Around NKY: Local standouts part of all-star game
Two Northern Kentucky senior boys' high school basketball players, two senior girls' players and a Northern Kentucky girls' head coach will be participating in the 23rd Annual Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Games this coming Saturday at Thomas More College.
Guard Nick Ruthsatz, who just led Covington Catholic to the boys' state championship, and Newport Central Catholic center Jake Schulte will be playing for the Kentucky Boys' All-Stars in Saturday's 7:30 p.m. game.
Newport Central Catholic forward Nicole Kiernan, who was one of seven finalists for Kentucky Miss Basketball, and Bishop Brossart center Sarah Futscher will be playing for the Kentucky Girls' All-Stars in Saturday's 5:30 p.m. game.
Ohio Miss Basketball Kelsey Mitchell, from Ohio Division I state champion Princeton, is on the Ohio roster.
Newport Central Catholic coach George Stoll, who guided the Thoroughbreds to the Ninth Region championship, is an assistant coach for the Kentucky All-Star team.
This Friday night will feature the Slam Jam Festival "Night of Stars," in which game participants will play 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 games and hold both a slam dunk and three-point shooting contest.
For more information visit: www.oh-kyallstargame.com.
VILLA COACH SHIELDS RETIRES: Long-time Villa Madonna Academy girls' basketball coach Don Shields announced his retirement as coach and athletic director on Thursday.
Shields, 70, will still be a math teacher and dean of students at the school, according to Villa principal Pam McQueen.
"I have enjoyed every minute of coaching the girls' team and have been very fortunate to have had such great young people and great parent support over the years," said Shields. "This will give me more time with my family, but (teaching and serving as dean) will still keep me involved with the students at the school."
Shields was head coach at Villa for 25 seasons and in the team's regular-season finale this past season he became just the 24th girls' basketball coach in state history to win 400 games. He won another game in the 34th District Tournament before Villa lost in the district semifinal round to Dixie Heights.
That now makes four area girls' head coaching positions that are open. Beechwood, Campbell County and Silver Grove are the others.
NKY HALL OF FAME: The following will be inducted to the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame at its regular monthly ceremony at the Villa Hills Civic Club on April 16 at 1:30 p.m.:
Garren Colvin – Played football, basketball and baseball at Ludlow High School (Class of 1982) and baseball at Thomas More College. He was selected Ninth Region All-Tournament team in both basketball and baseball in senior year. He went on to pitch and play the outfield at Thomas More where he was selected All-NAIA his senior year.
George Wilson – He was a starter on the 1962 University of Cincinnati NCAA basketball championship team, was a member of the gold medal winning United States basketball team in the 1964 Olympics and has long been involved in lending a helping hand to several Northern Kentucky schools and organizations.
Lindsay (Long) Lichtenberger – Dixie Heights grad won numerous honors in swimming and diving. She was a two-time state champion diver (1996 and 1997) and was a member of the United State Senior Diving Team from 1997-2001. She earned a bronze medal in the World Cup in 1998 and in the
1998 World Swimming and Diving Championships. She Also qualified for the 2000 United States Olympic team. She was an NCAA All-America selection at SMU.
Rick Smith – Lettered three years in football, basketball and baseball at Ludlow, where he graduated in 1971. He played despite suffering from polio in his left leg. He went on to coach youth sports in Ludlow and Ft. Mitchell and has worked with Northern Kentucky Special Olympics for several years.
Tom Saalfeld – Played basketball at Holy Cross from 1964-67 and at Thomas More College from 1967-71. Was a member of the 1965 Ninth Region champion Holy Cross basketball, which lost in the state championship game. He was an All-34th District selection as a senior in 1967. He was a starter at Thomas More as a junior and senior.
HOLMES HALL OF FAME: Holmes held its Hall of Fame induction ceremony last Saturday with the following inductees (some are listed from William Grant High School, which closed in 1976):
Coaches: Jon Draud, Jerry Lancaster and Dennis Soard.
Trainer: Artie McGuffin.
Players: Donald Johnson (William Grant, class of 1938); Lloyd McDermott (Holmes, 1944); Walt Wherry (Holmes, 1946); Clofus Farris (Holmes, 1951); Orland Hoskins (Holmes, 1954); Gene Terry (Holmes, 1954); Albert Lewis (Holmes, 1960); John Jennings (Holmes, 1961); Charlie Perry (Holmes, 1961); Anita (Gardner) Rieskamp (Holmes, 1962); Gary Sargent (Holmes, 1964); George Stone (William Grant, 1964); Charley Taylor (Holmes, 1966); Sandy Johnson (Holmes, 1987); Allyson Heger (Holmes. 1989) and Brandent Englemon (Holmes, 2003).
BASEBALL EVENT FOR AUTISM: This coming Saturday, Covington Catholic will be hosting the second annual "Drew Michels Autism Awareness Tournament," which is a junior varsity baseball tournament featuring CovCath, Ryle, Newport Central Catholic and Dixie Heights.
All proceeds from the event go to ACT Today, which is an organization for military families who have autistic children that helps them receive treatment and provide support services.
Drew Michels is the 7-year-old son of CovCath junior varsity baseball coach John Michels and Drew was diagnosed with austim at age 4.
Last year's event raised $12,000.
This year's event will include a raffle featuring items such as Reds tickets, a framed Joey Votto print, a golf bag, a round of golf at Hickory Sticks and an iPad. For more information, game times and how to donate, visit: www.drewspuzzlepiece.com.
CLIPPERS PERFORM WELL: The Northern Kentucky Clippers swimming organization concluded its season with its 14 and under team finishing second overall (the girls' team was first and boys' team was third) in the Ohio Age Group Junior Olympics in Columbus on March 7 and its National Group participating in NCSA Junior National Championship in Orlando, Fla., from March 18-22.
Mariah Denigan was named Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet in Ohio Junior Olympics after winning five or her seven individual events and was also ages 9-10 Girls' Age Group High Point winner. Sophie Skinner was Girls' 13-14 Age Group High Point winner and won three of her individual events. Mallory Beil, Patrick Merse and Riley Jordan also won individual event titles.
In the NCSA Junior National Championship, Annie Davies placed 14th in the 200 breaststroke, Chase Vennefron was 20th in the 100 breaststroke and Madeleine Vonderhaar was 18th in the 200 breaststroke and 20th in the 50 breaststroke.
"Around Northern Kentucky" will run each Sunday. To submit something for this column, please e-mail rskinner@enquirer.com.