To be the winning team, fan votes play a heavy role, along with consideration from our sports team here at LINK.
Nominations are reader-submitted or recommended by our sports team. Our Team of the Week program honors all local sports at all levels, whether it’s youth or adult-oriented recreation, high school or college, professional or amateur.
The new school year has added to the awards program. OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine and LINK nky are excited to expand in addition to the weekly winners, the program will be including three winners for Team of the Season and one overall winner for Team of the Year for the 2024-25 sports seasons.
New this year for the program is the addition of the Team of the Season (TOTS) and Team of the Year (TOTY) awards. Sports seasons are considered fall, winter and spring for the purpose of this awards program. At the conclusion of each sports season, an overall TOTS winner will be chosen from all previous TOTW winners for that season. Their school will also receive a $500 scholarship to be presented to the athlete of their choice at the end of the school year.
Finally, the program culminates by selecting one TOTY from the three TOTS award winners. Online and print articles will again be published, a large commemorative plaque will be presented and the school will receive an additional $500 scholarship to be presented to the athlete of their choice at the end of the school year.
The call for nominations, voting and winning announcement for each will follow the same format as the TOTW.
This week’s nominated teams are listed below with some information provided by the submitter or LINK nky staff. The poll where you can vote follows at the end of the article.
Voting is open until Friday at 11:59 a.m.
WALTON-VERONA BOYS BASKETBALL
The Bearcats shook off a four-game losing streak with a pair of wins last week.
They took down Grant County in a district seed game, 67-41, and then stunned Cooper on their Senior Day, 64-57.
Aaron Gutman had quite the week in the two victories, combining for 63 points and 12 rebounds. He knocked down all 11 free throw attempts in the win over Grant and hit 11-of-15 shots in the victory over Cooper. Jonathan Strunk and Aiden Kerns also hit double figures in the win over Grant, Strunk going for 14 points and 11 rebounds, Kerns with 11 points and six rebounds. Strunk also pulled down 11 rebounds in the win over Cooper. Kerns hit 6-of-8 shot attempts in the win over Cooper, going for 14 points.
The Bearcats are now on a three-game winning streak after defeating Williamstown on Monday to secure the two-seed for the 32nd District tournament. They return to action on Wednesday at home against Newport Central Catholic.
NOTRE DAME ACADEMY GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Pandas won all three of their games last week with wins over Holy Cross, Ryle and Henry Clay.
They’re now on a four-game winning streak after defeating St. Henry on Monday and have won 11 of their last 12 games to improve their overall record to 19-4.
In the latest statewide media rankings, the Pandas have climbed to No. 13, jumping up two spots from No. 15.
In the key district seed game victory over Holy Cross, Sophia Gibson had a standout game with 25 points and five rebounds. Gibson knocked down 11-of-14 shots from the field.
Over the course of the season, Emma Holtzapfel leads the team in scoring with 12.6 points per game and has a team-high 63 three-pointers made. Maya Lawrie is putting up 9.0 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game, Amelia Stallard at 7.1 points per game.
Notre Dame will look to make it five straight wins against George Rogers Clark on Saturday at home.
CONNER ARCHERY
The Cougars won the Calvary Christian Cougar Clash over the weekend with a team score of 3,234.
They were led by Declan Lasley with a 278, placing 5th in overall boys. Katie Peare was right behind him with a 277 and 3rd in the overall girls. William Jordan posted a 276 and 6th in overall boys.
Phoebe Devillez was 7th in overall girls with a 272. Austin Saunders posted a top 10 finish in boys with a 272. Cassidy Meyers also placed in the top 10 in overall girls with a 271.
ST. HENRY ARCHERY
The Crusaders placed first at the MQH Knights Classic in Erlanger over the weekend, posting a team score of 3,226.
They were led by Gavin Armbruster with a 273 and hitting 11 tens. Armbruster placed 3rd out of 144 participants. Ava Vogt also scored a 273 with 10 tens. She was 5th out of 134 girls. Stefany Nix was 6th overall in girls with a 272 and Olive Williams was 7th, also with a 272.
Theodore Depenbrock (271), Morgan Conley (270), Olivia Spaulding (268) and Reegan Conley (268) also placed in the top 10 of their respective divisions.
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