So far, the closest thing Katie Belle Sikes has had to an in-person class at Orange High was freshman orientation last summer. But she’s already made her mark in swimming. Last weekend, Sikes, a freshman, finished 2nd in the 50 Yard Freestyle during the 3A State Swimming and Diving Championships at Pullen Aquatic Center in Raleigh. On February 6, Sikes won the 3A Central Regional Championship in the 50 Yard Freestyle at the Greensboro Aquatic Center with a time of 23.31 seconds. In the state championships, Sikes finished at 23.26 seconds, behind only Olivia Rhodes, a senior from Charlotte Catholic. In the Central Regional Championships, Sikes joined Riley White, Brooke Walker and Melissa Campbell to finish 5th in the 200 Yard Medley Relay. White also qualified for the state championships on Orange’s 400 yard Freestyle Relay team, joining senior Abby Dease, senior Calla Walker and Riley White. If you’ve been to the Orange County Sportsplex, chances are you’ve seen Sikes working out in the pool. She’s a constant in the water, whether its swimming in meets with Orange or with the Hillsborough Aquatic Club. We’ll have a complete profile of Sikes coming up this weekend on the website.