SK Ranked 12th in the Commonwealth in Preseason Coach's Poll

The Neer performance in the Bluegrass State Games last weekend was an eye opener for the program.  The varsity team finished 5th out of 84 teams.  The strong performance was taken note of by other coaches as the SK team came away with a nice dose of respect. 

Ratings are nice and a good affirmation of what was done in the off-season but....they mean nothing in the end of the season. 

Wishing the team the best of luck!

SK will host the Brossart Mustangs tomorrow night at the Joe in a scrimmage match.

All eyes on the Neer V-ball team to start the season.  Should be a strong one!

2013 Neer Volleyball Ready for Action

The 2013 season is well underway for the Neer Volleyball teams. The team is coming off a runner-up finish in the 8^th Region tourney last year. SK came out of the gates strong last season, went into what could be called a mid-season slump, but got things in gear during the district and regional tournaments to finish strong.

I stopped by practice last night and you can tell there is a hunger in the air this year for the girls to pull off the team’s first regional title in school history. Expectations are high-as they should be. However, winning regional titles takes more than talent; it takes a mindset that starts with tryouts and goes through tournaments. I truly sense this mindset in these girls in just the few moments I hung around practice.

The team is led by three seniors; Kaitlin Murray, Sophie Dunn and Megan Dischar. Murray and Dunn have tons of varsity experience. The duo have a chemistry that should pay big dividends this season with Dunner doing the setting while Murray will likely be one of the kill leaders in the state. Murray played some possessed volleyball during tournament time last season and was the best player in the 8th Region when the games mattered. Look for Dunn to set Murray no matter where she is at on the court. Dischar is a versatile player with a strong serve who may see a variety of positions this season.

The key for the season may be for the experienced senior class to teach the deep junior class how to play with a confidence to win. Juniors Haley Robinson and Ellie Smith are returning varsity starters who both had strong seasons with their club teams and should make a nice contribution to the team again this year. Also look for juniors Kelsey Schmiade, Rachael Figgins, Biz Manser and Carson Elliot to be contributors to SK success this season. SK also got a nice addition in the off season with out of state transfer Amarah Nicholson from Washington state. Amarah is a junior who is expected to give Coach Atwood’s team a nice boost on the front line.

The Neers may very well be the top ranked team in the 8^thonce the KVCA rankings are released soon. It won’t be easy though as defending champion North Oldham will be strong once again as well. The ever tough South Oldham Dragons, who were upset by SK in the Regional last year, will also pose a threat. We’ll get a glimpse of the 2013 edition of the Neer v-ball team this season when SK travels to Lexington August 2-4 for the Bluegrass Games.

Best of Luck Girls!


Seniors Murray, Dunn and Dischar


Glad to see Kiley and Carley with the team after extensive knee surgeries.


Some of the Juniors; Smith, Schmee and Fig. The Junior Class is an extremely deep one for Coach Atwood.


Dunner and Biz practicing their single lutz landing.

2013 Neer Volleyball Ready for Action!

The 2013 season is well underway for the Neer Volleyball teams.  The team is coming off a runner-up finish in the 8^th Region tourney last year.  SK came out of the gates strong last season, went into what could be called a mid-season slump, but got things in gear during the district and regional tournaments to finish strong.  

I stopped by practice last night and you can tell there is a hunger in the air this year for the girls to pull off the team’s first regional title in school history.  Expectations are high-as they should be.  However, winning regional titles takes more than talent; it takes a mindset that starts with tryouts and goes through tournaments.  I truly sense this mindset in these girls in just the few moments I hung around practice.  

The team is led by three seniors; Kaitlin Murray, Sophie Dunn and Megan Dischar.  Murray and Dunn have tons of varsity experience.  The duo have a chemistry that should pay big dividends this season with Dunner doing the setting while Murray will likely be one of the kill leaders in the state.  Murray played some possessed volleyball during tournament time and was the best player in the 8th Region when the games mattered.  Look for Dunn to set Murray no matter where she is at on the court.  Dischar is a versatile player with a strong serve who may see a variety of positions this season.   

The key for the season may be for the experienced senior class to teach the deep junior class how to play with a confidence to win.  Juniors Haley Robinson and Ellie Smith are returning varsity starters who both had strong seasons with their club teams.  Also look for juniors Kelsey Schmiade, Rachael Figgins, Biz Manser and Carson Elliot to be contributors to SK success this season.  SK also got a nice addition in the off season with out of state transfer Amarah Nicholson from Washington state.  Amarah is a junior who is expected to give Coach Atwood’s team a nice boost on the front line. 

The Neers may very well be the top ranked team in the 8^th once the KVCA rankings are released soon.  It won’t be easy though as defending champion North Oldham will be strong once again as well.  The ever tough South Oldham Dragons, who were upset by SK in the Regional last year, will also pose a threat.  We’ll get a glimpse of the 2013 edition of the Neer v-ball team this season when SK travels to Lexington August 2-4 for the Bluegrass Games.

Best of Luck Girls!

Seniors Murray, Dunn and Dischar


Glad to see Kiley and Carley with the team after extensive knee surgeries.


Some of the Juniors; Smith, Schmee and Fig.  The Junior Class is an extremely deep one for Coach Atwood.


Dunner and Biz practicing their single lutz landing.

Lady Neers with Nice Win on Senior Night

It was senior night at the Joe for the senior girls basketball team as Kaitlyn Morrison and Paige Bosse were recognized and honored before the game. 

The game had the feeling early on that it was going to be rough and lengthy.  SK took a 14-13 lead after Cookie was fouled 50 feet away from the basket on a buzzer beater attempt at the end of the first period.  She would hit two of three shots from the foul line giving SK the one point advantage.

SK was scoring outside while HC was jamming it inside where they had a big advantage in the post.  An early momentum shift happened in the first period as Deasia Beal picked up her second foul with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter.  The HC senior walked straight to the bench without even making eye contact with her coach.

Holy Cross opened the second frame with two straight buckets inside while SK struggled to hit shots.  As can typically be the case in the 8^th Region, foul calls were interesting.  Some total jam jobs were ignored while other touches were at times whistled.  What was constant was the grousing from the Nicholson side stands that went on the entire game.   It was almost humorous at times.  Meanwhile on the court, SK goes up by 8, 30-22 at the half.

The Neers squandered their half-time lead early in the third but would come back to extend the lead to 9 with 2:30 left in the third.  HC would get a TO and then bring a press coming out of the break which did cause some disruption to the SK offensive flow.  After a few possessions, SK would solve the press and get some nice buckets to preserve most of their lead at 38-31 going into the 4^th. 

SK would tighten up and struggle to start the 4th as HC would come roaring back and tie the game 39.  SK would then go on a 5-1 run forcing an Indian TO with SK up 44-40 with 4:15 left.  Coming out of the timeout, SK brought a press of their own.  It didn’t necessarily result in many turnovers in the backcourt but it did cause turnovers in the HC half-court offense.  The SK lead would stay in the 2-4 point lead down the stretch as Abby Owings nailed free throw after free throw as a good point guard does.  Beal would keep HC close as she drove to the basket and scored against a SK defense that was trying not to foul. 

Perhaps the play of the night on senior night happened like it should.  SK was at the foul line and Coach Stowers inserted Morrison into the game.  The free throw was missed but Morrison tipped the ball up in the air allowing fellow senior Bosse to claim the rebound.  Bosse was fouled and was able to convert one free shot giving the Neers a critical 3 point margin.  Definitely a fitting play for Senior Night.  HC would turn the ball over with .7 on the clock. 

I’ll give a hard hat award tonight to Cookie.  She kept HC’s Beal in check for most of the game keeping the Indian offense from getting going.  Cookie would need that hard hat on the last play of the game as her defensive tenacity was recognized by Beal.  Great job Cookie.

 

Two fine looking fams.  Morrisons in top pic and Bosse fam in bottom pic.

 

Paige's senior motto:

 

Schmee with a nice take in the first half; she ended up getting a shot to the nasal cartilages following the release of the shot.

 

Seniors Bosse and Morrison going for the tie-up.

 

Abby getting recognized at half-time for recently scoring her 1,000th point.  What a great smile!

 

Someone asked me after the game if I thought some of the SK drives to the baskets were really fouls against HC.  Here's a couple of samples.

Physical play was the mode of play for the night.

The blow by and the cry for help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in the Family

Back in my days as soccer coach, I coached a girl named Shari who was as fierce and hard-nosed as a player I had ever coached.  All of the girls were afraid to go up against her one on one in practice because she had no fear.  I coached a lot of successful teams and kids in soccer but she was definitely one of the tops in the physicality department.  Her mom used to joke around that she had to be tough because she was surrounded by older brothers.  These brothers were into wrestling and constantly going at each other on their way to multiple state titles in wrestling.  Shari had no choice but to be tough as the only girl in the family.  To say Shari was feared by the competition would be an understatement.  Shari went on to have a successful soccer career at SK as a midfielder and was part of the team that started SK’s eventual run as one of the best teams in the 9^th Region. 

Why the talk of soccer in the middle of winter sports season?  That girl was Shari Cooper who had a little brother named Kevin who was about 5 at the time.  Kevin would come up to me after Shari’s soccer practice and kick me in the shin or try to tackle me.  He’d kick me and just stare at me daring me to say something back to him.  I would just laugh but I told his mom Jeanne back then that he was going to be the one to watch on the sports field.  Hard to believe that this is the same dude that is going for his 3^rd straight KHSAA title next Friday and Saturday.  Good Luck Kevin!  Hope you can be as tough this weekend as your sister was back in the day.

 

Mark, Jeanne and Kevin yesterday following Kevin's 6th Region Title.

Neers Take 2nd In Region 6, Send 11 to State

After a grueling two day Region 6 Tourney, the Neers come away with the Runner-up KHSAA Walnut.  Seniors Joe Parrot and Kevin Cooper won the 126 and 152 weight classes respectively.   

I wish I understood the sport better and could provide better commentary.  I can say I’ve learned two basic things after following this team this year; the sport is grueling and painful.  Winners are determined by strength, quickness, confidence, skill but most importantly heart.  These SK kids have a lot of all of these.  I’ve had a blast covering these guys this year and I’m going to be disappointed at this time next week when the season comes to a close.  I’ve said it before but this has been one of my favorite Neer teams in years. 

Cooper is finally getting into that focused zone I’ve seen him in before.  He’s a fun guy to watch wrestle as he launches an aerial assault on his opponents.  Most guys win on the mat but Coop has a knack for getting guys off the mat and in the air to get them where he wants.  While Cooper has won state titles the last two years, things won’t be easy for the last of the Cooper family wrestlers.  I look for Coop to get in a zone next week and bring home the gold. 

Parrott is having fun and has a positive spirit about him.  This is translating into some real positive energy as he steps on the mat.  He had a tough opponent in the finals but went up 11-4 and cruised to the win despite getting a ribbing from his brother for his third period tactics where he took in the scenery. 

In addition to the outstanding performances by these two guys and more importantly, SK qualifies 11 athletes for next week’s State Tournament at the Alcatel Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.  Chamblee, Mueller, and Kloentrup bring home silver.  Chamblee was upset after losing probably the best match of the finals.  A loss can certainly be a strong teacher and I look for Heiro to bounce back next week.  Kloentrup came out of nowhere to put some valuable points on the board for SK.  Bergman and Lutes bring home Bronze.  Bergman avenged a loss he suffered last night against Wolfe from Walton.  Hicks, Owens, Roberts and Harris claim the final qualifying spots.  Listermann won his consolation match putting him in as an alternate.

Get some rest tomorrow boys but get to work Monday.  One week of grind left.  Good luck in your quest for another piece of KHSAA Walnut.

 

Yeah buddy!

 

 

Tucker Mueller wrestled tough but lost to undefeated Myers from Campbell Co.

 

Chamblee got 2 points for this takedown but fell 12-10. 

 

Like I said...

 

 

 

Coop down 3-2 early but he knows how to stay focused as he comes back for the pin.

 

Guess who?

 

Getting in the Coop zone.

 

Former SK Wrestler and WV Coach Dave Barnes congratulates Coop after his win.

 

I love this kid's spirit.

 

Tough match but after he got up 11-4, Parrott went on cruise control.

 

 

 

Great job by Kloentrup finishing 2nd.

 

Bergman with a win putting him in the 3/4 match.

 

Harris with some aggressive matches; just came up a little short.

 

Hicks with the best looking wound in the meet.

 

Hotrod getting pumped after a win.

 

Lutes putting final touches on a win.

 

Nice job by SK's Mr. Wilbers running the Region 6 tourney.  He was a one man band doing everything from announcing to tabulating scores.

 

Joey being smooth for the interview.

 

Smile!

 

Kevin dressed for church.

 

Collecting the hardware.

 

Coach Kaiser saying work isn't over.

 

Deuces...