It was near the end of a Wednesday morning practice when sixth-year Newport Central Catholic head football coach Stephen Lickert took the dare. Senior lineman Jacob Sullivan had challenged Lickert, a former running back at Highlands, to a race. It didn’t go well – Lickert came to his office with ice on his right thigh. […]
Author Archives: Ray Schaefer
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33rd District boys soccer preview: Ryle a boys soccer dynasty? Collins says not yet
Don’t you dare use the d-word to describe Ryle’s boys soccer team. Raiders coach Stephen Collins begins his 19th season on the sidelines. He said calling his team a dynasty in Northern Kentucky – or anywhere else – is just, well, wrong, especially because Louisville St. Xavier has won 15 state titles, including 11 since 2000. […]
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21 teams in 21 days: Lloyd Memorial football preview
Lloyd Memorial football coach Kyle Niederman has a different way of measuring football success – a five-year plan. To be sure, the Juggernauts were one of Northern Kentucky’s strongest teams a year ago: a 10-4 record and a Class 2A state semifinal berth for the first time since 2003. Niederman, meanwhile, thought the Northern Kentucky […]
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Vinson, NKU teammates bring hoops heaven
Gracie Beimesche said former Kentucky men’s basketball player Jacob Toppin is her favorite Wildcat because “he’s tall like me.” Cole Taylor, meanwhile, prefers football. “But I also like basketball,” he said. “My dad, my grandpa and a bunch of my relatives played football.” Beimesche and Taylor were two of at least 50 children in grades […]
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Reds Community Fund, St. Elizabeth Healthcare to help Augusta with athletic field renovations
Augusta baseball coach and principal Robin Kelsch didn’t mention the 8-5 loss at Bellevue on April 26, 2021. What Kelsch recalled Wednesday, however, was the email detailing a strange set of instructions at Bellevue Vets Field: no sunflower seeds or metal cleats allowed. The Cincinnati Reds Community Fund and St. Elizabeth Healthcare are helping Augusta […]
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Wever, Beatty win Edgewood/Tri-State Running Company 5K Run/Walk titles
Ethan Wever was a little disappointed Tuesday. The Erlanger native earned a free pair of running shoes for winning the 45th annual Edgewood/Tri-State Running Company Independence Day 5K at Presidents Park. His time of 16 minutes, seven-tenths of a second was nearly 16 seconds faster than Joey Carroll’s 16.16.3 and 50 ticks ahead of Salah […]
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From comedy to camaraderie: Covington Street Hockey League celebrates five-year anniversary
It started five years ago with eight guys having a beer and pretending to be National Hockey League stars. The Covington Street Hockey League has exponentially grown. There’s a rink at Barb Cook Park on Ashland Avenue, a Monday night league and pickup games Thursday nights and Saturday mornings. “There’s about 130 skaters and about […]
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A new Alexander hits the college recruiting trail
Austin Alexander can play gospel, pop and church music on the piano. Cooper’s junior defensive end/tight end also taught himself to play bass guitar. But college football programs are more interested in how Alexander embarrasses opposing offenses. He’s spending the summer visiting numerous NCAA Division I colleges unofficially. There’s already one postseason plaque in Austin’s […]
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Eight local seniors make state preseason Top 25 volleyball rankings
Tasha Lovins could not recall it ever happening before. Ryle’s volleyball coach talked about the eight seniors from Northern Kentucky being among the state’s 25 best in the PrepDig.com rankings. “There were some years that we definitely had some really good athletes come out of Northern Kentucky,” Lovins said. “I definitely don’t remember there being […]
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Local teams head southwest for KABC tournaments in Shelbyville
Newport’s boys basketball team has been busy this summer. The defending Ninth Region champion Wildcats are in Shelbyville for the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches (KABC) Titans Shootout. They meet Louisville Butler at 5 p.m. Friday at Shelby County. It’s the first time Newport has participated in the event. What head coach Rod Snapp likes […]
