Saturday, February 10, 2001
N.Ky. regional swimming
Scott's Niehaus dives to 3rd title
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
TAYLOR MILL — Scott's Zach Niehaus won his third boys regional diving championship Friday night, totaling 515.85 points at Scott High School.
Niehaus, a junior, also won regional titles in 1998 and '99.
Simon Kenton freshman Evan Stowers finished second with 472.70 points and also qualified for the state meet, Feb.23-24 in Lexington. St.Henry's Ryan Kellerman was third with 434.00 points, and Covington Catholic's Scott Schierberg was fourth with 360.95.
In the girls event, Holmes junior Robyn Karlage defended her title, finishing with 423.80 points to Scott eighth-grader Lyndsey Longshore's 406.95.
Kayla Hanser of Notre Dame finished third with 393.80 points and McKenzie Long of Conner was fourth with 369.70.
It seems Niehaus has been diving forever — he was a member of the Eagles varsity as a sixth-grader in 1996. But he said this year's title is the nicest of his three, even though he didn't get to face last year's regional winner, Mark Shattuck of Dixie Heights, who moved to England.
“Setting a team record was one of my goals,” Niehaus said. “And breaking 500 (points) was a goal, too.”
The Stowers brothers are better known for basketball. Brenden is a sophomore playing for Northern Kentucky University and Jordan, a senior at Simon Kenton, is headed for NKU this fall.
Evan plays on the Simon Kenton junior varsity, but he also has been a diver the past eight years.
“Diving is less competitive than basketball,” Stowers said. “It's my second priority (to basketball), but I like to put a lot of work into it when I can.”
Like Niehaus, Karlage and Longshore are regional veterans. Karlage earned her second state berth, and Longshore is headed to Lexington for the third straight year.
Karlage said this year's title is better than the one she earned last year, even though she has been busy with the swim team. She has competed in the 100-yard yard butterfly, 200 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle for Holmes this season.
“I felt this year I was putting off diving so much because I was concentrating so much on swimming,” she said. “I started to swim, and I didn't realize how much time I had to put in.”
Longshore was happy with her second-place finish.
“It makes me feel secure,” she said. “I was hoping for first; Robyn's a good competitor.”
Boys top 12 finishers (top two automatically advance to state meet Feb. 23-24 at the University of Kentucky): 1. Zach Niehaus (Scott), 515.85; 2. Evan Stowers (Simon Kenton), 472.70; 3. Ryan Kellerman (St. Henry), 434.00; 4. Scott Schierberg (Covington Catholic), 360.95; 5. Brandon Stahlhut (Highlands), 345.15 ; 6. Dustin Smith (Scott), 321.30; 7. Jake Myers (Scott), 311.60; 8. Mitchell Kellerman (St. Henry), 304.40; 9. Brad Sanders (Scott), 291.95; 10. Ryan Hills (Highlands), 257.60; 11. Eric Ernst (Covington Latin), 254.65; 12. David Heil (Covington Catholic), 245.15.
Girls top 12 finishers (top two automatically advance to state meet Feb. 23-24 at the University of Kentucky): 1. Robyn Karlage (Holmes), 423.80; 2. Lyndsey Longshore (Scott) 406.95; 3. Kayla Hanser (Notre Dame), 393.80; 4. McKenzie Long (Conner), 369.70; 5. Jodi Strietelmeier (Dixie Heights), 331.60; 6. Lindsey Pryse (Highlands), 329.95; 7. Jennifer Sproehnle (Simon Kenton), 325.25 ; 8. Meghan Weier (Dixie Heights), 324.80; 9. Meghan Bardgett (Highlands), 322.05; 10. Charlie Thorn (Dixie Heights), 316.20; 11. Brianne Bennett (Scott), 311.25; 12. Lauren Jenny (Dixie Heights), 308.65.
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N.Ky. regional swimming
