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Claire Sadowski is the 2013 valedictorian at Kings High School, the district announced today.

Sadowski, an avid reader and hospital volunteer, is the daughter of Steve and Diana Sadowski.  She plans to study food science at Clemson University this fall.

Matthew Drew and Chris Koloseike were named co-salutatorians.

Drew, the son of Rogers and Rene Drew, will major in medicine this fall at Washington University in St. Louis.  He participated in cross country, track and field and theater while at Kings, in addition to being a hospital volunteer.

Koloseike, a member of the school’s swim team and symphonic and jazz bands, will study engineering this fall at The Ohio State University.  He’s the son of Matthew and Beth Koloseike.

Kings’ graduation is set for 1 p.m. Sunday, May 26 at the Cintas Center at Xavier University.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: chris koloseike, claire sadowski, class of 2013, kings high school, matthew drew, salutatorian, valedictorian

The second annual Reds Futures High School Showcase continues through Monday.

The showcase features 64 of the top high school baseball teams from Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana playing 32 games from March 25 to April 15 at area ballparks.

This weekend’s line up features LaSalle against Moeller at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by Elder against St. Xavier at 7 p.m.

On Friday, Lakota West will battle Princeton at 5 p.m., followed by Lakota East against Mason at 7 p.m. and Fairfield versus Middletown at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday’s and Friday’s game will be held at Prasco Park. The 550-seat stadium is on the corporate campus of Prasco Laboratories at 6125 Commerce Ct., Mason.

On Monday, Kings will face off against Loveland at 4:30 p.m. at Kings High School, while Harrison plays Talawanda at 4:30 p.m. at Harrison High School.

Prasco Park admission is free and open to the public. Tickets for Monday’s games are $5 and include all games on that day, along with a voucher for a ticket to a future Reds’ game and a coupon for a free Skyline cheese coney.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: baseball, harrison high school, kings high school, lakota, mason, prasco park, reds futures high school showcase, sports

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Tickets are now on sale for A Knight to Remember – the largest fundraiser for the Kings Athletic Boosters Club.

The semi-formal dinner dance will be held April 13 at the Great Wolf Lodge Conference Center. This is the 10th anniversary for the event, which has raised more than $275,000 for the athletic program since it began.

“This 10th anniversary event is sure to be the social gathering of the year and will raise money to help offset the cost of playing sports at Kings,’’ said Wendy Leahy, this year’s chairwoman.

“Each and every Kings junior high and high school sport will benefit from the money raised.”

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with auctions, raffles and cocktails. Dinner is at 7:15 p.m. with live auctions starting at 8:30 p.m. Dancing runs from 9 p.m. to midnight and features the band 2nd Wind.

There will be dozens of themed raffle baskets including Ladies Night Out, Ohio Sport Day at the Beach, College Survival Kit, and P&G products.

Tickets are $65 per person with VIP tables costing $1,500, which includes admission for 10 guests, 20 drink tickets, 40 raffle basket tickets, table-side drink service, premium seating, express check-out and advertisement or message in program.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.kingskabc.com.

Information: 513-459-2937

Posted in: Community, Events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: a knight to remember, dinner dance, great wolf lodge, kings athletic boosters club, kings high school, tickets, wendy leahy

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Kings High School football players are taking orders for two different types of mulch through April 12.

A premium black – fine, dark – mulch, and a shredded, brown hardwood, mulch will sell for $4 per 2.0 cubic foot bag.

Delivery is free for those ordering 10 or more bags. Otherwise, mulch can be picked up at Columbia Elementary School, 8263 Columbia Road, April 20-21. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Mulch can be ordered from any football player in grades 7-11, or by emailing Kings High School head football coach Andy Olds, aolds@kingslocal.net

There will also be a limited amount of mulch available for purchase at Columbia during pick-up hours. All proceeds benefit the district’s football programs.

Information: 513-398-8050×12021

Posted in: Events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: football, fundraiser, kings high school, mulch, sports

Princeton’s Jasmyn Hardin (22) battles Kings guard Mackenzie Seiter for a rebound on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (Tony Tribble for the Enquirer)

Mike Dyer reports:

Princeton continued a significant streak of sectional titles Monday night as the Vikings defeated Kings 71-35 at Lakota East.

Kelsey Mitchell had 17 points, Chelsea Mitchell added 16 and Carlie Pogue had 15 for the Vikings (18-7).

Princeton advances to play Winton Woods (18-6) in a Division I district final at 5 p.m. Saturday at Harrison.

• Photos: Kings fall to Princeton

Winton Woods, ranked No. 5 in The Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll, has won four consecutive games this month since a 56-49 loss to Princeton on Feb. 6.

“I think they are a tough matchup,” Princeton coach Jill Phillips said.

Princeton, ranked No. 2 in The Enquirer poll, has won eight consecutive games overall. Princeton defeated Hamilton 51-44 in the Division I sectional semifinals Feb. 21.

Kelsey Mitchell, a junior guard, had 13 of her 17 points in the first half Monday night. Mitchell finished with seven assists.

“I thought she did a great job in the first half getting us going offensively and defensively,” Phillips said. “…Her points are sometimes very quiet…but she gives us so much.”

Mitchell was named last week the District 16 Coaches’ Association Division I player of the year despite playing in just seven regular-season games due to injury.

Mitchell returned to the starting lineup from a foot injury Jan. 30 against Hamilton. She injured her foot at Lakota West Dec. 1.

Phillips said Monday night it was good to continue to get Mitchell back in the flow of the game this postseason.

Going into Monday’s game, Mitchell averaged 22.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.7 steals. Mitchell is ranked the nation’s No. 4 player in the 2014 class by the ESPN.com/HoopGurlz Super 60 rankings and was a preseason All-American by USA Today. She has been the District 16 player of the year three consecutive years.

On Monday, the Vikings started quickly against Kings. Princeton led 17-6 at the end of the first quarter and led 38-19 at halftime. Princeton led 58-29 at the end of the third quarter.

(more…)

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: basketball, girls basketball, kings, kings high school, knights, princeton, sports, vikings

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Kings High School is one of two Warren County sites that will be hosting events Feb. 9 as part of this year’s Macy’s Arts Sampler.

At 3 p.m., students from the Russian School of Music will perform a piano recital at the high school, 5500 Columbia Road.

An art exhibit will be staged at Loveland’s Grailville Retreat Center, 932 Obannonville Road, will host Explore the Divine: A visual exploration by three young women artists. It begins at 3 p.m.

There will also be events throughout greater Cincinnati on March 2 and April 13. When finalized those schedules will be available at www.theartswave.org.

Posted in: Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: kings high school, macy's arts sampler, piano recital, warren county

John Kiesewetter reports:

Family and friends of Emily Wyant, a Kings High School senior, will be watching the “American Idol” auditions from Chicago tonight (8-10 p.m., Channel 19) to see if she makes the show.

Kings Local School District publicist Lindsay Braud emailed today saying: ”Kings High School Senior Emily Wyant will be on American Idol tonight, Thursday, Jan. 17! Look for her at 8 p.m. on FOX. Good luck Emily!”

Later she amended her alert after talking to Emily’s father: ”He wasn’t completely sure Emily would be on American Idol tonight. This conflicts with the information I got from the high school yesterday. Her dad said if she is on tonight, it might just be a short clip. Sorry for the confusion.”

I’ll blog tonight during the show if I see her or anyone else from this area…. but I won’t be writing after every audition show. As I posted earlier today, I think the show has jumped the shark with annoying judges Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey.  Here’s the link.

Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: american idol, auditions, chicago, emily wyan, kings high school

Michael Stainbrook reports:

Milford used its size and experience to edge past a pesky Kings squad for a critical Eastern Cincinnati Conference road win.

The Eagles trailed most of the game but outlasted the Knights 55-49 to start a five-game road stretch to close out 2012. Milford had an edge with four senior starters and two sizeable forwards, while Kings started no seniors and lacked size inside.

Senior forward and Bowling Green commit Garrett Mayleben led Milford with 14 points, and senior guard Brennan Farrell added 13.

Kings overcame some sloppy play early to lead most of the game before Milford (4-2, 3-1 ECC) pulled away in the closing minutes. The Eagles’ second-half defensive adjustments and clutch free-throw shooting proved to be the difference in what coach Joe Cambron described as a crucial game.

“Our backs were against the wall,” Cambron said. “This was an absolute must-win for us to even have a shot at a conference championship.”

Kings built an early lead by using it speed on the perimeter to open holes in the paint. Sophomore guard Cameron Fails and junior forward Jamison Williams led the charge as the Knights settled into an offensive rhythm and opened a nine-point first-half lead. Milford responded to cut the lead with a few well-executed pick-and-roll plays but still trailed by five at halftime.

(more…)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: basketball, eagles, kings, kings high school, knights, milford

The Enquirer’s Jeff Wallner has the Eastern Boys’ Conference basketball preview.  Check out the outlook for Kings.

Coach: Mike Stevens (161-141)

Last year: 10-11 (7-7 FAVC)

What’s new: Senior Nathan Bonzella, a 7-foot-2 center, is playing his first year of high school basketball.

Key players: Junior guard Josh Woody, sophomore forward Jared Wheeler, junior forward Matt James, senior center Nathan Bonzella, senior forward Nathan Pucke, senior forward Jacob Himes.

Outlook: Stevens says this year’s team is the tallest in his tenure, and with Bonzella it’s quite possibly the most talented squad in school history. “Yes, he’s a legit 7’ 2”, we measured him last year in my history class,” says Stevens of Bonzella, who joins Pucke, 6-foot-6, and Himes, 6-foot-8, in an intimidating front court. Woody and Wheeler are the Knights’ top returnees, along with James who returns after missing last season with a back injury.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: boys basketball, jacob himes, jared wheeler, josh woody, kings, kings high school, matt james, mike stevens, nathan bonzella, nathan pucke, preview

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