Corbin swimmers showing great potential in year three; Region meet set to take place next week

The Corbin swim team is enjoying continued success in its third year of existence, with several swimmers on track to appear at the KHSAA state championship meet in Louisville later this month. New Head Coach Kim Moore recently spoke about how things have been going for the team this winter, as well as her expectations for the remainder of the season.

“We’ve got a lot of new swimmers again this year, and our returning swimmers are all strong,” said Moore. “We also have a diver, Haley Martin, which is something that we didn’t have last year. She has been doing an unbelievable job.”

Having a diver on this year’s team is not the only new development for the aquatic Redhounds. They are also competing in a new region, which is something that Moore says will greatly benefit them in the end. She said, “We’ve been in a region with all of these big Lexington schools. Now we’re not, so I expect the region meet to very competitive. We have a good chance to finish in the top three or four, which would obviously be a very good thing for the program.”

Moore said that there is great potential on this year’s team, and she believes there could be several athletes qualifying for state competition after the region meet. “We have the potential to take boys and girls relay teams to state, as well as some individuals,” she explained. “That is something that we have not done in the past.”

Specifically, Moore said that she anticipates Martin to qualify for state as a diver, and she expects a very strong girls swimming team to produce several state qualifiers as both individuals and members of relay teams. On the boys side, she said that there is a very good chance they will have a relay team qualify for state as well, and she is almost certain that senior Caleb Parker will qualify in the 50-meter freestyle.

The top two finishers in each competition at the region meet will automatically advance to state. Now that Corbin will be going up against other area schools such as North and South Laurel, Knox Central and Barbourville, their chances of sending more swimmers to Louisville should be much greater. The Hounds have had swimmers go to state for the last two years, but in 2016 they could see their largest group yet make it to the big stage, or perhaps one should say the big pool.

The region meet will be held next Friday and Saturday, February 12-13, at the Stiver’s Aquatic Center in Barbourville, with preliminaries being held on day one, and the finals taking place on day two. When asked about her outlook for the remainder of the season, Moore said, “I’m just really excited for the region meet. I think these kids have a lot of potential. They work hard, are great to work with, and it’s been a lot of fun.”

The News Journal will continue to track the progress of the Corbin swimming and diving team throughout the remainder of this season.