Friday, February 04, 2000
CovCath may face rough waters without stars
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
Steve Durkee's Covington Catholic swimming team is favored Saturday to win its fourth boys regional title since 1995, but it is in unfamiliar water.
CovCath has no Brad Knueven to set state and records in 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke (in 1999). There is no Nate Dusing to break state or national records in 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke (1996-97), and there is no Scott Ryan to set a state 500 free record 16 years ago.
“We've got some regular human beings, just little guys out here trying put it together as a team,” Durkee said. “We'll be OK.”
CovCath has the depth to win: Durkee said there are four Colonels seeded in the top 12 in every event but one. Scott coach Jerry Mohr said CovCath will be more than OK.
“I think CovCath has more depth than us,” he said. “I've got four, too, but they're not the caliber of (Durkee's) four.”
In fact, there are at least two CovCath swimmers in the top six in seven individual events plus all three relays. Junior Matt Bertke, senior Kevin Kleman and junior Phil Rugare hold the top three seeds in 500 free, and the 400 free relay team is seeded first.
Scott counters with defending 200 free state champ Andy Seitz in the 100 and 200 free, top seed Jon Vadney in the 100 breast, and the top seeds in the 200 medley and 200 free relays.
Dixie Heights junior Michael Day joins Seitz as the only individuals seeded first in two events. Day is tops in the 100 back and 100 butterfly.
“(Day is) within the top eight in the state in both,” Dixie Heights coach Hallie Hundemer said.
The 1-meter diving competition that starts at 4:30 p.m. today should be a three-person race for three spots. Dixie Heights sophomore Mark Shattuck, Scott sophomore Zach Niehaus and CovCath senior Mike Barker are the favorites.
The girls regional is likewise a two-team race between defending champion Notre Dame and Beechwood, though Beechwood coach Paula Miller concedes the meet to the Pandas.
“Notre Dame is going to win the region, but I think we'll be competitive with them at state,” Miller said
The Pandas have won 17 of the last 18 regional titles. Coach Karen Bresser said this year's lineup has no glaring weaknesses.
“This year we have at least one swimmer in the top 12 in every event,” she said. “We've got all the events covered.”
Four Pandas are seeded first in their events: senior Emily Maier (200 IM, 100 back); senior Lauren Musk (500 free); junior Janet Heil (100 breast); and sophomore Nicole Culbertson (50 free).
Beechwood has no individual top seeds, but the 200 medley and 400 free relay teams are ranked first.
“I think we have a chance to win all three relays,” Miller said.
Mohr said Holmes sophomore Robyn Karlage, Scott seventh-grader Lyndsey Longshore and Notre Dame junior Kayla Hanser should take the three girls 1-meter diving spots. He said they have placed within a couple of points of each other each time they've competed.
IF YOU GO
• Where: Scott High School
• When: Diving at 4:30 p.m. today (girls first; boys competition begins one hour after completion of girls meet); swimming finals at 11 a.m. Saturday.
• At stake: Top three finishers in each event, plus next 12 best times/scores per event among the state's four regions, qualify for state meet Feb. 18-19 in Lexington.
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