson, an eight-time regional coach of the year now in her third season with the Camels.
Reinhart, son of Simon Kenton principal Craig Reinhart, won the boys region title over runner‑up Austin Maley of Dixie Heights. Ryle, last year’s boys team champion over Highlands, placed the next three divers in the top five, led by third‑place Wesley Hampel. Conner’s Will Meister finished sixth.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” said Reinhart, who holds the Simon Kenton six-dive points record. “My diving coach Austin Hall really helps me out. He pushes me to come up with new dives and to be better.”
Regional action resumes with Thursday’s 5:15 p.m. girls swimming preliminaries. The boys prelims begin at 5:15 p.m. Friday. The combined finals are set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, all at Scott in Taylor Mill.
Compelling storylines
Beyond the leaderboard, one of the meet’s most familiar figures is navigating a busy season of her own. Franzen, the Pioneers’ coach for 14 years, also serves on Independence city council and announced in December that she’s running for mayor. She is a 12-term council member of more than 20 years.
Franzen’s community work sometimes centers on celebrating student achievement. She has presented official proclamations to Simon Kenton teams and regularly updates the council on their successes. All three of her sons are Simon Kenton graduates. When Franzen talks about what her athletes accomplish — at school or in the pool — her swimmers and divers think it’s, well, pretty cool.
“She motivates us,” Reinhart said. “Coach is great.”
So are her athletes, many of them school record‑holders just like Reinhart. Parker Davis, who owns two school records, is attempting to follow Reinhart to the top of the regional podium with a rare Pioneers individual swimming title.
Davis, entered in several events, is a threat to win the 50-yard freestyle where he and Highlands’ Chanith Abeysinghe are the favorites. Abeysinghe finished second behind a senior in the event at last year’s regional, followed closely by Davis. Abeysinghe and Davis were 1-2 in the event at the NKAC Division I meet each of the last two years.
“Parker Davis has a chance to bring home a regional title in the 50, the first for Simon Kenton since the 1970s,” Franzen said. “We can be a disruptor. We can take points away from other teams.”
The Pioneers also feature Evan and Owen Iles, twin brothers who’ve taken different paths to success. Evan Iles is a veteran club swimmer and owner of four school records. Owen Iles is not a club swimmer and yet he holds a school record as part of a relay team. Both are looking to make their mark this week after Evan won the 100 backstroke in Division I conference action, while Owen finished third. Evan was also victorious in the 200 individual medley. Owen won the 200 freestyle.
Davis and the Iles brothers are also looking to capitalize on momentum coming off conference runner-up finishes as members of the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relay teams. Yet another Simon Kenton record-holder, Nathan McCrory, has recovered from a concussion and is ready to take on the competition, including in the 500 free.
Holy Cross is also trying to make some noise with Barrett Dirst in the 500 free and 100 back. He could become the first swimmer in school history to finish in the top two at regionals. “The boys have had a good run the past few years and have stayed competitive even with losing some key seniors,” coach Seth Jansen said. “I’m hoping they have a good meet this week and are able to continue onto state.”
Regional favorites
The top contenders for the girls team crown are defending champion Notre Dame Academy, returning runner-up Highlands, Ryle and Beechwood. Notre Dame is led by Clare Herfel, McKenna Bien and Abby Carnes.
On the boys side, defending champ Ryle, Highlands and CovCath are the top teams, followed by Scott and Simon Kenton. Ryle is led by Chase Knopf. Highlands and Ryle are vying for the combined crown.
“It should be a very close three-way boys battle between us, Ryle and CovCath,” Highlands coach Kampschmidt said. “We have so many swimmers to watch.”
Among the hopefuls for Highlands’ girls are Keira Kobida, who qualified for state last year in the 100 free and 200 free. Ragan Moore qualified in the 50 free and 100 free last season.
Kampschmidt says he has four boys swimmers that qualified to multiple events last year at state. They include Abeysinghe in the 50 free and 100 free, Noah Gracey in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke, Charlie Herfel in the 200 IM and 500 free, and Luke Deegan in the 200 IM and 100 back.
“Every swim is important,” Kampschmidt said. “The boys will be determined more by guys sneaking in the championship heat or sneaking into the consolation heat than the guys up top. We just love to compete in Region 7. The atmosphere is so much fun.”
The talking is done. Now they swim.