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Mariemont High School senior Cora Dupre arrived at C.T. Branin Natatorium already an accomplished swimmer at the state level with three championships in the last two years.
On Friday, the Indiana University-bound Dupre left the venue of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Swimming and Diving meet the most decorated swimmer in the history of the Cincinnati Hills League.
In the Division II portion of the meet, Dupre won two state titles for the second consecutive year, bringing her career total to five, the most by any athlete in the history of the CHL.
"That's really cool, I actually didn't know that," Dupre said. "That's really exciting because I know a lot of great swimmers have come through the CHL. I really wanted to do well for my coaches just because they're so great. That was my goal all year, and I'd be OK if I didn't get it, but I'm very happy that I did."
Dupre started her night by setting a new state record in the 200-yard freestyle, finishing at 1:45.91, more than a second better than the previous state-best mark set by Cincinnati Country Day's Alexandra Wooden in 2015.
Dupre set a new pool record in the same race at the Princeton sectionals, giving her an extra boost of confidence when it was time to splash at Canton.
"It definitely took pressure off, so I was really glad to have good meets up to this," Dupre said. "I'm really happy because it's great to feel like all of my hard work has paid off."
Later in the night, Dupre captured title No. 5 by running away with the 100-yard freestyle for the second year in a row, outpacing second-place Amy Fulmer of Bellfontaine by nearly a full second.
The National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) All-American was nearly a part of a third state title with Mariemont's 200-yard freestyle relay team to finish the meet. Dupre started the race and gave her group the edge, but the Warriors finished third in a photo finish behind runner-up Hathaway Brown and champion Toledo St. Ursula.
"We were really happy with the finish," Dupre said. "We've had a lot of injuries and sicknesses throughout the season, so we weren't sure how it was going to play out. I'm just happy and proud at how it turned out well for all of us."
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