The 2024-25 high school swimming season gets underway Saturday at the annual Rick Cohn Invitational at Hopkinsville High School.
The meet, which was previously called the Tiger Invitational, was renamed in honor of former Hoptown swim coach Rick Cohn, who passed away 24 years ago outside of the pool after practice.
Keith Marquess, who now coaches both the Hopkinsville and Christian County swim teams, said this meet is special to everyone affiliated with the swimming program.
Cohn’s wife, Lynne, is the long-time assistant swimming coach, and his oldest daughter, Ellen Cohn Bloomfield, will be in attendance at the meet Saturday.
This year’s meet is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and will feature 11 teams including Hopkinsville, Christian County and Fort Campbell.
Marquess said her Hopkinsville varsity squad will consist only of girls and is led by Saralynn Major, Grace Cansler, and Eliza Renshaw.
Others on the team include Kayleigh Bane, Evelyn Bangart, Kaley Bangart, Lia Beckham, Kaydon Coats, Madelin Macario, Payton Trapp and Sophia Wyatt.Â
There are several boys on the team who are not old enough to compete at the varsity level and they include Jay Richardson, Cooper Smith and Lance Zigelhofer.
Meanwhile, Christian County has 11 girls on its varsity squad, led by Addison Peck and Addison Renshaw.
Others on the team include Lexi Cavinder, Gracelynn Clark, Sarah Kate Gilliam, Kaydence Harrison, Kara Johnson, Alyssa Mase, Macy McGinnis, Seda Pampell and Lola Renshaw.
The Colonels’ boys’ team includes Shemar Barker, Jackson Downey, Kolton Parker, and Samuel Peck.
Photos by Joe Wilson