Highlands Tuesday Results: Boys Soccer Wins Region Quarterfinal Game

Volleyball Falls on Senior Night

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham. Highlands junior Casey Stiles (41) makes a move in a recent game.

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The Highlands Bluebirds boys soccer team (18-4-1 overall) has done a good job scoring first in recent games.

But the Bluebirds hoped to keep it up Tuesday to help keep their postseason alive in the 9th Region quarterfinal match-up against the Cooper Jaguars (13-6-3) at Tower Park. They did that in a 4-1 victory.

"If you look at the course of the season, some of our tougher results or games where we weren't super satisfied at the end were a lot of times traced back to a slow start then playing a little bit of catch up," said Chad Niedert, Highlands Head Coach. "As of late, we've been taking it to teams. We have guys that are eager and willing to do the dirty jobs and put themselves in position to score more so than earlier in the year. So I'm really proud of how this team has evolved."

Highlands takes on Covington Catholic at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the region semifinals at St. Henry. The championship game takes place Saturday at 4 p.m. at Boone County. All four district champions advanced to the region semifinals.

It started when their leading point-scorer in junior forward Colin Pieper scored on a free kick in the first half. The Bluebirds did not look back from there.

Pieper scored two goals and had an assist in the first half to help the Bluebirds build a 3-1 halftime lead. He played a through ball to senior Jordan Frisk for the second Highlands goal. After Cooper earned one back, Pieper hit a dazzling free kick from 30 yards out to give the Bluebirds that halftime advantage. 

Sophomore Chad Gesenhues scored his 10th goal of the season for the lone goal of the second half to make the final score for the Bluebirds. Senior Joel Kendall played a free kick into the box and junior Casey Stiles headed into Gesenhues for his fourth assist of the season.

"It's been a big part of our game this season," Kendall said. "We've gotten a lot of goals off free kicks much more than last year. That's decided a lot of tight goals for us."

Pieper has a team-high 22 goals and nine assists for a team-high 53 points. Frisk has 18 goals and a team-high 11 assists for 47 points.

Highlands had 13 shots with five on goal to nine shots for Cooper. Sophomore goalkeeper Jack Wilson made eight saves.

Highlands had 16 fouls, one corner kick and six offsides calls. The Bluebirds did not have any red cards. The Bluebirds beat Cooper, 2-1 on Sept. 1 in Union. But the Jaguars scored first.

The Bluebirds have advanced to at least the region semifinals the previous six seasons. The last time they did not advance past the region quarterfinals took place Oct. 20, 2015 when Covington Catholic edged Highlands, 2-1 on penalty kicks in the 9th Region quarterfinals at Dixie Heights.

Volleyball:

Cooper 3, Highlands 0:

The Bluebirds (26-7) concluded the regular season honoring the nine seniors who have helped Highlands to three seasons of 25 or more wins outside of the 13-8 2020 campaign shortened by the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic during their four years of high school.

But Highlands could not find a way to beat 9th Region nemesis Cooper (20-10). The Lady Jaguars escaped in three sets by 25-16, 25-21, 25-23 scores. Cooper also beat Highlands in the Bluegrass Invitational in Lexington on Aug. 28.

This marked the 15th straight loss to the Lady Jaguars. Highlands last beat Cooper, 2-1 (25-17, 17-25, 15-13) on Sept. 19, 2009. Cooper opened in 2008.

Senior CC Shick is a four-year starter for Highlands. She had 10 kills, seven digs and one assisted block in the loss. The other eight seniors are Madison Clore, Honor Valentine, Madison Opitz, Lauren Buemi, Avery Cavacini, Sophia Sarakatsannis, Josie Steppe and Nicole Ossege.

Highlands had three aces, 35 kills and assists, two solo blocks by Buemi, two assisted blocks by Cavacini and Shick and 55 digs. Clore had 13 digs and Valentine had 10. Buemi had 11 kills and two digs. Sarakatsannis had nine digs and five kills. Opitz had 27 assists and eight digs and Ossege had seven kills.

Highlands Thursday Results

Bluebirds Volleyball, Boys Soccer Defeat 9th Region Opponents

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior Madison Opitz gets in position in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team (10-2 overall) knew it would face a familiar 9th Region opponent several times this season after the two did not meet last year.

Round one belonged to the Bluebirds in convincing fashion. Highlands took care of the Dixie Heights Colonels (2-2), 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-13) in Fort Thomas. The Bluebirds moved to 2-2 against region opponents.

"Anytime you play someone you have a long-standing history with and take care of business like that quickly, it's a good sign of our mental fortitude and preparation for the game," said Katelyn Sallee, Highlands Head Coach. "I told the girls I don't think I have seen them firing on all cylinders like that all year. It all came together and it was a pretty fun night."

Highlands had 30 kills, 29 assists, five solo and four assisted blocks, 37 digs and 15 aces. Senior CC Shick led the way with 11 kills.

Senior Lauren Buemi had six kills, one solo block, two assisted blocks, five digs and six aces for the Bluebirds. Senior Sophia Sarakatsannis had six kills, one assisted block, six digs and five aces. Senior Nicole Ossege had four kills, one solo block and one dig.

Senior defensive specialist Honor Valentine led the Bluebirds with seven digs to go with two aces and two assists. Senior Madison Clore had six digs, one ace and one assist.

Highlands used both setters in the victory. Junior Kenzi Vennefron had 15 assists, six digs and once ace. Senior Madison Opitz had 10 assists and four digs.

"The team was very focused," Vennefron said. "I think Dixie is probably one of our biggest rivals so we really wanted to win. The team just really clicked."

Highlands focused on Dixie Heights junior Maia Long. Long led the Colonels with 27 kills after two matches.

"She's really talented. We just had a really incredible blocking and defensive night together," Sallee said. "Our serve-receive was just on point. Offensively, everyone did a really great job. Sophia took a ton of swings from the outside. Did great. Nicole did a great job. CC was pretty untouchable. They couldn't get her. It was fun to see the defense and offense come together like that."

Highlands takes on Boone County and Campbell County at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. respectively in the September Slam at Scott on Friday. The Bluebirds finish pool play against Dixie Heights and Covington Holy Cross on Saturday at 9 and 11 a.m.

Soccer, Boys:

Highlands 2, Cooper 1:

The Bluebirds (6-2-1) stayed undefeated in weekday games at 6-0 and moved to 5-0 against 9th Region opponents with the victory over the Jaguars (5-3-2).

"We feel like we finished out that first half pretty strong," said Chad Niedert, Highlands Head Coach. "We gave up a goal on a little bit of a slip-up. We felt that even though the score didn't indicate it, we were the better team in the first half. We were doing really well with connecting passes and building up from the back. It was hard for Cooper to have any idea where we were coming from. We put them on their heels. Our emphasis at halftime was to pick up where we left off because we were pretty sure we could get the job done. We got after it right away."

Highlands had 12 shots with four on goal to go with 12 fouls, one corner kick and a yellow card. Sophomore goalkeeper Jack Wilson saved all five shots on goal and junior Connor Mathis made one save.

"I think our defense took a step forward by just putting more pressure on Cooper," said Evan Jones, Highlands junior defender. "Our center backs did a good job stopping anything that went passed and our goalies had some really good saves. We just really stepped up our energy level in the second half to score two goals."

The Bluebirds trailed 1-0 at halftime. But junior forward Colin Pieper scored his team-high sixth goal of the season off a free kick to tie the game.

Highlands took the lead for good when senior Joel Kendall booted a free kick from midfield and senior Jordan Frisk finished it. That marked Frisk's fourth goal of the year and Kendall's third assist.

Highlands Monday Roundup

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (23-9 overall) held a 5-3 lead going into the seventh inning at Highland Park on Monday.

But the Cooper Jaguars (23-7) scored seven runs in the top of the frame to record a 10-5 9th Region victory. The loss stopped the four-game Highlands winning streak and left the Bluebirds 11-3 in region play.

Monday Highlands Sports Briefs

Bluebird Softball, Baseball Teams Record Region Wins at Cooper

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. The Highlands baseball team beat Cooper, 5-0 to end a two-game losing streak on Monday.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (20-8 overall) ended its 9th Region two-game losing streak with a road 5-0 shutout of the Cooper Jaguars (19-5).

Highlands Unable to Break Another Losing Streak

Bluebirds Fall to 10-9 with Region Road Loss

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham. Highlands senior Nate Roberts receives some last instructions before taking the in-bound play at Cooper on Monday. Roberts scored 10 points in the Highland loss.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (10-9 overall) broke one losing streak to a common 9th Region opponent Monday and hoped to break another one Tuesday.

It did not happen. The Cooper Jaguars (15-3) penetrated better against the Highlands defense and came away with a 52-41 win. Cooper is 7-1 against region opponents while the Bluebirds dropped to 7-2.

After breaking a 17-game losing streak at Covington Holmes on Monday, Highlands dropped its eighth straight against Cooper. The only win in school history for the Bluebirds against the Jaguars came on Dec. 11, 2008 in an 85-49 win in Union during the first year Cooper opened up.

Monday Highlands Sports Notes

Bluebirds Earn Fifth Straight Win over Thoroughbreds

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Lindsey Meyer (10) approaches Newport Central Catholic goalkeeper Kacy Zimmerman on Monday in 36th District play. Highlands won 3-0.

It has been clear from the beginning the waves will come and come and come.

Head Coach Alex Dean said the Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team wants to continuously put pressure on the opponents hoping to capitalize on mistakes. It worked out well for the second game as the Bluebirds (2-0 overall) downed the rival Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (1-1) by a 3-0 count at Tower Park on Monday in 36th District action.

Great Wednesday for Highlands Baseball, Softball

Bluebirds Softball Completes 4-0 Run in 36th District Seed Play

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Maleah Abner takes a swing in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds softball team finished up the regular season on a positive note with four straight wins.

Highlands (16-10 overall) took care of the Dayton Lady Devils, 12-2 in five innings earning a convincing top seed in the 36th District at 4-0 in seed play. Highlands outscored the four district opponents, 49-5. The Bluebirds also finished 11-1 in 9th Region action.

Bluebirds Lose to Defending State Runner-Ups

Highlands Gives Great Effort in Loss

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Hunter Ahlfeld fires up a shot in the junior varsity contest against Cooper on Tuesday.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (6-7 overall) dropped the home game 61-43 to the Cooper Jaguars on Tuesday.

Region One-Sider

Bluebirds Earn Comfortable Win Against Cooper

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Maria Wiefering heads one home in Monday's 6-0 win over Cooper. Wiefering leads Highlands with 54 points on 22 goals and 10 assists this year.

It has not been a problem advancing past the 9th Region quarterfinals for the Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team in the four seasons with Brian Wiefering as head coach.

It's just that the wins have been a little too close for comfort. But that changed Monday. The Bluebirds (17-4-1 overall) dominated the Cooper Jaguars (14-9-1) from start to finish in a 6-0 victory.

Weekend Round-Up

Ladybirds Drop First Contest of Season

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Gwen Gorman makes a move in a recent game.

The Highlands Ladybirds (2-1 overall) lost for the first time this year by a 1-0 score to the Cincinnati Ursuline Lions of the Greater Catholic League.

Tough Ones

Highlands basketball teams drop road games

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Ben Sisson (30) looks to make a pass against Cooper on Tuesday.

Head Coach Kevin Listerman said the Highlands Bluebirds basketball team made progress in two wins in the Magnolia Bank Holiday Classic last week.

Bluebirds open season with tie

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Tommy Browe makes a move in a recent scrimmage.

Neither team has its first goals of the season after playing to the scoreless tie Tuesday.

Rain forces Saturday cancellations

The Highlands baseball team (12-11 overall) had a doubleheader scheduled at Cooper. Highlands was to face the host Jaguars and Madison Central. Excessive rain forced the cancellation of both.

Highlands plays host to Bishop Brossart on Monday. Game time is 5 p.m.

Bluebirds drop fourth in a row

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Bo Hebel blocks out in a recent game.

The losing streak hit four straight with another home 9th Region loss on Saturday.

Cooper takes out Highlands to open season

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands wide receiver Eric Miller (15) makes a 45-yard catch late in the second quarter of Friday's game at Cooper. The Bluebirds lost 37-13.

It felt like a nightmare in many ways.

Cooper shuts out NewCath, 31-0

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The new season did not get off to the start the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbred football team hoped for.

The host Cooper Jaguars (2-0) shut out the Thoroughbreds, 31-0 in their season-opener in Union. NewCath’s originally scheduled game was on Aug. 23 at Ashland. But it was rained out.

NewCath moves on from rain-out game

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It was not supposed to happen like this.

But Mother Nature gave them no choice. Thus, the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds open the season at Cooper on Friday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

NewCath found itself in this position after Friday’s scheduled game at Ashland was rained out. Heavy storms in eastern Kentucky left Putnam Stadium in bad shape and the schools could not work things out to play the game.

Highlands rallies past Cooper, 4-3

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team rallied past the Cooper Jaguars, 4-3 for its second straight 9th Region win in as many games to start the year.

Highlands opened the season Friday with a 3-1 win at Boone County. Both opponents came from the 33rd District.

Jaguars pull away from Thoroughbreds in second half

 

G. Michael Graham Photo. The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds line up in their recent win over Ashland. NewCath fell to Cooper, 31-22 on Friday in the Skyline Crosstown Showdown at Dixie Heights.

 

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Most teams who come out plus-four in the turnover department win football games.

But that did not happen for the Newport Central Thoroughbreds in the Skyline Crosstown Showdown at Dixie Heights on Friday. The Cooper Jaguars still moved the ball better in a 31-22 victory. Both teams are 1-1 on the season.

Cooper lost all six fumbles and the Thoroughbreds threw two interceptions. But the Jaguars outgained the Thoroughbreds, 376-209 in total offense. NewCath could not stop the balanced Cooper attack. Jaguar quarterback Will Ludwig completed 17-of-29 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

“I knew they were going to be a pretty decent, tough team and they were,” said Dan Wagner, NewCath head coach. “We had momentum early and lost it. Once they got it, they didn’t let it go.”

His top target was Corey Fussinger. Fussinger had six catches for 77 yards and Aaron Morgan had five catches for 41 yards. The Jaguars also saw running back Avery Bricking run the ball 17 times for 125 yards.

“We didn’t do a really good job with one particular pattern that we have to fix,” Wagner said. “We didn’t do a real good job with one particular run pattern that we have to fix. I think we have people getting there, but the technique is lousy so we have to get better at it.”

Defensively, the Jaguars made things tough for the Thoroughbred offense. Jacob Newumann recorded eight tackles and four sacks with Fussinger adding another two sacks.

NewCath quarterback Mac Franzen completed 8-of-15 passes for 135 yards. Tommy Donnelly led the Thoroughbreds in that department with two catches for 63 yards.

The Thoroughbreds led 7-0 after the first quarter. Michael Runyon hauled in an 11-yard pass from Franzen. But Cooper came back to tie the game when Bricking broke free for a 45-yard run in the second quarter.

NewCath took its final lead in the second quarter when Jacob Weiland recovered a Cooper fumble in the end zone. But Logan Turner hit a 25-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-10 at halftime.

The Jaguars pulled away with 21 consecutive points in the second half. In the third quarter, Ludwig hit Fussinger for a 9-yard score and Morgan for three yards to give Cooper a 24-14 advantage. The Jaguars made the score 31-14 in the fourth quarter when Tanner Kissel hauled in a 21-yard pass.

NewCath’s lone score of the second half came when Jack Sutkamp scored on a 2-yard run. Donnelly hauled in the two-point conversion pass from Franzen.

The Thoroughbreds hit the road Friday for an in-county game at Campbell County. Game time is 7 p.m. in Alexandria.

NewCath faces 2012 5A runner-up

G. Michael Graham Photo. Newport Central Catholic linebacker Jack Sutkamp lays out Ashland wide receiver Rj Washington in Friday's win while teammates Logan Neff (54), Kole Zenni (9) and Colin Hoover (6) converge. The Thoroughbreds hope for more hits like that during the year defensively.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team tends to reload with the best in Kentucky.

Their opponent Friday hopes to develop that same consistency. The Thoroughbreds face the Cooper Jaguars for the first time in school history at 6 p.m. in the Skyline Crosstown Showdown at Dixie Heights.

Both teams are coming off successful 2012 campaigns. The Thoroughbreds won their fifth state championship with a 30-26 win over the Caldwell County Tigers in the Class 2A state championship and the Jaguars lost to Bowling Green, 34-20 a few hours later.

The two squads experienced different results in their season-openers on Friday. NewCath defeated Ashland Blazer, 37-26 and Cooper lost at in-town rival Ryle, 17-10.

Cooper’s head coach is Randy Borchers. Like NewCath Head Coach Dan Wagner, Borchers graduated from NewCath in 1996 so they both played for longtime head coach Bob Schneider.

“I look at (Cooper) and I see (the program) as first class all around. When we scrimmaged them last year, there’s no jawing,” Wagner said. “They take care of what they need to take care of. That’s probably the big thing Coach Schneider has instilled in pretty much everyone he’s been in touch with.”

Both teams have things they need to improve upon entering Friday’s game. The Thoroughbreds want to tackle better in their 4-4 defense. Ashland running back Quentin Baker recorded 238 yards rushing on 18 carries and two touchdowns Friday.

“It’s been a lot better focus (this week),” said Stephen Brooks, NewCath senior offensive lineman/linebacker. “We’ve been getting better at that by doing a lot of motor drills. We need to bring out feet through the hit instead of diving at (opposing running backs). We need to wrap up and follow through.”

NewCath faces another good skill position player on Friday in Cooper Senior wide receiver/defensive back Aaron Morgan. Morgan had one rushing for a minus-6 yards but did haul in four catches for 79 yards and a touchdown against Ryle. Morgan recorded 37 catches for 734 yards and seven touchdowns last year.

“He’s very shifty and if he gets in the open field, forget about him,” Wagner said of Morgan. “He’s very aggressive on defense. He breaks as well on the ball as any kid I’ve seen in a long time. I’m impressed with him.”

Both teams run Spread offenses. Cooper’s inexperience showed in the loss to Ryle. The Jaguars gained just 168 yards of total offense in the game. They graduated their leading rushers from last year in A.J. Morgan and Tyler Morris.

“Our players have the taste of success and they were able to learn from a very talented senior class last year on what it takes to be good,” Borchers said. “I tell our players every day that there is no pressure on them because everyone outside of our team feels this is going to be a down year. Our players do not like to hear this and believe that they have a chance to compete for a district title again this year and they want to prove all the naysayers wrong.”

The Thoroughbreds put up 360 yards in total offense against Ashland, including 304 on the ground. Quarterback Mac Franzen rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries and sophomore Jacob Smith had 86 on nine rushes. Franzen completed 3-of-7 passes for 56 yards. NewCath would not mind seeing more offensive balance and not turn the ball over four times like Friday. But things worked out there against Ashland.

“It will take some time,” Wagner said. “But to be honest, we didn’t need it (Friday). He dropped back a couple times. We have this deal where if he sees something, he’ll take it. That’s where he got a lot of his yards.”

Cooper runs 4-3 and 4-4 defensive sets. Aside from Morgan, Will Ludwing is the Jaguar quarterback and senior running back/linebacker Avery Bricking returns along with senior wide receiver/defensive backs Corey Fussinger and Richie Pauls.

NewCath is trying to rotate in more people defensively, especially in the trenches. The four teams that beat the Thoroughbreds last year did that.

“We always try to play a lot of kids,” Wagner said. “Sometimes we can and sometimes we can’t. I think we have more depth. I said this at the beginning of the year. We have what I think is a talented sophomore group. We can work them in. One time Friday, we had three sophomores in on the defensive line at the same time. We’ll take a few lumps here and there. But all in all, they did pretty well.”

Borchers hopes to see the offensive balance they displayed last year. The Jaguars rushed for just five yards in the loss to Ryle and suffered from two blocked punts, a short punt and what Borchers called “terrible kickoff returns.”

“We need to find a way to get the ball in our playmakers’ hands and allow them to make plays,” Borchers said. “NewCath is very aggressive and fundamentally sound defensively. We need to be patient and take what they give us.”

NewCath takes on three 6A opponents after this game. The Thoroughbreds will battle Campbell County, Dixie Heights and Simon Kenton following this game.