On Wednesday March 21st the NYSHOF will be inducting the following 7 new members.
Bob was a champion for youth sports in Northern Kentucky. He coached Knothole Baseball and youth basketball for 15 years in the 1960’s and 1970’s.he formed a youth Baseball League in Newport to give underprivileged children a chance to play. He pioneered PA announcing at Newport High School and at NKU spanning 15 years. He believed that helping children learn life lessons through sports participation was a key for future success. As with most sports advocates, his efforts were critical to the character development of many young people in the community. Everything he did was as a volunteer. He was asked why he focused on young people. His answer was “I just love kids”. His hours of volunteering to youth sports and supporting high school and college level players deserves this recognition He also served on the original NKU Boosters board of Directors. Bob also coached two Knothole championship teams during his life.
GARY “GEE” VORIES Newport 1964
BASKETBALL-BASEBALL-REFEREE
Like many local athletes Gary started playing Knothole baseball where he was part of a Shields Realty team that won the National championship. Then he played basketball and while in the eighth grade he set a record of 40 points scored in the championship game to keep his team undefeated. Then in his freshman year he averaged 18 points on a Newport undefeated freshman team. Then as a sophomore he played on an undefeated JV team and was a reserve on the 1962 state tournament team. His senior year he averaged 23 points and set the school record of 38 points in one game. He made the 9th region all-star team, helping Newport to a 20-4 record. In baseball he was a 5 times letterman playing second base. His senior year he hit .380 with 5 home runs and 28 RBI’s and was named to the All-Region baseball team. Gary then went to Georgetown College on a basketball scholarship from 1965-1968. While here he was a four-year letterman and played on the gold medal winning team at the Hopiel Games in Israel. These games were like a mini-Olympics with several countries sending teams. Gary also played on a softball team that was ranked in the top 5 in the Tri-State for several years. Gary also refereed basketball for 15 years in the 9th region and the Big Red Machine charity basketball games. He has been named to the Newport High School HOF, and also to the NKY Athletic Directors HOF.
JENNIFER “ARMSTRONG” VERTRESS Lloyd1983
TRACK-CROSS COUNTRY
Jennifer ran track and cross country for six years. During this time, she was part of regional champions, Sectional champions, and a 5th place team finish at state. In 1982 Jennifer placed 1st in the regional 300m Hurdles and was the only member of the Lloyd team to compete at state, where she placed 2nd. She received All-Region honors that year. In the winter of her senior year she competed in the University of Cincinnati High School Indoor meet where she placed 2nd in the 200m dash, and 1st in the 60m hurdles against the best in the Tri-State. In 1983 her senior year Jennifer went undefeated in the 100m and the 300m hurdles and won many 200m races as well as anchoring the 4×200 relay team. At Regionals she was 1st in the 100m hurdles, the 300m hurdles, the 200m dash, and the 4x200m relay, leading Lloyd to their first Regional championship. In the sectionals she repeated this performance while leading Lloyd to their first Sectional championship. Jennifer again was named All-Region. At the state meet she placed 3rd in the 300m hurdles in a race where she fell and got up to finish. She also anchored the 4x200m team to a 2nd place finish. Then as luck would have it, she was winning the 100m hurdles but trip and fell at hurdle number 7. Jennifer then attended St. Joseph College in Indiana, where as a freshman she set the school record in the 400m hurdles.
KENT VORIES Newport 1970
BASEBALL-BASKETBALL-SOFTBALL-COACH
Kent played basketball and baseball at Newport. He lettered 3 years in basketball and was part of the 1968 NKAC Champs & 1969 NKAC runner-up. He scored 25 points in an upset of the top 5 Ashland HS. In baseball Kent lettered 5 years, started as an 8th grader and was named All-District in 1969 and 1970. After high school Kent played softball with some of the best teams in the area. He was named to the first team Greater Cincinnati Softball News 3 times the second team 2 times. He played on back-to-back undefeated state championship teams, back-to-back 3rd place finishes in the City Tournament, a runner-up finish in the City Tournament, and a 6th place finish in the USSSA World Tournament He then started coaching high school basketball. He coached Reilly Jr High Boys, Newport Jr. high Boys, St. Bernard, JV and varsity Boys, Clark Varsity Boys, Bellevue Varsity Boys and Girls, Asst. Newport Varsity Girls, South Dearborn Varsity Girls Lawrenceburg JV Boys. Some of his accomplishments: 35th District runner-up Bellevue Boys, the last coach to take them to the Regional Tournament 2008 where they lost to eventual state champion Holmes, Newport Girls 35th District runner- up, where they lost in the Regionals to eventual state champ Notre Dame. He coached a beech wood Jr. High to an undefeated Season going 33-0. He also managed to find time to referee for over 20 years in the 9th Region along with his older brother Gary.
MARK KREBS Mark Newport Catholic 1973.
BASKETBALL-BASEBALL-COACHING
Mark was a three-year starter for Coach Ron Albrink. He scored 1284 career points, averaged 19.7 points per game for his entire career, he was District champion 3 years, All-District 2 years, 9th region champ in 1973, All Tourney Team 2 years, Player of the Year runner-up 1973, Co-MVP New Cath 1973, and a career 82% free throw shooter. They lost to Louisville Male (Darryl Griffith) in the state tourney. In baseball he pitched and played shortstop as a 3-year starter. He batted .310 for his Junior and Senior seasons. Mark then went on to Thomas More on a full ride. He played for Coach Jim Weyer, starting 75% of the games over a 3-year period. He was named MVP in the Berea College Invitational in 1976, won the FT Award (80%) in 1976, and received the Breinick Award in 1977, based on athletics and academics achievements. In baseball, he played both fall and spring seasons, batting .295. In a little over a two-week period, he was the winning pitcher in games vs. Miami ,O, NKU, and Xavier. After graduation Mark was named the New Cath asst. basketball coach 1977-1985. He won two JV regionals during this time; He was named the head coach in 1985 until 1989. He was 9th region Coach of the Year and NKAC Coach of the Year 1985-1986 season. His team was the Famous Recipe winner 1986, invited to LIT, the 35th District Champs and the 9th Region runner-up 1986-87 season. He had a total of 74 wins during this time. He was named head coach at Newport 1989-1997, with 53 wins over that stretch. 9th region appearance 6 of 8 years. He was named to New Cath HOF in 1997.
STEVE MEIER Cov. Cath 1972
BASKETBALL- ADMINISTRATOR
During his freshman year Steve’s team finished with an 18-2 record und coach Ralph Bogenschulz. Asa sophomore his team finished with a 20-1 record under coach Hep Cronin. His junior year at Cov Cath under coach Mote Hils, the team went 30-4 with a 34th District title, a 9th Region championship and made to the quarter finals of State only to lose in overtime to Owensboro. His senior season under Coach Dick Maile his team went 13-15 against an incredibly tough schedule playing many of the best teams in Kentucky. Steve led the team in rebounding (11rpg), shooting percentage (51%) and also averaged 12 points per game. Steve was named to the All-District team.
Steve was then recruited by Mote Hils to on the 2nd basketball team ever at NKSC. During his time at NKSC the teams went his team set the foundation for the future of basketball at now NKU. Steve led the team in shooting percentage in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.
After graduation Steve was hired as campus Recreation Coordinator, serving 5 years, he then was promoted to Director serving in this capacity for 20 years.
When the “All A Classic” was initiated Steve collaborated with Stan Steidel on hosting the boy’s tournament at Regents Hall. Steve also managed the new Albright Health Center facility. In the 1990’s he was appointed to be the administrative representative on the Athletic Council a position he still holds to this day (30+ years). He was also Dean of Students and was elected to serve on the Board of Regents.
Steve has been a youth coach in baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and golf at two different grade schools starting in 1975 until present.
TERRY SACCONE Newport 1971
BOWLING- COACHING-BASEBALL-BASKETBALL
Terry was an outstanding athlete at Newport lettering 3 years in basketball and 4 years in baseball. He has bowled and won over 50 tournaments at the local, state, and national levels. He has been bowling for over 54 years with a composite average of 215. He has 50 plus 300 games (30 in sanctioned play), he has 15 800 series (10 in sanctioned play). He held the city record for high series, 856, from 1977-1984. He received special recognition for the second highest series in the world in 1977. His accomplishments are numerous. National Tournament: ABC Open Tournament 47 years as a participant, team champion 1982, Doubles champion 1993, 8th place team event twice, and 10th place All-Events. State tournaments: Ohio State Team Match game champion 1979 and 1980, Ohio State Team champion 1988, Kentucky BPA U.S. Open Singles champion 1987, and the runner-up in 1985. City Tournament: All Events champion 1978, Actual Singles champion 1979, Handicap champion 1979, Doubles champion 1988, Actual Team champion 1989, Handicap Team champion 1989, All Events champion 1990, and Team champion 2003 and 2005. Terry has the distinction of having bowled a 300 game and an 800 series in 6 different decades, the 1970’s through the 2020’. Terry has won many high-level tournaments and represented himself well at all levels of the game. He also coached the Oak Hills High School bowling team from 2006-2012 and has been elected to both the Cincinnati Bowling HOF and the Ohio State Bowling HOF.
