[Stardust]

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...902080419/

The Colonels took home another Fourth Region swimming title on Saturday, blowing out the competition and the record books along the way.

"It's definitely a special way to start out as coach here," Dickmann said after the finals.

Covington Catholic piled up 263 points en route to the championship, its 12th straight in the region. The Colonels easily topped second-place Beechwood, which finished with 187.

Strengthened by the return of several swimmers who had given up the sport a few years ago, Dickmann said the team's depth was the difference.

"The best kids on our team always come through," Dickmann said, "but the depth of our whole team brought us the points today."

Colonel relay teams set regional records in both the 200- and 400-yard freestyle races, but the 400 was particularly special, as the record had been in place since 1995.

"That was a shocker," Dickmann said. "They got so far ahead that I thought they might shut it down, but they just kept pushing."..........