While a majority of schools voted to eliminate the state first round for wrestling starting in 2023-24, it appears swimming will be utilizing a first-round format.
At last month’s KHSAA Board of Control meeting, a report to authorize the reformatting of swimming and diving in 2023-24 was accepted by the board.
A survey of members schools that have swimming opted by a more than 2-to-1 margin of a state first-round format. 40 swimmers would still advance to the state meet from the region meets – 18 automatic qualifiers from each region and 22 at large from the state based on time.
A first round of state would be held at two or three sites in the state – similar to what the KHSAA did in 2021 in the wake of COVID-19. The KHSAA report said the format could also allow for realignment to eight or 10 regions in the postseason.
After the first round of state, the top 24 competitors in each event would advance to the final round of the state swim meet.
While 69 of the 128 schools statewide in the survey voted for this format, it was nowhere near a consensus among Region 1 schools.
Christian County, Fort Campbell, Hopkinsville, and Hopkins County Central voted for the state first-round format.
Henderson County and McCracken County voted to advance a total of 32 swimmers in each event from region to state and reduce the number of at-large qualifiers from 18 to 14 with no state first round.
Marshall County and Paducah Tilghman voted to reduce the number of automatic qualifiers per region from two to one with no state first round.
Madisonville and Murray voted in the survey to advance 24 swimmers to the state meet and just six at-large qualifiers statewide in each event with no state first round.
The region meet will be held on February 2-3 at a location to be determined. The state championships will be held on February 23-24 at the University of Kentucky with a state first round held after the region weekend.
