There was a record-setting Saturday in Taylor Mill – courtesy of Ryle senior swimmer Chase Knopf.
Knopf won the 200- and 500-yard freestyle at the Region 7 meet at Scott’s David Webb-Jerry Mohr Natatorium, which gave him nine individual regional wins in five seasons.
“Of course, I’m so thankful, you know,” Knopf said. “I couldn’t have done this without my Ryle team, my (Northern Kentucky) Clipper team, and especially not without Jeff (Ryle coach Jeff Floyd). This makes me feel more accomplished and overall more proud of myself than I think I could ever be.”
Notre Dame coach Ashley Smith – who worked with Knopf for the Clippers from 2018-21, wasn’t surprised.
“We knew then he was headed for big things,” Smith said.
Floyd called Knopf “pretty amazing” and the best boys swimmer he’s ever coached.
“He’s been an integral part of six relay titles, pool records,” Floyd said.
Knopf, who’ll swim at University of Louisville next year, won the 200 freestyle by nearly two seconds over Raider teammate Nash Parsons and the 500 freestyle by just under six seconds ahead of Beechwood’s Cono Presti. He was also part of the Raiders’ winning the 200 and 400 freestyle relay quartets.
Floyd was less sure whether Knopf is better in the 200 or 500.
“That is a great question,” Floyd said. “I don’t have an answer. He’s got great speed, he’s got great endurance.”
Because the Kentucky High School Athletic Association has allowed middle schoolers to compete in varsity swimming and other non-contact sports since 2014, Knopf began his title trek as an eighth-grader in 2022 when he won the 100-yard freestyle.
“I remember that because that was the first time I went 50-point,” Knopf said. “So I went a 50.66; I vividly remember it.”
Since then, Knopf won two individual titles each season since: the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke in 2023 and 2024; and the 200 and 500 freestyle the last two years.
Knopf finished second in last year’s state 500 freestyle, “but I plan to win it this year, hopefully,” he said.
Herfel dominates distances
Notre Dame sophomore Clare Herfel, the defending state champion in the 500 freestyle, won the 200 and 500 Saturday. She beat Panda teammate Danaka Tucker by a little more than three seconds in the 200 and just over six tics in the 500.
“The state’s three weeks away, but I think by the time we get there, she’s going to be right down with her best times,” Notre Dame coach Jamie Kelly said of Herfel’s 500 time Saturday. “She’s already swimming, I think, the time she won at state last year. I think she shocked us all by winning the 500 free last year, but no surprises this year, I don’t think.”
Herfel said she learns something every time she swims the 200 and 500. Saturday’s lesson: keep her 50-yard splits consistent and improve her flip turns.
“I’ve just been working on my approach into the wall and also the flip itself,” Herfel said. “Turns are, like, one of my weaknesses.”
Legacies
Covington Catholic senior Will Dusing and his Colonel teammate, sophomore Samuel Hartig, know a lot about familial pressure.
CovCath Olympian Nate Dusing is Will’s uncle, and Hartig is the younger brother of state champion, Air Force Academy freshman and Notre Dame alumna Sadie Hartig.
So are there comparisons to their elders?
“Yeah, a little bit of pressure, especially in the (butter) fly events,” Will Dusing said. “But I feel like I can do my best, swim as fast as I can to live up to that name.”
Will Dusing doesn’t talk much strategy with Uncle Nate.
“I don’t see him very much,” Will said. “He lives in Texas, but when I do, yeah, he was the best flyer. He did a lot under water, so I try to mimic what he does.”
Sadie Hartig won the state 500 freestyle last year. Unlike Will Dusing, Samuel Hartig doesn’t think people liken him to Sadie.
“She made her mark,” Samuel said. “I’m not an all-around swimmer; I play baseball.”
Pandas, Raiders, Bluebirds win team titles
Notre Dame won the girls team title over Highlands, 495-426. Ryle was third with 265 points, St. Henry was fourth with 190, and Conner placed fifth with 169.
Ryle claimed the boys team championship over Highlands, 485-446. CovCath was third with 397, Simon Kenton was fourth with 188, and Scott was fifth with 144.
Highlands won the Combined crown, in which boys and girls scores are added, over Ryle, 872-750.
Two Bluebird girls won their races: Ragan Moore in the 50 freestyle and Keira Kobida in the 100 freestyle. For the boys, Luke Deegan won the 100 backstroke by nearly two seconds over Holy Cross’ Barrett Dirst, and Noah Gracey won the 100 butterfly over Dusing by 55-hundredths of a second.
Highlands coach Kevin Kampschmidt is hopeful the Bluebirds will finish in the top five in boys and girls.
“I’d say that’s what we’re trying to get,” Kampschmidt said. “Girls, hopefully, maybe even higher.”
CovCath junior Andrew Boh’s win in the 200 individual medley was the first Colonels’ individual regional win since 2022. It was close – he edged Deegan by two-tenths of a second.
Knopf and Herfel were named the competitors of the year, and Floyd and Kelly were named boys and girls regional coaches of the year.
The top two finishers in each event plus the next 10 from regions 7, 8 and 9 advance to next Saturday’s semi-state at Scott. The boys meet starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by the girls at 4 p.m.