We gave you the 50 greatest sports icons from NKY last summer. Since we had so much fun with that, we’re bringing you another list of the 50 greatest things this summer…The 50 greatest prep sports teams from NKY.
Each day for the next 50 days, we’ll release one of the area’s 50 greatest prep sports teams. It starts June 22 and runs into August. This is not a ranking 1-50, it’s just a collection of the 50 best sports teams ever assembled.
We’ll preface this by saying you may or may not agree with all 50 and that’s fine. Sports editor Evan Dennison assembled a panel of dedicated and longly-tenured NKY sports fans to weigh in and give their takes on who should be on the list. I trust those people because of their history and knowledge of the game in NKY. We compiled numerous lists and identified the most certain candidates for inclusion.
Some of the traits we sought in these teams were state championships (almost certainly a requirement), dominance, and standout players and coaches. We may have cheated a little by lumping some dominant teams together that achieved numerous consecutive state titles, but that gives a few more teams an opportunity to be recognized.
I hope you enjoy this, as sports are slow in the summer. This list serves as a way to remember the past a little and keep you entertained daily as it continues.
Another note, while we respect and give coverage to golf, tennis, wrestling, bowling, track and field and cross country, we consider those individual sports, so any teams from those sports will not make the list.
Here we go!
1996 Highlands football
The 1996 Highlands Bluebirds marked the beginning of another remarkable era in one of Kentucky’s most successful football programs.
Following a heartbreaking loss in the 1995 Class 3A state championship game, Highlands responded with a perfect 15-0 season and the school’s 12th state title. Under legendary head coach Dale Mueller, the championship was the first of his 11 state titles and 12th state title in program history.
Highlands announced itself as a championship contender with a 22-17 victory over defending Class 4A champion St. Xavier and never looked back. Between that game and the state semifinals, the Bluebirds outscored opponents 517-121, recorded four shutouts and won by an average of 33 points. They survived a 16-14 semifinal thriller over Bell County before rallying from a 14-7 halftime deficit to defeat Hopkinsville 21-14 in the Class 3A state championship. Running back Justin Frisk rushed for 116 yards and scored both second-half touchdowns, while the defense forced three turnovers to secure the victory. Highlands finished the season ranked No. 21 in the final USA Today poll.
Frisk was the team’s unquestioned star, earning Roy Kidd Player of the Year honors after totaling 2,411 all-purpose yards and 35 touchdowns. Quarterback P.J. Sauer directed the offense with future University of Kentucky standout Jared Lorenzen serving as his backup. The roster also featured Highlands Athletics Hall of Famer Randy Stegman, who later played at Miami (Ohio); future University of Kentucky tight end Derek Smith; future Ohio State lineman Scott Kuhnhein; Stephen Lickert, who continued his playing career at Georgetown College before becoming a successful high school head coach; Toby Hlad; Ben Pogue; Brady Grimm; and kicker Damon Chuke, whose clutch field goal in the state semifinals helped propel the Bluebirds to a state championship.
Here’s the rundown of the 50 greatest NKY prep sports teams day by day:
Day 1: 1998 Highlands Football
Day 2: 1963 Holmes Baseball
Day 3: 2019 Covington Catholic football
Day 4: 2021 Notre Dame Academy Girls Soccer
Day 5: 1960 Highlands Football
Day 6: 1980 Villa Madonna Volleyball
Day 7: 1976 Lloyd Memorial Football
Day 8: 2009 Holmes Boys Basketball
Day 9: 1991 Beechwood Football
Day 10: 1954 Newport Catholic Baseball
Day 11: 1982 Highlands Football
Day 12: 2019 Ryle Girls Basketball
Day 13: 1987 Boone County Football
Day 14: 1981 St. Henry Volleyball
Day 15: 2021 Beechwood Football
Day 16: 2002 Covington Catholic Baseball
Day 17: 1957 Highlands Football
Day 18: 2006 Ryle Softball
Day 19: 1975 Ludlow Football
Day 20: 1979 Notre Dame Volleyball
Day 21: 1977 Bellevue Football
Day 22: 2015 Holy Cross Girls Basketball
Day 23: 1970 Highlands Football
Day 24: 2013 Notre Dame Soccer
Day 25: 2011 Highlands Football
Day 26: 2015 Covington Catholic Soccer
Day 27: 1997 Beechwood Football
Day 28: 1994 Highlands Girls Basketball
Day 29: 2017 Covington Catholic Football
Day 30: 1978 Holmes Boys Basketball
