*Info submitted by Andy Furman
Six members were inducted into the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday at The Gardens of Park Hills on Dixie Highway.
The day was highlighted by the induction of the Caple twins from Ludlow High
School. Tom Walters, Head Golf Professional at Summit Hills Country Club was the guest speaker and was also inducted.
The full class of inductees were Walters, a Northern Kentucky University alumnus, Robert Bruno (Newport Central Catholic, Covington Catholic, Beechwood), Denny Caple (Ludlow), Danny Caple (Ludlow), Bert Bennett (Holmes) and Matt Stevens (Covington Catholic).
Tom Walters – A native of Hazeltine, Pennsylvania, Walters graduated from Northern
Kentucky University and turned pro in golf in 1997. He played collegiate golf for four years
for the Norse, where he was an All-American and runner-up in the National
Championship. The resident of Wyoming, Ohio was the 2013 SOPGA Open
Champion; in 1996 he placed second in the National Championship and played in
the U.S. Amateur in 1995. Walters grew up in Anderson Township and attended Turpin High School.
Robert (Bob) Bruno – A graduate of Lima (Ohio) Bath High School, Bruno started
his high school football coaching career at Newport Central Catholic High School. After a 14-year stint with the Thoroughbreds, Bruno moved to Covington Catholic with Coach
Lynn Ray. Beechwood High School, under the direction of legendary coach Noel
Rash was the next stop for Bruno who said: “It’s a nice feeling when a former
player takes the time and effort to stop by the field to visit.”
Denny Caple (deceased) —A 1984 Ludlow graduate, Caple was an All-State
Honorable Mention as a linebacker as a senior. His best performance was a 22-
tackle game against Beechwood. He was named twice to the NKAC All-Star team
as an offensive lineman and once as a defensive lineman. He was also named
to the National Honor Society. In track he was named All-State twice and finished second in the Class A State Championship in the discus. He still holds the Ludlow High School discus record with a throw of 158-feet, 10-inches and in the shot put with a distance of 50-feet. He received a football scholarship to Western Kentucky University and as a
sophomore participated in all 11 games – had 35 tackles – 17 unassisted. He won
the Butch Gilbert Team Award for desire and dedication in practice. He suffered a
season-ending injury in 1987. He is a member of the Ludlow Hall of Fame and
NKYFL Hall of Fame.
Danny Caple — The 1984 Ludlow grad was named All-Conference his sophomore,
junior and senior years as a tight end. As a senior, he was named Honorable
Mention All-State recording 52 catches for over 500 yards. He was a Kentucky Enquirer First-Team All-Star. In basketball, he was named All-Conference as a junior and senior – as a junior he was voted Defensive Player of the Year. In track, he was high-jumper as a
junior and senior and helped Ludlow to the District and Regional title. At the
conference meet he placed second in the high jump. In baseball, his team won the 1974 Greater Cincinnati Championship and played in Riverfront Stadium. He was inducted in the Ludlow Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
Bert Bennett (deceased) – A star at the center and guard positions at Holmes
High School – he was a member of the 1944 Regional Conference Tournament
winning team – defeating Highlands in the title game.
Bennett received scholarship offers from both Duke and the University of
Kentucky — but chose to join the Navy and got married prior to his deployment in
the Pacific. He eventually wound up playing college football for Paul (Bear) Bryant at the University of Kentucky. His career was short-lived as he returned home to his
wife. He joined the Holmes football staff in 1950 and later coached and officiated
basketball.
Matt Stevens — A Covington Catholic High School graduate, Stevens coached
basketball at Highlands, Beechwood and Covington Catholic for a 22-year career
which included two state championships, one junior varsity regional runner-up
and seven freshman regional championships and two freshman regional
runners-up. He finished his career with a freshman record of 239-68.