‘Oh my God, us first?’ Kentucky crowns 2022 high school swimming champions.
Henry Clay senior Jackson Millard earned just one winner’s medal at the UK HealthCare KHSAA Swimming and Diving Championships, but his victory in the 500 freestyle prompted a hearty cheer from most of the hundreds in attendance.
His race was one of just two not claimed by St. Xavier High School, which won its 34th straight boys’ state team title and added nine more race championships to bring its all-time total to 189. Christian Academy of Louisville senior Robert Ehrenborg (50 freestyle) was the only other non-St. X race winner Friday night at UK’s Lancaster Aquatic Center.
It was the Tigers’ 58th overall team title. Elizabethtown, in 1988, was the last non-St. X team to achieve the feat.
Millard is only the second Lexington swimmer to win the boys’ 500 freestyle; he joined Sayre’s Nick Graves, who won the race in 2006. He was Henry Clay’s first champion in any event since 2011, when it had two victories — Nick Wrightson won the last of three straight medals in the 200 freestyle and was part of the Blue Devils’ winning team in the 400 freestyle relay that same year.
Millard’s finals time, 4:28.01, was 0.37 seconds better than the All-American benchmark time set by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association. Four of the top seven finishers were from St. X, including Jack Anderson in second.
“It was a fun race,” said Millard, who’s committed to Louisville. “I went into it and came out with my best time by almost a second. I’m just glad I got to beat out all those St. X boys.”
He and three other Henry Clay swimmers — Cole Bray, Landon Jennings and Max Montgomery — nearly pulled off a second win for the school in the 200 freestyle relay. They finished second with a time of 1:25.21, which is good enough for All-American consideration, but it wasn’t fast enough to beat St. X (1:24.67, which met the automatic All-American standard).
The Blue Devils’ second-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay was 11 seconds behind St. Xavier (the Tigers’ 3:00.27 bettered their own state-meet record set in 2018) but 0.27 seconds better than third-place Paul Laurence Dunbar. That race, the last one of the meet, broke a tie for second place in the team standings between the two Lexington schools.
“We came here to swim fast,” said Landon Jennings, “and that’s what we did.”
Girls’ meet
Lafayette rocked the boat with its victory in the 200 medley relay, which kicked off the girls’ meet on Saturday night.
Its race team — comprised of Megan Wedeking, Lou Elayi, Lili Elayi and Emma Lykins — edged Sacred Heart by 0.13 seconds, 1:43.51 to 1:43.64 — to snap the Valkyries’ nine-year win streak in that event. Lafayette became the first public school to win that event since Manual in 2008.
That result buoyed the Generals to a third-place overall finish in the team standings behind Sacred Heart, which won its 10th straight meet and 33rd overall, and Assumption.
“We had a lot of good energy tonight. And that really showed off, especially, when we won the first relay — that really set the tone — and we just didn’t stop,” Lafayette head coach Treny Lakes said. “Our kids got going, and they were really positive the entire night.”
The same group of girls, swimming in a different order, finished second to Sacred Heart in the 200 freestyle relay. Lili Elayi came second as an individual in two events, the 50 free style and 100 butterfly, swimming an auto All-American time of 54.36 in the latter.
Lili, who swam the butterfly as the third leg on the 200 medley relay, recalled watching Lykins swim the final leg from the pool deck.
“I didn’t know who touched first,” Lili said. “I was like ‘What does that say? Oh my God, us first?’”
Combined title
The KHSAA doesn’t officially recognize a combined swimming and diving champion in its official records, but the top scoring school when all boys’ and girls’ scores are totaled together is annually honored by the Kentucky High School Swimming and Diving Coaches Association. Paul Laurence Dunbar was this year’s recipient of the combined trophy.
“The girls came through and sealed the deal for us,” Bulldogs head coach Cole Pleasants said. “I’m super proud of all the athletes after another crazy year of ups and downs and the unexpected. … It goes to show how strong these kids are. The fact that they came home and won another championship title is amazing.”
State swimming and diving results
2022 KHSAA State Swimming & Diving Championships Presented by UK HealthCare
Swimming held Feb. 19-20 at the University of Kentucky’s Lancaster Aquatic Center. Diving held Feb. 12 at Falling Springs Center in Versailles. Top three places, plus top finishes from Lexington schools.
Boys’ team standings: 1. St. Xavier, 583. 2. Henry Clay, 194. 3. Paul Laurence Dunbar, 192. 6. Lexington Catholic, 96. 37. Bryan Station, 5. 38. Tates Creek, 4.
Girls team standings: 1. Sacred Heart, 347. 2. Assumption, 183. 3. Lafayette, 166. 4, Lexington Catholic, 152. 11. Paul Laurence Dunbar, 84. 13. Henry Clay, 63. 39. Lexington Christian, 2.
Top combined team standings: 1. Paul Laurence Dunbar, 276. 2. Henry Clay 257. 3. Lexington Catholic, 248.
Boys’ 200-Yard Medley Relay: 1. St. Xavier (Charlie Crush, Will Scholtz, Luke Thomas, Johnny Crush), 1:28.14. 2. Paul Laurence Dunbar (Mark Dattilio, Alex Ochsenbein, Nathan Zhu, Will Hinz), 1:33.69. 3. Lexington Catholic (Andrew Menke, Graham Miniard, Connor Busson, Xavier Noe), 1:35.70. 4, Henry Clay (Nick Johnson, Eli Greinke, Jack Johnson, Jackson Millard), 1:37.45.
Boys’ 200-Yard Freestyle: 1. Johnny Crush, St. Xavier, 1:38.89. 2. John Hayes, Elizabethtown, 1:38.91. 3. Isaac Wilson, St. Xavier, 1:41.52. 7, Alex Ochsenbein, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1:44.22. 12. Cole Bray, Henry Clay, 1:44.96.
Boys’ 200-Yard IM: 1. Will Scholtz, St. Xavier, 1:46.48. 2. Jack Anderson, St. Xavier, 1:47.87. 3. Jackson Millard, Henry Clay, 1:48.08. 8. Andrew Menke, Lex. Catholic, 1:58.93. 15. Nick Johnson, Henry Clay, 2:00.44.
Boys’ 50-Yard Freestyle: 1. Robert Ehrenborg, Christian Academy-Louisville, 20.62. 2. Luke Thomas, St. Xavier, 20.72. 3. Seneca Oddo, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 20.84. 5. Landon Jennings, Henry Clay, 21.28. 15. Eli Merritt, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 22.56.
Boys’ 1-Meter Diving: 1. Brandon Anderson, St. Xavier, 509.10. 2. Alex Warning, Dixie Heights, 449.85. 3. Jake Larkin, Cov. Catholic. 12. Tyler Bobadilla, Bryan Station, 303.55. 13. James Davis, Tates Creek, 296.55. 14, Nolan Kelly, Lex. Catholic, 284.30.
Boys’ 100-Yard Butterfly: 1. Charlie Crush, St. Xavier, 47.49. 2. Nathan Zhu, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 49.68. 3. Blake Whiteley, St. Xavier, 50.07. 14. Jack Johnson, Henry Clay, 52.57. 16. Connor Busson, Lex. Catholic, 53.52.
Boys’ 100-Yard Freestyle: 1. Luke Thomas, St. Xavier, 45.46. 2. Zain Butt, St. Xavier, 46.28. 3. Robert Ehrenborg, Christian Academy-Louisville, 46.44. 5. Landon Jennings, Henry Clay, 46.66. 6. Seneca Oddo, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 46.71.
Boys’ 500-Yard Freestyle: 1. Jackson Millard, Henry Clay, 4:28.01. 2. Jack Anderson, St. Xavier, 4:31.23. 3. John Hayes, Elizabethtown, 4:34.70. 12. Cole Bray, Henry Clay, 4:46.61. 14. Jack Johnson, Henry Clay, 4:49.90.
Boys’ 200-Yard Freestyle Relay: 1. St. Xavier (Lorenzo Martinelli, Zain Butt, Alex Thiesing, Jack Anderson), 1:24.67. 2. Henry Clay (Landon Jennings, Max Montgomery, Cole Bray, Jackson Millard), 1:25.21. 3. Paul Laurence Dunbar (Eli Merritt, Seneca Oddo, Mark Dattilio, Jared Brown), 1:27.69. 8. Lexington Catholic (Xavier Noe, Connor Busson, Andrew Menke, Sears Frank), 1:30.75.
Boys’ 100-Yard Backstroke: 1. Charlie Crush, St. Xavier, 47.32. 2. Johnny Crush, St. Xavier, 48.56. 3. Blake Whiteley, St. Xavier, 51.36. 4. Andrew Menke, Lex. Catholic, 51.51. 12. Nick Johnson, Henry Clay, 53.76. 15. Mark Dattilio, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 54.63. 16. Connor Busson, Lex. Catholic, 56.82.
Boys’ 100-Yard Breaststroke: 1. Will Scholtz, St. Xavier, 53.88. 2. Alex Ochsenbein, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 55.99. 3. Thomas Mercer, St. Xavier, 56.68. 4, Nathan Zhu, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 58.55. 8. Graham Miniard, Lex. Catholic, 59.83. 14. Eli Greinke, Henry Clay, 1:01.10.
Boys’ 400-Yard Freestyle Relay: 1. St. Xavier (Charlie Crush, Luke Thomas, Johnny Crush, Will Scholtz), 3:00.27. 2. Henry Clay (Max Montgomery, Cole Bray, Nick Johnson, Landon Jennings), 3:11.26. 3. Paul Laurence Dunbar (Eli Merritt, Alex Ochsenbein, Jared Brown, Nathan Zhu), 3:11.53.
Girls’ 200-Yard Medley Relay: 1. Lafayette (Megan Wedeking, Lou Elayi, Lili Elayi, Emma Lykins), 1:43.51. 2. Sacred Heart Academy (Madeline Meredith, Carlie Tyler, Brinly Hardy, Ella Donlin), 1:43.64. 3. Lexington Catholic (Kat Woodall, Libby Livesay, Christina Aouad, Caroline Beiting), 1:45.63. 7. Paul Laurence Dunbar (Nicole Nunez, Meher Saini, Emma Daman, Claire Ackerman), 1:50.25. 11. Henry Clay (Zoe Schaeffer, Emma Scheller, Elliott Havens, Avery Gabbard), 1:51.66.
Girls’ 200-Yard Freestyle: 1. Lainy Kruger, Notre Dame, 1:46.14. 2. Eden Humphrey, Assumption, 1:50.56. 3. Mackenzie Lanning, Sacred Heart, 1:51.30. 7. Emma Lykins, Lafayette, 1:54.45.
Girls’ 200-Yard IM: 1. Haley McDonald, Sacred Heart, 2:00.06. 2. Carlie Tyler, Sacred Heart, 2:04.12. 3. Kate Braeger, Elizabethtown, 2:05.43. 8. Christina Aouad, Lex. Catholic, 2:08.07. 12. Caroline Beiting, Lex. Catholic, 2:10.51.
Girls’ 50-Yard Freestyle: 1. Ella Welch, Assumption, 22.44. 2. Lili Elayi, Lafayette, 23.55. 3. Brinly Hardy, Sacred Heart, 23.67. 10. Lillian Hosinski, Lex. Catholic, 24.86.
Girls’ 1-Meter Diving: 1. Peytton Moore, Cooper, 505.65. 2. Kaitlin Calvery, Sacred Heart, 455.75. 3. Reagan Patterson, Madison Southern, 422.30. 4. Mallory Sparks, Henry Clay, 378.55. 15. Claire Nicholas, Henry Clay, 290.95. 16. Emily Scott, Lex. Catholic, 284.35.
Girls’ 100-Yard Butterfly: 1. Madeline Meredith, Sacred Heart, 53.81. 2. Lili Elayi, Lafayette, 54.36. 3. Sarah Zoellner, Greenwood, 55.60. 10. Zoe Schaeffer, Henry Clay, 56.57. 11. Megan Wedeking, Lafayette, 57.03. 12. Libby Livesay, Lex. Catholic, 57.22.
Girls’ 100-Yard Freestyle: 1. Ella Welch, Assumption, 49.05. 2. Lily Delong, West Jessamine, 51.12. 3. Emma Littrell, St Henry, 52.38. 6. Emma Lykins, Lafayette, 52.75. 7. Kat Woodall, Lex. Catholic, 52.90. 11. Katie Bridwell, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 53.79.
Girls’ 500-Yard Freestyle: 1. Haley McDonald, Sacred Heart, 4:53.10. 2. Carlie Tyler, Sacred Heart, 4:58.68. 3. Sadie Hartig, Notre Dame, 5:04.43. 4. Christina Aouad, Lex. Catholic, 5:07.25. 14, Ava Jones, Lex. Catholic, 5:14.99.
Girls’ 200-Yard Freestyle Relay: 1. Sacred Heart Academy (Brinly Hardy, Ella Donlin, Mackenzie Lanning, Haley McDonald), 1:34.67. 2. Lafayette (Emma Lykins, Megan Wedeking, Lou Elayi, Lili Elayi), 1:36.61. 3. Assumption (Lucy Fears, Ava Fears, Liesel Greseth, Eden Humphrey), 1:38.87. 4. Paul Laurence Dunbar (Claire Ackerman, Katie Bridwell, Meher Saini, Emma Daman), 1:40.34. 10. Henry Clay (Elliott Havens, Avery Gabbard, Melahnia Browne, Zoe Schaeffer), 1:41.70.
Girls’ 100-Yard Backstroke: 1. Madeline Meredith, Sacred Heart, 54.74. 2. Mackenzie Lanning, Sacred Heart, 55.89. 3. Madison Patel, Paducah Tilghman, 56.61. 5. Megan Wedeking, Lafayette, 57.28. 6, Zoe Schaeffer, Henry Clay, 57.30. 7. Kat Woodall, Lex. Catholic, 57.50. 10. Katie Bridwell, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 58.54.
Girls’ 100-Yard Breaststroke: 1. Lainy Kruger, Notre Dame, 1:01.34. 2. Hanna Schmidt, Eastern, 1:03.55. 3. Victoria Taylor, Model, 1:04.05. 4. Libby Livesay, Lex. Catholic, 1:04.37. 6. Lou Elayi, Lafayette, 1:05.46. 11. Caroline Beiting, Lex. Catholic, 1:07.85. 12. Meher Saini, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1:08.01. 15. Lauren Cox, Lex. Christian, 1:09.73.
Girls’ 400-Yard Freestyle Relay: 1. Sacred Heart Academy (Haley McDonald, Carlie Tyler, Mackenzie Lanning, Madeline Meredith), 3:27.93. 2. Assumption (Lucy Fears, Liesel Greseth, Eden Humphrey, Ella Welch), 3:30.21. 3. West Jessamine (Caroline Lee, Margaret Wilson, Amelia Lee 8, Lily Delong), 3:33.76. 5. Lexington Catholic (Christina Aouad, Caroline Beiting, Libby Livesay, Kat Woodall), 3:34.84. 11. Paul Laurence Dunbar (Macie McCubbin, Sophie Hildebrandt, Amelia Jones, Katie Bridwell), 3:40.90.
This story was originally published February 20, 2022 at 12:08 PM.
