ADDY WARTHMAN stands atop the podium after a first place finish in the girls’ 200-yard freestyle at the region 6 meet. (Photo by Hannah Warthman)
With a snowstorm threatening to derail the schedule at the Region 6 swim meet, the WCHS swim and dive team rose to the challenge, delivering impressive performances at the Region 6 meet Jan. 23, held a day early at Centre College. Coach Blair Hicks led her team to Danville for her final time with retirement looming after the state tournament and the team showed up to deliver some terrific times and finishes.
Woodford’s Harper Lacefield finished second in the girls’ 1-meter diving competition with a score of 193.75, earning a regional runner-up finish and qualifying for state. Teammates Rylee Shepard and Reese Willis also competed, placing fifth (101.05) and seventh(95.45), respectively.
The Woodford County girls’ 200-yard medley relay team placed fifth with a time of 2:01.51 in a competitive regional field.
Addy Warthman captured the regional championship in the girls’ 200-yard freestyle, touching first in 2:01.97, qualifying for state while leading Woodford’s individual performances. Woodford also had multiple swimmers compete in the event. Peyton Shepard finished 17th in 2:34.56, while Chloe McElwain placed 19th with a time of 2:39.80.
The Woodford County boys 200-yard medley relay team finished fifth overall with a time of 1:47.86, holding their own against a deep regional lineup.
Three Lady Jackets swam in the girls’ 200-yard individual medley. Aubrey Pernice led the team with a second-place finish, touching in 2:16.98 to earn a regional runner-up result and an automatic state bid. Teammate Ella Coyle followed with a strong performance, finishing fourth overall in 2:20.12. Woodford also received a solid swim from Rylee Shepard, who placed 13th with a time of 2:52.14.
On the boys’ side, Mason Peterson turned in Woodford’s top finish in the 200-yard individual medley, placing sixth with a time of 2:14.81.
Woodford placed two swimmers in the finals of the girls’ 200-yard individual medley. Aubrey Pernice finished second with a time of 2:16.98, narrowly missing the regional title but qualified for state. Rylee Shepard also competed for Woodford and finished 13th in 2:52.14, cutting 2.36 seconds off her previous time.
Mason Peterson led Woodford in the boys’ 200-yard individual medley, placing sixth with a time of 2:14.81. Peterson improved his seed time by 2.84 seconds in the finals.
Woodford’s Chris Rice posted a time drop in the boys 100-yard butterfly, finishing 14th in 1:08.02 while cutting 1.22 seconds from his previous mark.
Woodford had multiple swimmers drop time in the girls’ 100-yard butterfly. Sydney Moore finished 10th in 1:18.58, improving her time by 3.11 seconds. Teammate Ruby Danks followed closely, placing 11th in 1:20.35 after cutting 2.26 seconds.
In the boys’ 50-yard freestyle, Cole Humston turned in Woodford’s top improvement, finishing 13th with a time of 25.38 while dropping 0.52 seconds.
Woodford also saw time drops in the girls’ 50-yard freestyle. Grace Elder placed 15th in 29.44, cutting 0.74 seconds, while Gentry Moore finished 16th in 29.90 after trimming 0.06 seconds.
Woodford had multiple swimmers cut time in the girls’ 100-yard freestyle. Natalee Reed finished 22nd in 1:09.17, trimming 1.50 seconds from her previous mark. Sydney Moore followed closely in 23rd at 1:09.76, dropping 1.57 seconds, while Caroline King placed 24th in 1:09.79 after cutting 1.36 seconds.
Woodford turned in two podium finishes in the girls’ 500-yard freestyle, with both swimmers dropping time. Addy Warthman placed second with a time of 5:27.48, improving by 1.60 seconds qualifying for state, while Aubrey Pernice finished third in 5:27.56, cutting 1.99 seconds.
Woodford recorded multiple time drops in the boys’ 100-yard freestyle. Gannon Goins finished 17th in 1:00.57, lowering his time by 3.95 seconds. Drake Godman placed 21st with a time of 1:05.53, trimming 0.75 seconds.
The Woodford County girls’ 200-yard freestyle relay team finished fourth with a time of 1:48.83, improving by 1.24 seconds from its previous mark.
The Woodford County boys 200-yard freestyle relay team placed fifth, touching in 1:35.21 while cutting 1.95 seconds.
Woodford recorded a time drop in the boys’ 100-yard backstroke as Gannon Goins finished 12th with a time of 1:07.44, trimming 0.11 seconds.
Woodford had multiple swimmers drop time in the girls’ 100-yard backstroke. Grace Elder placed 16th in 1:16.58, cutting 0.76 seconds, while Daisy Peterson finished 18th in 1:16.98 after trimming 0.11 seconds.
Woodford posted several notable time drops in the girls’ 100-yard breaststroke. Kylie Martin finished 13th with a time of 1:25.71, lowering her mark by 0.60 seconds. Chloe McElwain followed in 16th at 1:27.76, cutting 7.79 seconds, one of the team’s biggest improvements of the meet.
Daisy Peterson added another drop, placing 19th in 1:33.89 after trimming 2.23 seconds.
Woodford’s Mason Peterson led the team in the boys’ 100-yard breaststroke, finishing 10th in 1:09.45 while dropping 1.72 seconds.
The Woodford County girls 400-yard freestyle relay team of Peyton and Rylee Shepard, Danks and Elder closed the meet with a sixth-place finish, posting a time of 4:36.78 while cutting 7.24 seconds from its previous mark.
The Woodford County boys 400-yard freestyle relay team of Godman, Rice, Gannon Goins and Cole Humston finished sixth overall in 4:06.97, turning in one of the team’s biggest improvements of the meet with a 19.43-second time drop.