Northern Kentucky football fans have a few NFL storylines to follow this fall. Former Covington Catholic tight end Michael Mayer and former Holy Cross linebacker Derrick Barnes are both playing meaningful roles for teams with playoff hopes. As the league moves through the opening stretch of the 2026 schedule, each has delivered production that reflects […]
Author Archives: Marc Hardin
Posted inFootball
Which football players from Kenton County high schools are now on Division I college rosters?
On Thursday, we gave you 18 NCAA Division I football players who played high school ball at local Boone County and Campbell County high schools. We promised you we would offer a similar list today full of players from northern Kentucky who performed for high school teams in Kenton County. Here they are: 15 studs […]
Posted inFootball
Two counties, 18 D-I college football players: Who from Boone, Campbell schools are at the next level?
Did you know that there are more than 30 northern Kentucky high school football products playing college football at the Division I level? Did you know that nearly 20 of them came from Boone County and Campbell County programs? Well, you do now. And since we’re feeling generous with the local pigskin knowledge, please also […]
Posted inFootball
Expanded Raiders role for CovCath’s Michael Mayer could define his NFL future
Former Covington Catholic High School football star Michael Mayer is in line to become an NFL Week 1 starter. The one-time Notre Dame All-American tight end is expected to be elevated on the depth chart ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders’ season opener after a surprise injury update on Wednesday shook the silver and black. […]
Posted inGolf
Which local golfers were in the swing of things at the All “A” Classic Statewide Tournaments?
The Kentucky high school golf season moves quickly, blazing from opening day on July 20 through the state tournaments on Oct. 10. Many teams made the turn into the back half of the regular‑season schedule last week, and the stretch run is fast approaching with postseason play beginning Sept. 21. The 2026 All “A” Classic […]
Posted inBasketball
Big man on campus: 6-11 basketball standout Ben McKinney is at Newport
Big news out of Newport High School. The boys’ basketball program is enjoying a sizable addition with the transfer of four-star center Ben McKinney. The 6-foot-11, 195-pound Indiana and Kansas prep standout is enrolled at Newport, according to Prep Hoops Kentucky. “Newport has added Ben McKinney from Sunrise Christian in Kansas. Originally from Indiana. He […]
Posted inBasketball
Northern Kentucky prep hoops shaken up by major transfer news
The Northern Kentucky high school basketball landscape is undergoing a talent dispersal as several elite players have finalized their plans ahead of the upcoming season. From homecoming stars to high-profile out-of-state arrivals and prep school departures, local rosters will look different, and so will some coaching staffs. Newport reloads with elite talent The Newport High […]
Posted inBasketball
A smile, a jump shot, a legacy: remembering Zach Mertens
The visitation for Burlington’s Zach Mertens was held Tuesday. The one-time Bellevue High School sports standout passed away unexpectedly on August 10. Mertens, a 2025 Bellevue graduate, had recently celebrated his 20th birthday in June. Authorities said he fell from the top of South Falls at Silver Falls State Park in Oregon, about 50 miles […]
Posted inFootball
Five things to know about Ludlow football in 2026
Ludlow High School is the reigning champion of small‑town roster building among the area’s four public schools competing in KHSAA Class 1A. Over the last two seasons, the Panthers have averaged 41 players on roster — nearly one‑third of the school’s entire male student body. Viewed through the lens of the city’s population of about […]
Posted inVolleyball
Notre Dame Academy leads local contingent into 2026 high school volleyball season
When it comes to Notre Dame Academy athletics, few programs put the NDA in Pandas better than volleyball. The school has won more than 30 state team championships, and 10 of them belong to the volleyball team. “Volleyball has had a lot of success,” Notre Dame co‑coach Hannah Colvin said. “There is a lot of […]
