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| Submitted Photo. The 2013 Walton-Verona football coaching staff, from left, was Highlands 1994 graduate David Berringer, Highlands 1990 graduate Pete Valz, David French, 1995 Highlands alum and Head Coach Jeff Barth, Jeff Mosier, 1969 Highlands alum Mark Berringer and NewCath alum Brian Simmins. |
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
Like
anything in life, taking over a young football program has its blessings and
challenges.
But 1995
Highlands graduate Jeff Barth and staff have the Walton-Verona Bearcats headed
in the right direction after six seasons. The Bearcats have gone 37-21 under
Barth’s guidance and are 41-27 overall.
“The blessing is the ability to build from the ground
level,” Barth said. “It is difficult to change a program that
over time develops bad habits, attitudes and work ethic. Thorough our guys were
inexperienced the first couple years, they constantly worked to get better and
learn the game. To build a program from its infancy is a true blessing. Most
coaches never get the unique opportunity.”
Walton-Verona
started out in Class A, District 3 with state power Beechwood before moving to
Class 2A, District 5 in 2011. The Bearcats won their first district
championship in 2012 going 10-3 and advanced to the regional title game losing
to eventual 2A champion Newport Central Catholic, 49-14.
They went
9-3 last year losing 36-0 to the Thoroughbreds in the second round of the
playoffs. A next step for Walton-Verona would be to beat a state power like
Newport Central Catholic. The Thoroughbreds finished state runner-up in 2A to
Louisville DeSales.
“The challenge is similar to the blessing,” Barth said. “A
lot of people in successful blue-chip programs take for granted the established
youth league and tradition which took years if not generations to build.
Highlands, Newport Central Catholic and Beechwood all have kids dream of state
championships at an early age. In many cases, their parents, grandparents, even
great grandparents played and won for the program. Expectations and work ethic
are handed down from generation to generation.”
Barth said
the coaching staff wants to make the feeder programs stronger to close the gap
on the elite teams in Kentucky. For instance, the Bearcats have had four head
middle school coaches in five years. But the current head coach is entering his
third season.
Barth’s
staff is comprised of several Highlands alums in David Berringer, Mark
Berringer, Pete Valz and Jason Sullivan. Newport Central Catholic alum Brian
Simmins is also on the staff and Highlands alum Matt Huddleston worked
part-time with the kickers in 2010.
Valz is the
Offensive Coordinator and works a lot with the quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Valz graduated from Highlands in 1990. He played running back and defensive
back on the 1989 state championship team. He works in investment property for
his Dad as a remodeler, manager and in maintenance.
“We are playing to our strengths this year,” Valz said. “We
have a great group on the offensive line returning. We will try to be more
balanced, but we still like to run the ball and slow the game just a bit.
Another great season will help with more kids wanting to play and work out in
the offseason.”
Walton-Verona
is a Hybrid Wing-T quad. The Bearcats might put the quarterback under center
with a tight end and three backs one year then spread teams out in the shotgun
formation other years depending on personnel strengths.
David
Berringer is the Defensive Coordinator and works a lot with the offensive and
defensive lines. His father Mark Berringer assists with the offensive and
defensive lines. Walton-Verona’s base defense is hybrid 4-3 and 3-4 sets
similar to what Hanover College (Indiana) ran when Barth played there.
David
Berringer graduated in 1994 and played offensive and defensive tackle on the
1992 state championship team before going on to play for the University of
Kentucky. He currently owns Distinctive Dining Solutions that caters meals to
day care center.
Mark
Berringer graduated in 1969 and played on the defensive line for the 1968 state
championship Highlands squad. He currently manages the United States
Information Technology Operations for Avon Products, Inc.
“We will be working extensively on refining our
techniques and getting more explosive off the ball on both sides, plus
finishing blocks and improving our pass blocking on offense,” Mark Berringer said. “We will also be working hard to develop key backups.”
Sullivan
was a full-time assistant in 2010 but work took him out of the area. He returns
as a part-time assistant this year. He will be working with the receivers this
year.
“It’s time to install the forward pass,” Sullivan said. “We
feel like we have gotten to the point that the program can be successful throwing
the ball. It’s been a long road. Coach Barth, Coach Valz and I are Wing-T guys
so don’t expect it to be conventional forward passes. That’s not how our brains
work. Don’t be surprised if you see a three-quarterback set.”
Barth took
over as Head Coach in 2009. That was the second year of varsity football for
the Bearcats.
“Day after day, we are building a Tradition of
Excellence,” Barth said. “Walton-Verona is a fantastic school
district and a very tight-knit community. Our players are coachable and work
hard, which is a reflection of the high expectations the school, parents and
community place on our student-athletes.”
Barth also
teaches eighth-grade Social Studies and Early American History from the Age of
Exploration through the Civil War and Reconstruction. This marks his 13th year
overall teaching the subject.
Barth
taught and coached for six years at South Oldham Middle School. He was a middle
school football assistant and head eighth grade basketball coach. He also
taught and coached for two years at Woodland Middle School in Taylor Mill. He
was an assistant football coach at Woodland one year then head football coach
his second year. He also coached sixth grade basketball.
Barth
played offensive guard, middle linebacker and on special teams at Highlands. He
played on the 1992 state championship team with David Barringer and Sullivan.
His senior year was the first year that Dale Mueller became head coach.
“Winning a state championship is something that stays
with you forever, and I want nothing more than our guys to be able to share
that experience,” Barth said. “I grew up in a state championship house.
My Dad played for Dayton’s only state championship in 1966 and I learned the
value of hard work from him and my mom. I was a young pup on the 1992 team, but
was fortunate to letter on special teams, and win a state championship with my
older brother Eric.”
Walton-Verona
struggled to 2-8 in 2009 in Barth’s first year as Head Coach. But the Bearcats
broke through with their first-ever playoff win on Nov. 5, 2010 with a 46-0
blanking of Bracken County. Sullivan said Highlands and Beechwood helped
Walton-Verona out with pads that first year.
“That is a tribute to our guys working hard to get
better every day, our dedicated staff, determined administration and supportive
community,” Barth said. “Our arrow is definitely heading up!”
One player
the Bearcats can build around is rising senior running back Mason Compton.
Compton is a candidate to break the school’s single-season rushing record.
Compton has run for 1,682 yards on 301 carries and 22 touchdowns for an average
of about 5.6 yards per carry for his career. He ran for 1,155 yards and 14
touchdowns on 204 carries and recorded 29 tackles and two interceptions on
defense last year.
The school
record for career rushing yards is 2,063 held by Nolan Brown and 32 touchdowns
held by Chris Lattimore. Andrew Baumgartner holds the single-season records
with 1,220 yards and 20 touchdowns.
The journey
for Walton-Verona continues Aug. 22. The Bearcats play host to Bellevue at 7
p.m.
