Region 9 Triumph
Russell Swim Team Makes
a Big Splash on the Way to State
By Sasha Bush
The Ashland Beacon
The Russell Red Devils made an unforgettable splash at the Region nine Swim Meet on Feb. 3, as every single swimmer posted a personal best time. It was a day of triumphs and thrilling performances, highlighting the team’s skill, determination, and unwavering commitment to excellence. With their eyes set on the KHSAA State Swimming Championships, these young athletes are ready to show what they’re made of on the biggest stage of all!
One of the standout stars of the meet was Brynlee Trippett, whose performances left the competition in the wake of her waves. Brynlee not only earned two second place finishes but also clinched her spot at State in both the 200-yard freestyle (2:02.76) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:33.16). But the excitement didn’t stop there – Trippett went on to further impress at the First Round State Meet, where she posted times of 2:01.34 in the 200 free and 5:29.19 in the 500 free. With those times, she secured her place at the prestigious KHSAA State Swimming Championships, set to take place at the University of Kentucky on Feb. 21.
Not far behind Brynlee was Ian Sarver, another Red Devil who earned a coveted spot at the State meet. Sarver powered his way to second place in both the 500-yard freestyle (5:22.61) and the 200-yard individual medley (2:14.29), proving his versatility and endurance. With those stellar performances, he earned his ticket to the State competition, where he’ll go head-to-head with Kentucky’s top swimmers.
While individual success was abundant, the Red Devils also made waves in the relay events. The girls’ 200-yard freestyle relay team, consisting of Brynlee Trippett, S.K. Barfield, Bristol Whitlock, and Maddie Whitlock, clinched a second-place finish with a time of 1:50.37. The same relay squad continued to show their dominance by securing another second-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay (4:05.79), sending both relays to State in the process!
The boys weren’t far behind – Briar Osborne, Ashton Daniels, Miguel Pangan, and Ian Sarver made up the 200-yard freestyle relay team that earned a solid seventh-place finish. The boys’ 400-yard freestyle relay team, made up of Osborne, Daniels, Pangan, and Sarver, also swam their way to a strong sixth-place result, continuing the momentum toward State.
In addition to the relay triumphs, many individual swimmers posted top finishes across various events. Here’s a rundown of the impressive results:
Brynlee Trippett – 2nd in both the 200 and 500-yard freestyle
Ian Sarver – 2nd in both the 200 IM and 500 free
Bristol Whitlock – 3rd in the 200 IM and 4th in the 100 Fly
Maddie Whitlock – 4th in the 500 free and 3rd in the 100 Breast
Emma Brown – 6th in the 500 free and 9th in the 100 Fly
Lylah Cameron – 12th in the 50 Free and 6th in the 100 Breast
S.K. Barfield – 9th in the 50 Free and 10th in the 100 Free
Briar Osborne – 9th in the 200 Free and 9th in the 100 Breast
Ava Ladd – 11th in the 200 IM and 10th in the 100 Fly
Allie McBride – 9th in the 200 Free and 11th in the 100 Free
Haley Daniels – 11th in the 50 Free and 12th in the 100 Free
Aly Hurst – 12th in the 100 Back
Layla Young – 15th in the 100 Back
As a team, the Red Devils secured a remarkable 24 top 16 finishes, with 10 of those being top eight medal finishes. And if that weren’t enough, all five relay teams finished in the top eight, underscoring the depth and strength of the Russell swim program.
This season has been nothing short of thrilling, and the Red Devils have proved that with hard work, determination, and teamwork, anything is possible. Russell coach Jennifer Trippett shared that she is so proud of this teams’ accomplishments and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them. Though the season may be drawing to a close, make no mistake these young athletes already have their eye on the prize for next year. With the KHSAA State Swimming Championships fast approaching, these young athletes are poised to make a big splash and represent their school with pride. As they head to State, they’re bringing their A-game and are ready to continue making waves, setting the stage for even greater successes ahead!
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