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Kings High School student athletes signed letters of intent to play college level sports. Seated, from left, are: Kayla Smith, Lauren McLennan, Haley Delaney, Natalie Weinrich, Kacy Dunn, Brady Vanover; standing: Paul Koerbel, Joe Shumar, David Hare, Nick Wolf, Jacob Himes, Kennedy Cook, Autin Copeland, Landon Kirby, and Matt Schlehr. Provided photo.

During a signing ceremony Thursday, 15 Kings High School students made their official commitments to colleges and universities to play a specific sport.

The students, the school they will attend and the sport they agreed to play are:

• Kennedy Cook, Wittenberg University, football
• Austin Copeland, Thomas More, football
• Haley Delaney, Waynesburg University, basketball
• Kacy Dunn, Cedarville University, cross country, track, and field
• David Hare, Baldwin Wallace University, baseball
• Jacob Himes, Manchester University, basketball
• Landon Kirby, Ohio Christian University, soccer
• Paul Koerbel, Wilmington College, lacrosse
• Lauren McLennan, Rose Hulman, swimming and cross country
• Matt Schlehr, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, swimming
• Joe Shumar, Muskingum University, baseball
• Kayla Smith, University of Northwestern Ohio, softball
• Brady Vanover, Wittenberg University, football
• Natalie Weinrich, University of Toledo, dance
• Nick Wolf, Carthage College, football

Posted in: Schools, Sports, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Autin Copeland, brady vanover, David Hare, Haley Delaney, jacob himes, Joe Shumar, Kacy Dunn, Kayla Smith, Kennedy Cook, Kings High School sports, Kings sports, Landon Kirby, Lauren McLennan, Matt Schlehr, Natalie Weinrich, Nick Wolf, Paul Koerbel

Kings High School Seniors where volunteering to do landscaping around the grounds of the high school as part of a National Day of Service and Remembrance of 9/11. (Tony Tribble for the Enquirer)

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Kings High School student Luke McLelland started his senior year with all 75 hours of his required community service hours finished.

But it didn’t stop the teen from joining his school’s Community Service Club, where he lines up service projects for classmates.

And that willingness to keep giving, said Superintendent Valerie Browning, is what the goal of the service requirement is all about.

“When I first came here I was really surprised – you don’t see that too often in public education,” Browning said. “As I became more and more exposed to it I realized how important service is for the kids, their growth and development.”

It also allows the community to see teenagers in a positive light.

“All too often we get into that mode of ‘Kids these days …” Browning said. “This allows people to see the positive side of our students.”

McLelland lined up three Habitat for Humanity houses his classmates could volunteer at during the senior class’ participation in the National Day of Service and Remembrance in September.

His was one of nine projects planned by seniors for seniors, who began the school day with a brief assembly before leaving for their work sites.

“The goal of community service is teaching kids the value of being active members of the community, not passive,” said Tim Guilfoyle, service club adviser. “I want kids to have the opportunity to lead other kids.”

Another service day – this one open to students in all grades – is being planned for spring by the service club.

“We spent the day building walls – hammering nails. We had 10 kids in each of three houses in Hamilton,” McLelland said.

“I love it. It’s super fun. I would much rather be outside spending time with my friends working than inside the classroom learning.”

(more…)

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: 9/11, brady vanover, community service, habitat for humanity, jake caito, kings, kings high school, luke mclelland, national day of service and remembrance, nick handorf, tim guilfoyle, valerie browning, volunteer

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Paul Caito won’t ever forget the 9/11 terrorist attacks 11 years ago.

And he doesn’t want his son to, either.

It’s one reason why the Kings High School parent volunteered Tuesday to spend his day overseeing a group of teenagers as they planted 10 trees and 60 bushes and did other landscaping chores at their school.

Sharon Nursery partnered with the district to provide the materials even as the owner’s son worked alongside 19 classmates planting, weeding and spreading 24 yards of mulch on school landscaping beds.

It was one of nine projects the seniors could sign up for as the school’s participation in the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

After attending a morning ceremony at the school that included a moment of silence and a history lesson, the students were sent to their destinations for four to five hours of work.

The daylong projects included framing the inside of three Habitat for Humanity homes in Hamilton, packing eyeglasses in Mason and repackaging donated goods for Mathew 25: Ministries in Blue Ash.

“I think it’s extremely important to remember. These seniors were in the first grade when the attacks happened,” Caito said. “While they heard about it and have studied it, they did not experience it the way we did. This brings focus to that day and what it means.”

The Kings project was one of several remembrances or projects across the region marking the anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

In Lebanon, a monument was dedicated at 9:58 a.m., the precise moment the south tower of the World Trade Center began crumbling in New York after being attacked by a plane 11 years ago.

In West Chester Township, the day was remembered at Chesterwood Village with a display, ceremony and patriotic songs.

At Fairfield South Elementary School, police and firefighters joined children as a new flag was raised and patriotic songs were sung.

And in Newport, the names of those who perished at the World Trade Center were memorialized in a ceremony at the World Peace Bell.

“I’ve lived in Kings all my life,’’ said senior Brady Vanover. “It feels good giving back something bigger than me.’’

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: 9/11, brady vanover, kings high school, matthew: 25 ministry, national day of service and remembrance, paul caito, seniors, sharon nursery, terrorist attacks

Four athletes from Mason and Kings high schools have made The Enquirer’s 2012 preseason all-area football team.  The list, compiled by high school sports editor Mike Dyer, features the area’s most promising players.

Running back: Darryl Johnson, Mason

The senior rushed for 1,344 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Comets last season. Johnson, who is 5 feet 10 and 205 pounds, also had 12 receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns. He was first-team all-Greater Miami Conference last season.)

Defensive back: Corey Quallen, Mason

The senior safety has received interest from Wisconsin and Michigan State. Quallen, who is 6 feet 2 and 205 pounds, has offers from several Mid-American Conference schools.

Kicker: Evan Berg, Kings

The senior (left, with kicking instructor Tim Williams) was an Enquirer Divisions II-VI first-team all-area selection last season. He was Division II third-team all-state and first-team all-FAVC Cardinal. He was 48 of 49 on extra points and 16 of 23 on field goals including a long of 47 yards.

Defensive Lineman: Brady Vanover, Kings

The senior was an Enquirer Divisions II-VI all-area selection last season as a junior. He had 16 sacks and 90 tackles during the regular season. Vanover, who is 6 foot and 235 pounds, was Division II second-team all-state and FAVC Cardinal co-defensive player of the year.

Check out who else made the list here.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: brady vanover, comets, corey quallen, darryl johnson, evan berg, football, high school sports, kings, kings high school, mason, mason high school, preseason all-area team

Kings football coach Andy Olds. File photo

Mike Dyer reports:

Kings (12-1), a Division II regional finalist from last season, is ranked No. 1 in the Divisions II-VI poll.

The Knights return 28 seniors for coach Andy Olds, who begins his 15th season at the school.

With 13 returning starters, the Knights are an early favorite in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference. The Knights return several talented players including senior defensive lineman Brady Vanover and kicker Evan Berg – both all-Enquirer selections last season.

“What I like most about this class is our seniors and the experience of our offensive line,” Olds said. “Between them, they have collected 10 varsity letters.”

ECC members Turpin (No. 2) and Anderson (No. 3) are also ranked within the top three of the Divisions II-VI poll.

Mason ranked seventh in the poll.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: andy olds, brady vanover, enquirer coaches poll, evan berg, football, kings, kings high school, mason, preseasson, sports

Darryl Johnson / File photo

Three Mason and two Kings players have made The Enquirer’s list of 50 high school seniors to watch from the 2013 class this football season.

The names were based on all-Enquirer, all-district and all-conference stats and recognition from the 2011 season along with team success and college recruiting information this spring/summer.

Mason and Kings players making the list are:

14. Darryl Johnson, Mason: The senior rushed for 1,344 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Comets last season. Johnson, who is 5 feet 10 and 205 pounds, also had 12 receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns. He was first-team all-Greater Miami Conference last season.

26. Corey Quallen, Mason: The safety has had interest from Wisconsin and Michigan State this summer. Quallen, who is 6 feet 2 and 205 pounds, has multiple Mid-American Conference offers.

35. Elijah Nkansah, Mason: The offensive lineman has offers that include Toledo and Ohio University. He is 6 feet 5 and 305 pounds.

38. Brady Vanover, Kings: The defensive lineman had 16 sacks and 90 tackles in the regular season. He was Division II second-team all-state and FAVC Cardinal co-defensive player of the year.

44. Evan Berg, Kings: The kicker was an Enquirer Divisions II-VI first-team all-area selection last season. He was Division II third-team all-state and first-team all-FAVC Cardinal. He was 48 of 49 on extra points and 16 of 23 on field goals including a long of 47 yards.

To see the full list, go to The Recruiting Trail blog.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: brady vanover, corey quallen, darryl johnson, elijah nkansah, evan berg, football, high school sports, kings, kings high school, mason, mason high school, seniors, sports

A local sports website has honored the Kings Knights as its pick of Cincinnati Team of the Year.

Tristatefootball.com, a project of GetSports Enterprises LLC, recognized the team at its annual Year in Review show at the Tap House Grill in Kenwood on Wednesday.  Here’s what they say made the Knights stand out:

The Knights were Division II, Region 8 runner-ups for the second straight season with their only loss coming to the eventual Division II state champion, Trotwood-Madison.

The offense averaged 31.6 points per contest while the defense allowed just 10.8 points per game while recording 50 sacks, 24 interception and four defensive touchdowns as Kings earned the final FAVC Cardinal crown.

Colerain, Madeira, Moeller, St. Xavier and Walnut Hills were also nominated for the award.

The awards ceremony also recognized two Knights nominated for Cincinnati Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year: Brady Vanover and Jamire Westbrook.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: brady vanover, cincinnati team of the year, football, getsports enterprises llc, jamire westbrook, kings, kings high school, knights, players of the year, tristatefootball.com