A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Dan Weber’s Just Sayin’: Sport that’s changed most around here in the last 3 decades is in the spring

When you were gone for nearly three decades — to Philadelphia, New Jersey, Chicago and Southern California — as was the case for me, one of the things you check out on returning is how and where your old stomping ground has changed. Which isn’t always all that easy when your old stomping ground is Northern Kentucky where what stays the same more often than not outpaces what changes. But...

Erik Goetz resigns as Beechwood boys basketball coach after setting team record in career wins

By Terry Boehmker NKyTribune sports reporter Erik Goetz is stepping down as head coach of the Beechwood boys basketball team after leading the Tigers to 160 victories, the most in the history of the program, over the last 10 seasons. During his tenure, Beechwood won its first 9th Region All “A” Classic championship in 2018 and made it to the title game of the 9th Region post-season tournament...

Dan Weber’s Just Sayin’: Goodbye to Adam Kunkel, an NCAA hello to TMU and Coach Cal to ‘little guy’

Time to talk of mostly basketball, NCAA basketball, right now. Here goes. Adam Kunkel *** GOING OUT WITH A BANG: The rest of his Xavier teammates may have been off their offensive games, but Cooper alum Adam Kunkel went out with a blast, firing in a Musketeer-high 21 points in Xavier’s 83-71 Sweet 16 NCAA loss to Texas Friday. Those 21 points came on five-of-six shooting from three-point range and...

Two Phil’s gets Derby date with strong victory in Jeff Ruby Steaks; rundown of full day’s Turfway racing

Two Phil’s stamped himself a date at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May with a convincing 5 ¼-length victory in the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III) – the marquee race at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming. Owned in partnership by Patricia’s Hope and Phil Sagan, Two Phil’s earned 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series for his victory in the Jeff Ruby...

Prep Sports Notebook: Campbell County puts assistant coach in charge of boys basketball team

By Terry Boehmker NKyTribune sports reporter The new head coach of the Campbell County boys basketball program is Brent Sowder, a long-time assistant who led the Camels junior varsity team to a 21-8 record last season. Brent Sowder was coach of the Campbell County junior varsity team that posted a 21-8 record last season. “It’s beyond a honor and a privilege to take this position,” Sowder posted...

Ryle distance runner competed in national indoor meet few weeks before spring track season started

By Zoey Hoffman NKyTribune contributor A few days before high school track season began, Ryle sophomore distance runner Allison Kopser competed in the New Balance Indoor Nationals that were held March 9-13 in Boston. Kopser was one of 30 runners from across the country who qualified for the girls 5,000 meter run based on personal best times at that distance. She also competed in the 2-mile and 3,000-meter...

Far from home, now making NKY home, Dom and David Do turn to soccer to distinguish themselves

By Jacob Dickman NKyTribune intern For Dom and David Do, dreams can become a reality. But of course, as these two young men know, that does not come without struggle and sacrifice. Born to Vietnamese immigrants in Louisville, Kentucky, both brothers found enjoyment in soccer at a young age. “I’ve been playing soccer since I was 3 or 4 years old. Basically, as early as I can remember, I’ve always...

Two for the ‘Show’ from Northern Kentucky as Musketeers Kunkel, Miles make it to another Sweet 16

By Dan Weber NKyTribune sports reporter For Northern Kentucky, it’s been a college basketball season to remember. And thanks to a pair of Xavier Musketeers from Cooper and Walton-Verona, it’s not over. Northern Kentuckians will have a reason to root as the NCAA’s Sweet 16 comes along this weekend. Sure, it’s been sad to say so long to the NKU women, an overtime away from making the...

Keith Taylor: Cats’ 2022-2023 season has to rate as disappointing given recent NCAA tourney drought

Kentucky hasn’t been to the Final Four in eight years and has won just one NCAA Tournament game in the past four years. For a program that reached the national semifinals four times in John Calipari’s first six seasons at Kentucky, the Wildcats have struggled to replicate anything close to that in the last half of his tenure. For the second time in the past three seasons, Kentucky lost more than...

Northern Kentucky high school basketball teams made this a season to savor for multiple reasons

By Terry Boehmker NKyTribune sports reporter Northern Kentucky teams didn’t last long in the final chapter of the 2022-23 high school basketball season. One week after Cooper and Simon Kenton lost in the first round of the girls state tournament, Newport was one-and-done in the boys bracket. But local players and coaches made the 12 weeks leading up to the state tournaments a story to savor for...

Jamie Vaught: Grading Kentucky’s up and down season after round two exit from NCAA tournament

It’s time for a report card for the 2022-23 edition of UK men’s basketball team. After its disappointing 75-69 loss to Kansas State Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Kentucky concluded its up-and-down campaign with a 22-12 mark. Moments after the NCAA tournament loss, UK coach John Calipari had this to say. “Tough way to end. We had some guys really fight like crazy and then...

New Beechwood football coach knows pressure’s on to win state championships, nothing wrong with that

By Dan Weber NKyTribune reporter Their names are Bernie Barre, Mike Yeagle and Noel Rash. “Three coaches in 50 years,” Jay Volker says with a shake of his head as the now fourth person to head up the Beechwood High School football program in just under a half-century met the press at his introductory press conference Monday. Right away that tells you how things are different when it comes to football...

Matt’s Take: Free agency madness, Opening Day, Scott Burson and Sam Smathers Q&A

By Matthew McAdow NKyTribune sports columnist Free Agency Madness By the time you are reading this, I am sure a lot more has happened in Free Agency, but at the current time, Cincinnati has waved goodbye to many fan favorites. The following Bengals have signed with new teams: • Samaje Perine – Denver Broncos (I am going to greatly miss Samaje, as he always took advantage of every snap he was...

UK Cats end disappointing season in second round of NCAA against Kansas State

By Keith Taylor Kentucky Today A frustrating season came to an abrupt end for Kentucky on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Greensboro, N.C. After winning their tournament opener on Friday night, ending a four-year tournament drought, the Wildcats came up short in the second round, dropping a 75-69 decision to Kansas State. The third-seeded K-State Wildcats (25-9) earned a ticket...

In their 3rd straight NAIA championship basketball game, Thomas More women come up short at the end

By Dan Weber NKyTribune sports reporter His Thomas More Saints players “will have a lot of good memories” from their three straight years in Sioux City, Iowa, playing for the NAIA national championship in women’s basketball, Coach Jeff Hans said. Although Saturday night won’t necessarily be one of them. “A lot of tears,” Hans said after the defending champion Saints seemed to run out of...