Kentucky
How did NKY boys fare at 2026 swimming and diving state championships?
The 2026 Kentucky high school swimming and diving state championships got underway on Friday, Feb. 20, as the boys took to the pool.
While the Louisville St. Xavier Tigers claimed their 38th straight team title, Simon Kenton’s Isaiah Reinhart and Ryle’s Chase Knopf were among the top local performers.
Here are the biggest storylines from day one. The girls will finish the season on Saturday afternoon and evening.
Complete results can be found here.
Isaiah Reinhart leads 3 Northern Kentucky divers to the podium
In 2025, Northern Kentucky placed three divers on the state podium. This year, three more were in the top eight. The only constant between the two seasons? Simon Kenton’s Isaiah Reinhart.
Last year, he was narrowly in third place after the first round and stayed in that spot, finishing with 469.55 points. This season, after winning his second straight regional title, he planted himself in second place after his second dive score of 58.5 and stayed there until the end, finishing with 570 points.
“It felt great. I was putting everything I had into those dives. I feel great about the outcome, too,” Reinhart said.
He was especially proud of his back 1.5 somersault 1.5 twist, the third and ninth dives of his program. He scored 55 points and 57.5 points on those respective dives.
After graduating this year, Reinhart hopes to continue diving. He has been looking at the University of Louisville, University of Kentucky and University of Cincinnati.
On the other end of the age spectrum was Dixie Heights freshman Austin Maley, making his second appearance at state after taking ninth place in 2025. As the last diver in the lineup, he put extra effort into his forward 1.5 somersault twist, which he attempted in the sixth and 12th rotations and helped him take fourth place with 535.7 points.
“I put my best into that dive,” Maley said.
Simon Kenton coach Austin Hall, who also coaches Maley, believes he will hang a banner or two at Dixie Heights before he graduates.
Ryle’s Wes Hampel finished in seventh place with 439.45 points. The Raiders also placed Carter Young and Eli Evans in the top 16.
Hall, one of four diving coaches in Northern Kentucky, was named the Kentucky boys diving coach of the year.
“I haven’t been on a board or coaching diving for quite a while,” Hall said. “When the opportunity came up to get back into diving in a coaching capacity, I jumped at it.”
Hall dove at Riverside High School in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and broke his neck before he competed at state as a senior. He is especially grateful for Covington Catholic coach Emma Lehmkuhl, Highlands coach Kristina Jenny and Ryle coach Jeff Floyd for bringing him into the fold.
“I didn’t grow up here. Obviously Beaver County, Pennsylvania, I’m a little bit away from home, but they welcomed me with open arms. I was basically handed a laptop and said, ‘Good luck. You’re running all the meets.’” Hall said. “But I’m never leaving Kenton County.”
Chase Knopf makes history with distance freestyle wins
When Knopf, a Ryle senior and Louisville signee, touched the wall to win the 200-yard freestyle in 1:37.76, he became the first Raider to win an individual state title since Cory Chitwood won the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard individual medley in 2007.
“I’ve been chasing these state titles since I was in seventh grade. I remember the first time I was here, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is insane.’ I’ve gotten unlucky every time and to see everything line up for the first time and work out, it feels really good,” Knopf said.
He got out in a hurry, swimming a 22.83-second first length of the pool, and gradually increased his lead until he built a two-second margin of victory over St. Xavier’s Carter Rankin.
The final individual swim of his high school career was just as dominant as he won the 500-yard freestyle in 4:24.97, a five-second margin of victory over Beechwood’s Cono Presti.
The two are club teammates on the Northern Kentucky Clippers and push each other every day in practice. On the high school circuit, they’ve built a friendly rivalry as the season’s progressed.
“It’s every day,” Presti said.
Knopf took third place in the 200-yard freestyle and was the 500-yard freestyle runner-up in 2025 and thought about these titles every day between the two state meets. Seeing Rankin in lane three and Trinity’s Hampton Stuecker in lane five only added motivation for Knopf and Presti.
“It’s always been people that we always get beat by, and it’s nice to see a change. I respect those guys. They trained just as hard as us. I think we pushed a little harder and we finally got where we wanted to be,” Knopf said.
Covington Catholic freshman Andrew Kruger took seventh place in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:38.3. Knopf said Kruger is a name to watch in the future.
“It’s a good name to look out for,” Knopf said.
Ryle takes third in team race
Powered by Knopf’s wins, a third-place relay finish and two podiums from Nash Parsons, the Raiders scored 175 points to take the third-place trophy for the fourth year in a row. They finished six points behind Louisville Eastern, which recorded its highest team finish in school history.
“Four straight years in the top three is the best we’ve ever done, guys or girls. But to do it four years in a row is pretty awesome,” Ryle coach Jeff Floyd said.
Floyd is in his 10th year as the head coach and remembers when Ryle finished ninth at the regional meet.
“Now we’re bringing home state trophies consistently and that’s a great thing. The administration has supported us. My wife, my assistants, the kids, the families, they’ve all bought into the program,” Floyd said.
Highlands took fourth place with 139.5 points, setting up what should be a tight race for the combined team state title. The Raiders’ edge came from the 25 points they scored on the diving board.
Covington Catholic was the only other Northern Kentucky team to finish in the top 10, scoring 87 points to take ninth.
Which Northern Kentucky boys swimmers finished on the 2026 state podium?
1-meter dive: 2. Isaiah Reinhart, Simon Kenton; 4. Austin Maley, Dixie Heights; 7. Wes Hampel, Ryle
200-yard medley relay: 5. Highlands (Luke Deegan, Noah Gracey, Reed Spaulding, Ryan Schaber); 6. Covington Catholic (Andrew Boh, Will Dusing, Peyton Knollman, Sam Hartig)
200-yard freestyle: 1. Chase Knopf, Ryle; 4. Nash Parsons, Ryle
200-yard individual medley: 8. Charlie Herfel, Highlands
100-yard freestyle: 5. Nash Parsons, Ryle
500-yard freestyle: 1. Chase Knopf, Ryle; 2. Cono Presti, Beechwood; 7. Andrew Kruger, Covington Catholic
200-yard freestyle relay: 3. Ryle (Nash Parsons, Tyler Rice, Addison Coughenour, Chase Knopf); 4. Highlands (Chanith Abeysinghe, Noah Gracey, Charlie Herfel, Ryan Schaber)
100-yard breaststroke: 4. Noah Gracey, Highlands; 5. Tyler Rice, Ryle; 6. Andrew Boh, Covington Catholic
400-yard freestyle relay: 4. Highlands (Charlie Herfel, Charlie Golden, Ryan Schaber, Chanith Abeysinghe)
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Severe weather across the Commonwealth has led to downed trees, traffic impacts and thousands of power outages.
Extensive coverage will be available on air and on WKYT+, where people can stay updated on the latest storm threats and impacts.
Franklin County Damage
A house fire was caused by lightning striking the attic space above two bedrooms, the Franklin County Fire Department reports.
A child was reportedly awakened by smoke, and alerted the residents to danger. Everyone was able to get out of the home safely before fire crews arrived.
Crews say they were able to contain the fire to the attic, which reduced further damage to the home.
Grant County damage
The Grant County Judge Executive Chuck Dills declared a state of emergency for Grant County due to severe weather damage.
Mason County damage
The Washington Fire Department says crews have been busy with storm damage reports from early morning storms.
The Mason County Judge Executive Owen McNeill says most of the damage seems to be west of US 68 within or near the Maysville city limits. McNeill says trees and debris are in roads county wide, with several power lines down.
Jessamine County damage
Jessamine County Emergency Management posted on social media that multiple weather-related incidents and power outages Thursday morning have taxed their Emergency service teams
Officials say crews have responded to multiple flooded out roads, downed trees and at least four damaged structures including some commercial occupancies that had collapse of roof or structures.
If you experienced any damage, you are asked to message Jessamine County Emergency Management or submit a damage assessment report.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 7 said KY 1267 at Cushingberry Lane in Jessamine County is closed due to a downed tree on a phone line.
Following severe weather, Ollie’s bargain outlet’s roof partially collapsed in Jessamine County according to emergency management. Emergency management is on the scene handling the situation.
The whole strip mall is closed due to a water leak and potential gas leak.
Show us your photos
Viewers are encouraged to submit any photos and videos of storm damage and impacts to WKYT. People can submit entries below.
Power outages
As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, over 4,000 customers in Fayette County are without power, and over 57,000 customers are without power throughout Kentucky, according to Kentucky Power Outages.
In a social media post, Woodford County said it was monitoring outages and was in coordination with utility partners to work to restore power.
The main transmission line that provides power to Falmouth was damaged, leading the city to be without power according to Pendleton County Emergency Management. An LG&E crew is reportedly enroute to fix the problem, but Falmouth will have no power until the damage is repaired.
Road Conditions
Garrard County Emergency Management says several state and county roads are being covered in water due to the weather conditions. They advise for anyone travelling to use extreme caution and be aware of flooded areas.
If encountering a water covered road, turn around and don’t drive through it, Garrard County Emergency Management says. An alternate route is the safest option.
Rolling Acres is closed between Bender Drive and Rancho Drive in Frankfort due to storm damage according to the Frankfort-Franklin County Office of Emergency Management. Utility crews are making preparations for repair onsite.
U.S. 127 Business at mile point 1.4 in Anderson County was closed due to a downed tree, according to KYTC, and Midway Road is closed between Old Frankfort Pike and US 60 in Woodford County.
KYTC reports a downed tree at mile point 3.1 on Bryan Station Road in Fayette County. The road is currently blocked. Information will be provided as updates become available.
Old Frankfort Pike is also closed between Pisgah Pike and the Fayette County line due to a tree on utility lines, KYTC said.
The Harrodsburg Police Department says that the road at Moberly Road and Scooter Avenue is not drivable due to high water, and barricades are in place to prevent drivers from attempting to cross.
KYTC encouraged drivers to use caution while traveling and watch for roadway hazard, including downed trees, debris and powerlines.
Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.
By West Kentucky Star Staff
Jun. 17, 2026 | 10:25 PM
| PADUCAH
A drug trafficking investigation landed a Paducah man behind bars.
The weeks-long investigation by Paducah Police led them to 54-year-old Byrone K. Burns. Burnes was believed to be involved in moving illegal drugs through the area.
An undercover purchase was arranged, and detectives reportedly came away with more than ten grams of methamphetamine. Burns was arrested at his job just before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Following his arrest, detectives searched two locations in Paducah connected to Burns. They reportedly seized more than two pounds of marijuana, a hydrocodone pill, several thousand dollars in cash, and items consistent with trafficking.
Burns, who is said to have an extensive criminal history related to drugs and weapons, was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and marijuana, and possession of hydrocodone. He was booked into the McCracken County Regional Jail.
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Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, once labeled by ESPN as the No. 1 sports bar in America, is coming to Lexington, Kentucky.
The new dining establishment will be located at 1030 S. Broadway, in the former Tilted Kilt space, and will use the next-door site of KSBar & Grille, which closed in June, as a game-day location with a Kentucky Sports Radio presence.
The first Walk-On’s location in Kentucky — although its Clarksville, Indiana, location is just minutes from downtown Louisville — will feature at least 50 TVs for fans to watch UK games and other sporting events.
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux will open ahead of the 2026 football season. The new restaurant will be led by business partners Jamie Daniel and KSR founder Matt Jones.
“As a Kentucky native and die-hard Kentucky fan, opening a Walk-On’s here was a long time coming,” Daniel said in a news release. “By partnering with Matt and the KSR community, we’re serving a fan base that lives and breathes Kentucky sports. We believe this creates a destination unlike anything else in the market.”
KSBar opened in Lexington in 2018 and has been a staple for Kentucky sports fans. Jones wants to keep the space alive by opening it for game days and other special events while allowing fans to order from the Walk-On’s scratch-made menu.
“KSBar has always been about bringing Kentucky fans together,” Jones said in the release. “This partnership allows us to preserve that spirit while giving fans access to a bigger experience, a larger menu and the resources of one of the most successful sports bar brands in the country. We’ll still be here on game days, broadcasting KSR live and celebrating Kentucky sports, but now with Walk-On’s helping take the experience to the next level.”
Walk-On’s was founded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2003 by former LSU basketball walk-ons Brandon Landry and Jack Warner. Since then, the restaurant has opened over 80 locations across the United States with partners like Dak Prescott, Dabo Swinney and co-owner Drew Brees.
Reach sports trending writer Alaina Morris at amorris@gannett.com and follow her on X at @alainammorris.
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