Ryle dives into season with eyes on state

By James Weber • jweber@nky.com • December 7, 2010

Jim Bailie returns as Ryle High School head swimming coach this year.

The girls team was third in the region last year. They must replace standout Mary Bank, who won two medals last year at the state meet and is swimming at Kenyon College.

They return regional diving champion Meredith Brownell, a junior. She was second in the state.

Senior Sarah Truskot was fifth at regionals in the 200 individual medley and 24th in the state. She was fourth in the butterfly at regionals.

Senior Darby Cochran was seventh in the breaststroke and the IM at regionals.

Sophomore Taylor Piatt was fifth in the butterfly and eighth in the breaststroke at regionals.

Truskot, Cochran and Piatt were together in two relays that went to the state meet.

Top newcomers include junior Audrey Cochran (backstroke, freestyle), eighth-grader Kaylee Witkiewicz (backstroke, freestyle), and junior Taylor Dantes (200 and 500 free). Bailie expects them to add key depth in the regional meet.

"These swimmers and divers have recognized that if they want to improve from last year's results they will have to work harder than ever, and they have committed to do just that," Bailie said. "My goal this year is to challenge for the runner-up position at the regional finals."

The boys team was fifth in the regional meet, and returns two top veterans in senior Robert Parmele and freshman T.J. Albright.

Parmele was 10th in the region in both the 200 free and 100 breaststroke. Albright was fifth in the backstroke and eighth in the 100 freestyle. Junior Tommy Jennings was integral to three top-six relays at regions.

Jennings will be strong in the 50 and 100 free. Some top newcomers include freshman Mikey O'Leary (butterfly, IM), freshman Brian Kelly (backstroke, IM), seventh-grader Keagan Finley (50, 100 free), junior Myles Brown (200 free) and freshman Adam Dantes (breaststroke).

Bailie looks for a top-five finish at state and several state qualifiers.