Columns Sports

This From the Sidelines column appeared in the June 1, 2016 edition of the News Journal: On Saturday, Williamsburg High School freshman Selena Mattingly won two state championships at the KHSAA Class A track and field meet in Lexington. I was there, watching as she made winning the 1600-meter run look easy. I was also there when she raced ahead in the final moments of the 800-meter run, moving up in a hurry from second place to secure her second state title of the day. Mattingly’s two victories at this year’s state championship meet was an amazing accomplishment. There is absolutely no doubt about that, but I want to talk for...

This From the Sidelines column appeared in the May 25 edition of the News Journal: In 2014, Garner Chandler, Cole Shelton, Abe Barnes, Ben Phillips, Cade Cooney, Cameron Allen, Boston Hardesty, Jacob Gardner, Ethan Wine, Zac Hash and Caden Worley were about to lead the Corbin 11-12 year-old Little League All-Stars team to an appearance in the state championship tournament. Now, nearly two years later, those players, along with teammates Nick Yeager, Caleb VanNorstran, Quinton Botner, Josh Werner, JT Moore, Zac Young, Cole Hicks, Cody Cox, Peyton Addison, Nic Osborne, Matthew Creekmore, Eli Campbell and Josh Oliver, have brought the Corbin Middle School baseball team to a new level of success. In...

This From the Sidelines column appeared in the April 13, 2016 edition of the News Journal: On Sunday, I drove over to Monticello and spent the afternoon shooting pictures of the Corbin “Reelin’ Redhounds” bass fishing team in action on Lake Cumberland. It still amazes me that high schoolers can now win state championships and earn college scholarships through their involvement in activities such as fishing and archery. It’s really cool, but why stop there? There are plenty of other activities that would make excellent additions to the ever-growing list of officially sanctioned sports in our state. How about go-kart racing? There are several legit kart racing leagues and clubs out...

This From the Sidelines column appeared in the April 6 edition of the News Journal: Before this past week I was not aware of the name Freddie Maggard, but I have become very familiar with the Kentucky high school basketball legend since he passed away Sunday at Baptist Health Corbin after succumbing to pneumonia and heart failure. He was 78-years-old. Maggard was a member of the Carr Creek Indians (Knott County) basketball team that won a state championship in 1956. He hit the last second shot that that gave his team the win over Central City in the quarterfinal round, and he hit another last second shot to give them a...

This From the Sidelines column appeared in the March 16, 2016 edition of the News Journal: I was having a discussion with Whitley County tennis Head Coach David Halcomb last week about the upcoming season, and he brought something to my attention that I was not aware of. Beginning in 2016, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association has decided to change the process for determining regional and state team champions. High school tennis players have the chance each year of advancing to state as either a singles competitor, or as part of a doubles duo. In addition to that, if the team as a whole performs well enough in their qualifying...