On a year-to-year basis, the best high school senior football player in Northern Kentucky has just as good a chance of winning Kentucky Mr. Football as any senior from any other area in the commonwealth. Northern Kentucky produced the award’s first winner in 1986 when Frank Jacobs from Newport Central Catholic was honored. The area […]
Author Archives: Marc Hardin
Posted inSports
Conner’s senior volleyball players broke with history. Now, they’re making history
This story originally appeared in the Oct. 13 edition of the weekly LINK Reader. To get these stories first, subscribe here. When it comes to Northern Kentucky high school volleyball, the Conner Cougars typically have not been movers and shakers. They have yet to win a 33rd district tournament championship. They have not won a 9th […]
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Thoroughbreds football standout Demetrick Welch is no one-trick pony
Demetrick Welch, runner extraordinaire at Newport Central Catholic High School, has quite the distinctive name. He knows just one other person who has it. It’s his dad, Demetrick Welch Sr. “They call me Little Metrick,” Welch said. “They started calling me that when I was little.” The nickname is cute but it no longer fits. […]
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Sphire’s Bluebirds spread it out and spread it around on the football field at Highlands
Dried off and in a fresh set of clothes after his sideline victory dousing last Friday, Highlands High School football coach Bob Sphire walked into the Fort Thomas home of a hosting Touchdown Club member. He was there for a postgame team get-together. Highlands had just beaten Boone County, 53-7, at home for its sixth […]
Posted inFootball
New head coach, new offense, no problem: Beechwood’s Hayden stands and delivers
This story originally appeared in the Oct. 6 edition of the weekly LINK Reader. To get these stories first, subscribe here. Clay Hayden takes a quick snap from center at Beechwood High School’s Edgar McNabb Field. The junior quarterback drops back and stands in the pocket. He fires a short pass into the waiting hands of […]
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150 football games in, green means go for Dayton against Bellevue at “Battle for the Paddle”
Dayton High School football standout Mason Johnson gathered with teammates and parents at the traditional pre-game bonfire the night before the annual renewal of the Dayton-Bellevue rivalry. The host Greendevils and Tigers play for the 150th time Friday at venerable O.W. Davis Stadium. The “Battle for the Paddle” kicks off at 7 p.m. The annual […]
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Covington Catholic soccer team appears to be on schedule after a rugged slate
This story originally appeared in the Sept. 29 edition of the weekly LINK Reader. To get these stories first, subscribe here. The win-loss record isn’t gaudy. Statistics aren’t exactly eye-popping. With no new records in the books and milestones in short supply, there hasn’t been much in terms of recent news for the Covington Catholic High […]
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From Park Hills to the pros to highlight reels: Former Covington Catholic stars making news
It’s been a noteworthy past few days for a pair of former Covington Catholic student-athletes, who have a lot in common in addition to attending the same high school in Park Hills. On Tuesday, Luke Maile became the first Cincinnati Reds catcher with a home run, three RBIs and a stolen base in a single […]
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Backyard games, sibling battles prepped Holy Cross standout Julia Hunt for stardom
This story originally appeared in the Sept. 22 edition of the weekly LINK Reader. To get these stories first, subscribe here. Growing up in a home with a college basketball-playing father, a college volleyball-playing mother and three athletic siblings, Holy Cross two-sport standout Julia Hunt couldn’t help but have a ball around the house and in […]
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Montgomery’s long and winding road back to Bellevue inspires his players, leads to victories
Former Bellevue High School football teammates and longtime friends Chad Montgomery and Mike Gullett sat across from each other in a booth one day last December at Applebee’s Restaurant in Crestview Hills. They were having some dinner and talking about their alma mater during one of their get-togethers. More specifically, they were discussing their one […]