Tuesday Highlands Sports Roundup

Highlands Boys Soccer Breaks Losing Streak

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands junior midfielder Joel Kendall (30) moves toward the ball in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys soccer team (4-3-1 overall) won a one-goal game after losing two in a row with a 1-0 9th Region win over the Dixie Heights red Colonels (3-7) on the road.

Monday Highlands Sports Round-up

Highlands Girls Soccer Blanks Another Opponent

Highlands senior midfielder Maggie Stieby plays the ball in a game earlier this season.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team (6-1-1 overall) had not played in a week after the cancellation of a game Saturday against West Jessamine.

But the Bluebirds started strong and defeated the county rival Bishop Brossart Lady 'Stangs (3-6), 4-0 Monday at Tower Park. Highlands posted its sixth shutout of the season with the win.

Highlands Senior Breaks School Record

Schroeder Breaks 19-minute Mark in Race

Contributed Photo. Highlands senior Maggie Schroeder runs in the Bourbon County Charge on Saturday. She broke the school record running the 3.1-mile race in 18 minutes, 13.9 seconds.

Highlands senior cross country runner Maggie Schroeder broker her personal record Saturday.

Schroeder ran the 3.1-mile race in the Bourbon County Colonel Charge in 18 minutes, 13.9 seconds finishing third overall. She ran a 19:07 when she won the Class AA individual state championship as a sophomore in 2018.

Schroeder said she'd gone on a trip the previous weekend. She could not run for two days and said that served as a miniature taper down to her routine before doing some medium length runs and one sprint workout during the week leading up to the race, which did not tire her out too much.

Thursday Highlands Sports Roundup

Bluebirds Soccer Drops Another Tight One Against Ohio Opponent

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior Jack Banks (26) gets in position in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys soccer team (3-3-1 overall) had another Ohio opponent tied late in the game only to lose by one goal.

Cincinnati Summit Country Day scored with one minute, 17 seconds left to win 2-1. The Knights led 1-0 at halftime before senior Brayden Gillman scored on a free kick with 38:19 left in the game at Tower Park. That is Gillman's second goal of the season.

Tuesday Highlands Sports Results

Bluebirds Volleyball Bests Newport

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior Maria Little (3) gets in position in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team did not have an easy time of things in the first 36th District game of the year.

But the Bluebirds (8-2 overall) took care of the Newport Ladycats (0-6), 3-0 (25-14, 25-8, 25-14) on Tuesday in Fort Thomas. Highlands has won five in a row.

"You move on to the next day," said Katelyn Sallee, Highlands Head Coach. "There were some other things going on and just a little bit of tightness. (Respecting opponents) is something we talk about. But this group of girls competes with everybody. I feel like we're okay. I'm not going to stress myself too much over that and just keep moving forward."

Monday Highlands Sports Results

Highlands Boys Golf Wins NKAC Division II Title

Highlands junior KJ Toole hits the ball toward the hole in the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division II Tournament at AJ Jolly Golf Course in Alexandria. Toole earned medalist honors shooting a 78.

The Highlands Bluebirds golf teams won medalist awards at the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division II Tournaments on Monday.

Senior Justin Gabbard won the Division II Boys Tournament at the Par 72 Willows Golf Course in Independence and junior KJ Toole took medalist honors in the Division II Girls Tournament at the Par 71 AJ Jolly Golf Course in Alexandria. Second-place Olivia Phirman of Bishop Brossart took second with 89 for the girls.

"I just know the way AJ Jolly plays. It's helpful to know what clubs to hit, know my yardage and honestly to know where not to hit the ball," Toole said. "You know where it's okay to have a miss. You're able to hit accurate lines into the green and such."

The Highlands boys captured another Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division II crown at the Par 72 Willows Golf Course in Independence. Highlands shot 312 to win its ninth tournament of the year out of six teams. The Bluebirds not only had the lowest score of Division II, but of any division. Covington Catholic shot 314 to win the largest Division I. St. Henry finished second shooting a 330.

Weekend Highlands Sports Round-Up

Bluebird Volleyball Takes Cake Classic

Contributed Photo. The Highlands volleyball team won the Cake Classic for the second time in four years going 3-0 Saturday.

The Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team (7-2 overall) won the annual Cake Classic at Russell Bridges Gym on Saturday.

The tournament is normally two days. But Highlands played just three games in one day this year as a result of Coronavirus 2019.

Highlands-Ryle Football Sidebar

Highlands Sees More Coronavirus Precautions Taken on Road

PHOTO: Ed Harber. Highlands senior offensive lineman Jake Arthur (71) makes a move in the win at Ryle on Friday.

Teams across Kentucky have dealt with changes as a result of Coronavirus 2019 guidelines.

The Highlands Bluebirds used three buses to come to the game and spread out. They put their pads on in a field right by Ryle's football field and promptly took them off after the game and walked straight to the bus. Locker rooms have been off limits this fall.

Thursday Highlands Sports Round-Up

Highlands Volleyball Bests Arch-Rival; Boys Soccer Loses

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. The Highlands players including CC Shick (bottom left), Laura Winkler (running forward) and Madison Clore (red jersey) get in position to receive a serve in a recent match.

These are the type of games the Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team hopes to see a lot of on a yearly basis.

Highlands (4-2 overall) took care of Campbell County, 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-10) on Senior Night in a county rivalry game. The two seniors for the Bluebirds are setters Laura Winkler and Maria Little. Little had two aces, eight digs and 11 assists with Winkler tallying seven kills, an assisted block with junior Lauren Buemi, 12 assists and 16 digs.

The Lady Camels have struggled out of the gate. They are 1-7 with six straight losses.

Highlands Advances in LexCath Challenge Cup

Bluebirds Play in Title Game on Saturday

Highlands senior defender Greta Noble (2) boots the ball forward while junior defender Jade Rehberger watches in a recent game. The Bluebirds beat Notre Dame, 1-0 on Wednesday to advance to the title game of the Lexington Catholic Challenge Cup on Saturday at 7 p.m. against either Simon Kenton or Lexington Dunbar.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team (4-0-1 overall) has another chance at a Lexington Catholic Challenge Cup after taking down their big arch-rival for the second time in five day.

The Bluebirds downed the Notre Dame Pandas (3-2), 1-0 to advance to the championship game of the Lexington Catholic Lady Knights Challenge Cup on Wednesday. Highlands avenged a 3-2 loss to the Pandas in the LexCath Tournament title game last year.

"This season has been a big challenge for us playing Notre Dame for the third game of the season, playing Sacred Heart then playing Notre Dame for the fifth game of the season has been crazy," said Alex Dean, Highlands Head Coach. "It's definitely jump-started our season into mid-season form after game five. I think we understand the importance of competing in these games. It's not about wins and losses during the regular season. It's about getting the best effort and advancing your play each game and each week that we move through the season."

Tuesday Highlands Results: Bluebirds Boys Soccer Beats NCC

Highlands Starts Rivalry Week with Victory

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior forward Ben Fischer (5) runs up-field against Newport Central Catholic on Tuesday.

The big week for the Highlands Bluebirds boys soccer teams started strong.

The meeting against the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds at Tower Park did not have its usual feel. The large crowds, especially the student sections, could not pack the stands although some stood outside the fences watching as a result of Coronavirus 2019 restrictions.

But one thing has not changed since 2015. The Bluebirds bested the Thoroughbreds, 4-0 for their ninth straight victory in the series. NewCath last beat Highlands, 2-1 on Oct. 13, 2015 in the 36th District championship game at Tower Park when the current seniors were in the seventh grade.

Monday Highlands Sports Roundup: Highlands Girls Soccer Bests Sacred Heart

Highlands Golf Holds Senior Day

Highlands junior goalkeeper Meg Gessner kicks the ball off in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team (3-0-1) entered the prestigious Lexington Catholic Lady Knights Challenge Cup facing a familiar opponent in the Louisville Sacred Heart Valkyries.

The Bluebirds scored the game's lone goal in the first half and made it stand in a 1-0 victory. The play again Wednesday in the cup in a quick rematch against 9th Region rival Notre Dame at 8 p.m. back at LexCath.

"It's probably the best regular season cup that there is," said Alex Dean, Highlands Head Coach. "It gets us ready for the postseason. We treated (Monday) like a final four game like it was last year. It's a rivalry game. It was an ugly win, but a win is a win."

Another Tournament Win for Highlands Boys Golf

Gabbard, Muller Shoot in 60s in Tournament Win

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands sophomore Joel Craft watches after ahot in a recent match. The Bluebirds won their eighth tournament Sunday taking the Bourbon County Invitational.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys golf team had not done any overnight trips this year as a result of Coronavirus 2019.

But they did one Saturday still maintaining protocols and it paid off Sunday when the Bluebirds won the Bourbon County Invitational shooting 292 out of 16 teams. That's the eighth tournament they've won this season and it bested the score of the 2018 8th Region championship team by one shot.

Saturday Highlands Round-up

Bluebirds Volleyball Goes 1-1 in September Slam

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands junior CC Shick (middle) goes up for spike attempt against Simon Kenton while Laura Winkler and Madison Clore (33) get in position. Highlands went 1-1 in the September Slam at Scott on Saturday.

The Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team may have suffered its first loss of the season Saturday.

But the Bluebirds rebounded to win the afternoon game against the hosts in the annual September Slam Tournament. Highlands lost 2-1 to the Simon Kenton Lady Pioneers (17-25, 25-19, 15-12) in the morning before defeating the host Scott Lady Eagles, 2-0 (25-22, 25-10). Highlands won this tournament last year.

Highlands-Simon Kenton Football Sidebar

Bluebirds Adjusting to Coronavirus 2019 Guidelines

PHOTO: Ed Harber. Highlands sophomore kicker Davis Burleigh practices field goals before the game Friday.

David Cecil Memorial could only allow 20 percent in attendance and fans had to wear face masks or they were asked to leave. The usual six-feet distance protocols were also encouraged.Things felt as different as one might expect with the threat of Coronavirus 2019 still looming.

Thursday Highlands Sports Roundup

Bluebird Soccer Records First Win of Season

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior Max Farris thinks before striking the ball on a free kick in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys soccer team took care of business in one half Thursday in an 11-0 win over the Covington Holmes Bulldogs.

Highlands (1-0-1) had 23 shots with 16 on goal to just one shot for the Bulldogs (0-1). Sophomore Caden Schroeder had two goals to lead the Bluebirds.