Clark Coyle Makes History with Boyle County’s First State Swim Title

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Clark Coyle, a senior at Boyle County High School, achieved a historic win at the KHSAA State Swimming & Diving Championships on Friday, February 23, 2026, becoming the first swimmer in the school’s history to win a state championship. Coyle secured the title in the boys’ 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.65 seconds.

A Razor-Thin Victory

The race was exceptionally close, with Coyle edging out Kellie Tobergte of Murray High School by a mere 0.03 seconds – a margin he described as “the blink of an eye.” This victory culminates years of dedication and competition for the Boyle County swimmer.

Years of Dedication Pay Off

“It’s a very special feeling for sure,” Coyle said. “It makes it even sweeter since since my freshman year I’ve been competing for a state championship, and I finally get it my senior year.”

Coyle’s strategy focused on a strong start and turn. “I knew what I had to do to win that event, and I did exactly what I had to do,” he explained. “Basically, all I think about whenever I start that 50 free is hitting my turn, getting to 25 first and getting off that wall. My underwater is good, but going home I’m not the fastest on top of the water, so I knew I had to have the lead.”

Team Success

Boyle County enjoyed a successful overall meet, finishing eighth in the boys’ team standings and 12th in the girls’ standings, whereas also setting multiple school records. Coyle acknowledged the team’s accomplishments, stating, “The girls did great, the boys did great. It was a very successful meet.”

Future Plans

Coyle has signed a letter of intent to swim for Texas A&M University in the fall of 2026 . While he has achieved success in elite-level club competitions, a high school state championship had remained elusive until now. He competed in his sixth state meet, having previously reached seven individual finals and six relay finals, with a best finish of third.

Additional Boyle County Highlights

• The Boyle County boys’ 200 medley relay team (Clark Coyle, Evan Perry, Beau Bostick, and Anders Petkus) placed third with a time of 1:34.73, setting a new school record.
• Coyle also finished third in the 100 butterfly with a time of 49.34 seconds.
• Evan Perry broke a 29-year-old school record in the 100 breaststroke during preliminaries, finishing eighth in the final with a time of 1:00.50.
• Abigail Heath achieved the highest individual finish in Boyle County girls’ program history, placing fifth in the 50 freestyle (24.50) and sixth in the 100 freestyle (53.35), also breaking her own school record.
• The Boyle County girls’ 200 medley relay team (Ellie Wiglesworth, Ivy Sadler, Becca Hoffman, and Abigail Heath) finished fifth with a time of 1:50.68, setting a new school record.