Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County High School Swim and Dive team consisted of seven swimmers and one diver this season. This is the 5th year of having a girls’ team and 3rd year for a boys’ team (previously the school had two boys compete in swim several years ago).  They were Tyler Reed (who still holds a regional record) and Jordan Green. BCHS now has the first-ever girls’ dive team.

Taylor Burden competed this year as the first-ever diver for Butler County. 

The swim team is made up of sophomores Mattie Smith, Lydia Wells and Hannah Winchel and Dawson Deel; Junior Jacob Camp; and 8th graders Briley Choate and Briley Webster.

BCHS Swim and Dive competed at KHSAA Region 2 Championships February 4, 7-8th.  They competed as one of 18 teams including powerhouses Bowling Green High School and Owensboro High School. (Note:  Swim has no class divisions. Therefore, swimmers compete against every school in their respective region/state)

All BCHS swimmers competed at prelims and finished in the top 16 to qualify to swim in consolation finals or top 8 to swim in finals on Saturday, February 8th. 17th & 18th swimmers returned as alternates for consolation finals.

The BCHS girls’ relay team qualified for consolation finals in the 200-yard medley relay (Briley C., Briley W., Hannah W., and Lydia W.) and for finals the 400-yard free relay (Mattie S, Hannah W., Briley W, and Briley C. alt. Lydia W)  They earned a 7th place medal.

Taylor Burden

In individual even, Taylor Burden finished the dive portion of the competition with a personal best score and earned a 6th place medal. 

Dawson Deel qualified for consolation finals in the 500-yard free and finished in 13th  (dropping 6 seconds) and the 100-yard backstroke and finished 13th (dropping 3 seconds). He finished both events with personal best times.

Jacob Camp qualified for consolation finals in the 100-yard backstroke and finished 15th with a personal best time (dropping 6 seconds).

Briley Webster qualified for consolation finals in the 100-yard freestyle and finished 15th and the 100-yard breaststroke finishing 16th. She finished both events with personal best times.

Hannah Winchel was first alternate in both the 100-yard fly and the 100-yard backstroke.

(L to R, back to front): Hannah Winchel, Jacob Camp, Mattie Smith, Dawson Deel, Lydia Wells, Briley Webster, and Briley Choate

Mattie Smith qualified and competed in finals in the 500-yard freestyle and earned regional runner-up and in the 200-yard freestyle and earned a 3rd place finish. She finished with personal best times in both events and qualified to compete at KHSAA Swim and Dive State Championships.  She was also named to the All-Region Team.

Mattie Smith competed at KHSAA Swim and Dive State Championships, hosted by the University of Kentucky, on Friday, February 21.  She finished the 200-yard freestyle in 18th place, qualifying her as an alternate for finals, and in 24th place in the 500-yard freestyle.