By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Newport Central Catholic will be the only high school in the 9th Region to have a principal who’s also head coach of the boys basketball team next season.
Ron Dawn, who spent more than 25 years as a teacher and coach at NewCath before being named principal in 2017, is returning to the bench as head coach of the boys basketball team. He’s filling the vacancy left by Ken Collopy, who resigned after being named principal at St. Cecilia Elementary School in Independence.
Ron Dawn returns as NewCath boys basketball coach with 495 career wins.
“(Collopy’s) decision to leave NCC for a career move opportunity provided an opening for me to return to something I am very passionate about,” Dawn said in a press release. “As I remain on staff as principal of our wonderful student body, I am excited to accept this role as boys basketball coach and continue the success that NCC has established.”
Dawn had a hand in a lot of that success. In two previous stints as NewCath boys head coach, his teams won 404 games, two 9th Region titles (2000, 2016) and three Kentucky All “A” Classic state championships (2000, 2014, 2015).
After taking a break from coaching to follow his son’s college basketball career, Dawn took charge of the NewCath girls basketball program in 2008 and compiled a 91-28 record in four years. He became the first coach to win All “A” Classic state titles and 9th Region titles in both boys and girls basketball.
Dawn returned to the NewCath boys program in 2013 and his last three teams posted records of 29-4, 28-4 and 30-5. In 2016, he guided the Thoroughbreds to their first 9th Region championship since 2000 and they made it to the semifinals of the state tournament for the first time since 1953.
NewCath had a 46-45 record under Collopy over the last three seasons. The Thoroughbreds finished 9-19 last season with four underclassmen in the starting lineup. One of them was junior forward Evan Mullikin, who averaged 19.8 points and 9.3 rebounds.
Jeff Schulkens
NewCath still has one head coaching vacancy to fill. Jeff Schulkens resigned as baseball coach to take on a new role as the school’s athletic director.
In 24 years as head baseball coach, Schulkens’ teams won more than 400 games, one All “A” Classic state championship (2013), four 9th Region titles (1996, 2008, 2011, 2012) and four 9th Region All “A” Classic titles (2008, 2011, 2013, 2017). He was inducted into the Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017.
“I had the privilege of being affiliated with many wonderful people in the Northern Kentucky baseball world and beyond, and for that I am thankful.” Schulkens said in a press release. “In my role as athletic director, I look forward to the opportunity to work with all the NCC coaches and provide continued support to our student athletes.”
Ryle wrestler wins gold medal in girls world tournament
Olivia Messerly, a member of the Ryle High School wrestling team, won a gold medal in the under-15 girls freestyle division at the World School Combat Games on Tuesday in Budapest, Hungary.
Olivia Messerly
In the first under-15 world championship tournament recognized by United World Wrestling, Messerly won all four of her matches in the 50 kilogram (110 pound) weight class to take the gold medal. The other medal winners were Anna Karbovska of the Ukraine (silver) and Evelin Koleszar of Hungary (bronze).
Messerly was one of six U.S. wrestlers who won weight class titles in the girls under-15 freestyle competition. There were also three U.S. gold medal winners in the boys competition.
Earlier this year, Messerly won the 106-pound weight class in the first-ever girls state high school wrestling tournament sponsored by the Kentucky Wrestling Coaches Association. She was named most outstanding wrestler in the state tournament, but it was not sanctioned by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
Coaches name male, female Athletes of the Year in track
Jordan Moore of Brossart and Juliet McGregor of Ryle were voted the male and female Athletes of the Year by the Northern Kentucky Track and Field Coaches Association.
Moore was a double-winner in the 110 and 300 hurdles at the Class A boys state meet last month. He also won both of those events at the Class A regional meet and scored points in two relays to help the Mustangs take the regional team title.
McGregor won the 100, 200 and 400 dashes and placed first in the long jump at the Class 3A girls regional meet. At the state meet, she placed fourth in the long jump and ran on a 4×100 relay team that came in seventh.
Coach of the Year honors went to Chris Davis of Brossart for boys and Brian Alessandro of Highlands for girls. The coaches association posted the complete boys and girls all-star teams on its Twitter account.
High school football officials recruiting new members
Northern Kentucky football officials are recruiting new members to help them cover an annual docket of games ranging from youth leagues to high school games across six local counties.
The association invites anyone interested in becoming a football official to attend a information session from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9 at the Boone County Pee Wee Fields off Hopeful Church Road in Florence. Veteran officials will share their experiences and explain how to sign up or next season.
For more information, contact Gene Brown at gene.brown@kenton.kyschools.us
