Dunbar sweeps Region 5 swim meet with dynastic performance
BARBOURVILLE — Do you believe in dynasties?
Paul Laurence Dunbar's swimmers certainly do, being in the midst of one.
The Bulldogs scored 739 points Saturday to win the combined team title in the Region 5 Swimming and Diving Meet at Stivers Aquatic and Wellness Center.
That makes it eight region combined titles in a row for Dunbar, and 14 in 15 years.
Dunbar's girls won their sixth region crown in a row with 410 points, while the boys won their fourth straight with 329.
Coach Sydney Witzky was confident of sweeping all three titles.
"Yes. I mean, that's the expectation that we've done every single time," she said. "And even though we had some things happen to us this time, we were still able to stay on top and stay positive and stay motivated throughout the whole meet."
The top two finishers in each event, plus the next fastest 22 times from each of five regionals, qualify for the Pannell Swim Shop/KHSAA State Swimming and Diving Meet, Feb. 26-28 at the University of Louisville.
Madison Winstead, named girls' outstanding competitor, led Dunbar with four meet-record-setting performances.
The junior successfully defended titles in the 100-yard butterfly and 100 breaststroke, swam the breaststroke on the 200 medley relay and anchored the 400 free relay.
Most impressive was her 1:02.56 win in the breaststroke, an automatic All-American effort.
"I'm not exactly prepared for this meet, so I had a time in mind, and that was actually one of my best times," Winstead said. "So I came in wanting that record. It's Kaylin Burchell. She's an amazing swimmer. She's at Alabama now. So I came in with that mindset and I came through with it. It was awesome."
Dunbar's girls also had wins from Lauren Denham in the 500 freestyle and Lanier Whitton in the 100 backstroke. Denham touched in 5:06.60, lowering the meet record she had established in preliminaries.
"I tried to take it out strong and just hold pace, and just hope my training helped," said Denham, who also was runner-up in the 200. "I dropped four seconds the whole weekend, so I'm really happy with that."
Madison Central's Morgan Lakes swept the 200 freestyle and 200 individual medley. Her freestyle time of 1:52.62 is a meet record.
Lafayette senior Kyrie Dobson also was a double winner, defending titles in the 50 and 100 freestyles.
"It's just a lot of fun because it's my last regionals and I'm here with all my friends, and it's just a lot of fun competing with my teammates," said Dobson, who also anchored the winning 200 freestyle relay. "I think I broke about even — they were both a lot of fun for me."
Dunbar's boys were sparked by a 1-2 finish in the 200 freestyle, with Hayden Janes edging Chase Mattingly. Mattingly came back to win the 500 freestyle.
Henry Clay's Andrew Freibert was named the boys' outstanding competitor. He defended titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle, and anchored the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
"I was a little more nervous than usual," Freibert said.
His solution to the jitters?
"Just go out there and race. You've just got to get out there and get going."
Tates Creek had a pair of winners as Landon Clark defended his 100 butterfly title and Ethan Kramer did likewise in the 100 backstroke.
Kramer timed a meet-record :50.90, and had no doubt about where he found his speed.
"Maddie Jackson," he said, referring to the Woodford County swimmer who died Monday in a three-car wreck on Versailles Road. "I knew she was looking out for me. I had to have the heart to bounce back."
Madison Central picked up three wins — a meet-record 200 medley relay, Chase Baldwin in the 200 individual medley and Mitchell Collins in the 100 breaststroke.
This story was originally published February 14, 2015 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Dunbar sweeps Region 5 swim meet with dynastic performance."