Some of the best officials in the state hail from Northern Kentucky and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association has taken notice. Two officials from Northern Kentucky have been named Outstanding Officials of the Year while two others were finalists for the awards. Daniel Brummett was named the 2025-26 Outstanding official in football in January […]
Category: Wrestling
Posted inWrestling
End of an era: Simon Kenton wrestling coach Peebles steps down after 28 years with the program
A defining era in Simon Kenton wrestling ended last week when veteran coach Jarrod Peebles stepped down following the KHSAA boys state championships in Lexington. The 2003 Simon Kenton graduate is ending a 28‑year association with the high school program. “The team has known for a while, but I didn’t want to make a big […]
Posted inWrestling
PHOTOS: KHSAA state wrestling championships
The boys and girls KHSAA state wrestling championships took place Feb. 26-28 at Alltech Arena in Lexington. Plenty of Northern Kentucky wrestlers were in action and Charles Bolton was there for photos. Below is a slideshow of the action.
Posted inWrestling
An NKY triple threat: Moore, Svec, Hood win state wrestling titles
Walton-Verona’s Emma Moore surpassed her wrestling brothers in her final high school match. Cooper freshman Aaliyah Svec showed chronological age didn’t define her. And Highlands junior Emma Hood erased the memory of a painful 2025 loss. The result: Moore, Svec and Hood brought home a triumvirate of girls state titles Saturday at Lexington’s Alltech Arena. […]
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Bad (-ida) to the bone: Conner senior wins state wrestling title
He was the youngest in his family to wrestle for Conner. Senior Clayton Badida was also the best Cougar Friday. He won the 126-pound KHSAA state title over Meade County’s Peyton Vowels, 2-1 in triple overtime, at Alltech Arena in Lexington. Three generations of Badidas watched the final. Clayton’s grandfather, Northern Kentucky wrestling legend Wayne […]
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Pioneers’ family tree-shaped roster travels well, heads to state
The Simon Kenton wrestling team is getting out in front of things so it can be fully present when the 2026 KHSAA State Wrestling Championships begin Thursday at Alltech Arena inside the Kentucky Horse Park. The boys and coed divisions run Thursday and Friday, with the girls closing things out on Saturday. “I’m super excited,” […]
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Boys Region 5 wrestling: ‘Comfortable’ Conner claims first team title since ’85
You’d have thought Conner had won the KHSAA state boys wrestling title. Saturday’s Region 5 tournament in the Cougars’ gym was equally special, and not only because the Cougars beat Simon Kenton, 251-192.5. It was the program’s first regional title since 1985. “There was just a buzz, and the kids looked more comfortable,” Conner coach […]
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Destiny awaits host Conner at Region 5 wrestling championships
Conner finally has its shot. For five straight seasons, the local KHSAA regional wrestling championship has belonged to Ryle. It’s been a run of depth, discipline and big‑match composure that has defined the Raiders’ identity. On Saturday, the Region 5 spotlight shifts to Hebron, where Conner hosts the tournament and enters with its best chance […]
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‘Little’ Walton-Verona scores big at Region 3 girls wrestling tournament
The 1930 children’s book “The Little Engine That Could” features a little blue locomotive that hauled toys and food over a mountain when larger engines wouldn’t. Walton-Verona’s girls wrestling team is inspired by Watty Piper’s tale. The Bearcats placed third behind Lafayette and Harrison County at Saturday’s Region 3 meet at Robert D. Campbell Junior […]
Posted inWrestling
Talent, togetherness propel Conner wrestling to rare NKAC team title
Conner wrestlers reconvened at the high school on Monday, two days after a pretty good Saturday at the office. With Conner on holiday break this week, the wrestlers had the school practically to themselves. There were a few fist-bumps, a high-five or two and some pats on the back. Mainly, it was back to the […]