News Releases
05/06/20 – Official of the Year Winner Announced for Basketball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 6, 2020
Following the completion of the 2020 KHSAA Basketball season, the Association has chosen the finalists for the sport’s Official of the Year Award. Of the 1,782 licensed officials in basketball, Raymond Lightfoot (Frankfort), Hannah Reynolds (Island), Rian Craft (Burkesville) and Brian Johnson (Jenkins) were chosen as finalists with Lightfoot selected as the 2020 KHSAA Basketball Official of the Year.
The KHSAA will honor the top licensed officials for the 2019-20 season during the course of the year, with the honorees for each sport chosen in the weeks immediately following each respective sport’s championship. Finalists in each sport are selected through a combination of not only on-field/court performance but local association activity and leadership, training efforts and the mentoring of newer officials.
One official in each sport will be named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across […]
05/04/20 – Official of the Year Winner Announced for Swimming
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 2020
Following the completion of the 2020 KHSAA Swimming & Diving season, the Association has chosen the finalists for the sport’s Official of the Year Award. Of the 204 licensed officials in swimming, Ruth Ann Bode (Fisherville) and Terri Tonges (Versailles) were chosen as finalists with Bode selected as the 2020 KHSAA Swimming Official of the Year.
The KHSAA will honor the top licensed officials for the 2019-20 season during the course of the year, with the honorees for each sport chosen in the weeks immediately following each respective sport’s championship. Finalists in each sport are selected through a combination of not only on-field/court performance but local association activity and leadership, training efforts and the mentoring of newer officials.
One official in each sport will be named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. Winners […]
05/01/20 – Official of the Year Winner Announced for Wrestling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2020
Following the completion of the 2020 KHSAA Wrestling season, the Association has chosen the finalists for the sport’s Official of the Year Award. Of the 94 licensed officials in wrestling, Brett Branson (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Jon Eschan (Union) were chosen as finalists with Branson selected as the 2020 KHSAA Wrestling Official of the Year.
The KHSAA will honor the top licensed officials for the 2019-20 season during the course of the year, with the honorees for each sport chosen in the weeks immediately following each respective sport’s championship. Finalists in each sport are selected through a combination of not only on-field/court performance but local association activity and leadership, training efforts and the mentoring of newer officials.
One official in each sport will be named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. Winners are selected […]
04/30/20- Covid-19 End-of-Year Resources and Guidance
04/30/20- Recommended Guidance issued by the Kentucky Department of Education on end-of-year procedures.
Several schools have requested information on best practices for return of school-issued sports equipment, uniforms, and other important material from student-athletes. In establishing a means of getting materials back, KHSAA member schools are bound and shall be guided by this document issued by KDE in any area related to interscholastic sports or sport-activities.
Click here to see the Revised Guidance for End-of-Year Procedures.
04/30/20- Recommended Guidance issued by the Kentucky Department of Education COVID-19 Emergency Guidelines for Graduation Ceremonies and Related Year-End Activities
Many schools have contacted the Association about best and permitted practices for holding ring ceremonies, awards opportunities, and other means to honor participation. In holding such ceremonies, KHSAA member schools are bound and shall be guided by, the procedures detailed from KDE for graduation ceremony opportunities in any area related to interscholastic sports or sport-activities.
04/29/20- Revised Covid-19 Policies and Guidance Issued, May 1 to May 31
THESE REVISIONS ARE IN PLACE FOR THE PERIOD OF MAY 1 to MAY 31.
THESE POLICIES WILL BE REVIEWED REGULARLY FOR EXTENSION AFTER THAT PERIOD OR REVISION DURING THAT PERIOD AS NECESSARY AS STATE, FEDERAL AND CDC POLICIES AND DIRECTIVES CHANGE
RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF THE CAMPUS OF ANY KHSAA MEMBER SCHOOL OR ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF ANY MEMBER SCHOOL, OR ITEMS RELATED TO SPORT OR SPORT-ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION DURING THIS PERIOD-
04/28/20 – 2020-21 High School Wrestling Rules Changes Address Weigh-In Procedures, Hair-Length Restrictions
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 28, 2020) — As the result of a concerted effort to accommodate the growing number of female wrestlers, the 2020-21 high school wrestling rules changes are headlined by significant adjustments to weigh-in protocol and appropriate hair-length requirements.
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee met April 5-6 and recommended 11 rules changes to take effect next school year. In accordance with current health safety guidelines, the rules meeting was held in an online format. All rules revisions recommended by the Wrestling Rules Committee were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
“These rule changes are some of the most prolific modifications in the history of high school wrestling,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee. “The rules committee made necessary, drastic changes to attract more young people to our sport without sacrificing the health and safety of […]
04/27/20 – Fifth Annual Louis Stout Memorial Scholarship Recipients Chosen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 27, 2020
Mollie Morris (Union County) and Ryan Maynard (Taylor County) have been selected as the recipients of the fifth annual Louis Stout Memorial Scholarships, which would have been presented during the 2020 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16® at Rupp Arena.
When former Commissioner Louis Stout passed away in 2012, his late widow Anna directed that donations on his behalf go to the Louis Stout Memorial Fund for Students. Mrs. Stout felt this was an opportunity for the KHSAA to honor student-athletes who excel in athletics, academics, school service and community service.
Winners will receive a one-time $2,000 scholarship payable to an institution of higher learning, and were chosen after careful review, with selection criteria based on athletic activities, non-athletic activities, non-school activities and an essay on the role a student-athlete should play in the community.
A two-sport letterman at Union County, Morris is a four-time All-District Academic Team selection in […]
04/21/20- Spring Sports Cancellation, Basketball Events Not To Be Resumed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2020
With the announcement yesterday of the recommended closure of all K-12 schools to in-person instruction throughout Kentucky for the remainder of the school year, the KHSAA Board of Control today approved the Commissioner’s recommendation and announcement by unanimous vote that the 2020 state basketball tournaments will not be resumed, while also approving the cancellation of all regular-season practices and contests as well as all postseason tournament championship events for all spring sports and sport-activities for the 2019-20 school year. This means the termination of the Archery, Bass Fishing, Esports, Baseball, Softball, Tennis, and Track & Field seasons. This will also result in the continuance of all provisions of the Coronavirus Dead Period provisions until further notice to the member schools from the Commissioner.
The KHSAA has worked closely and continuously with the Governor of our beloved Commonwealth, representatives of the Department of Public Health, Interim Commissioner Kevin Brown and […]
04/16/20 – 2020 KHSAA-KDA Ag Athletes Of The Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 16, 2020
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Ryan Quarles announced the six Kentucky high school student-athletes involved in agriculture that have been named the 2020 Ag Athletes of the Year by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA).
“Typically, I join these outstanding, agriculturally-minded student-athletes on the floor of Rupp Arena to award these scholarships, but unfortunately the coronavirus pandemic prevents us from celebrating together,” Commissioner Quarles said. “These scholarships will help these students offset the ever-increasing cost of continuing their education at a college or vocational school. I congratulate them and wish them well as they pursue their education, wherever they choose to go.”
Two $2,000 scholarships and four $1,000 scholarships were awarded. The honorees are:
- Outstanding Ag Athlete of the Year: William Garrett, Bethlehem ($2,000)
- Outstanding Ag Athlete of the Year: Ellie McGowan, Crittenden County ($2,000)
- Marisa Brown, Menifee […]
04/14/20 – High School Swimming/Diving Rules Changes Clarify Proper Race Finish, Official Timing Procedures
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 14, 2020) — Providing more clarity on a proper race finish and official timing procedures are among the noteworthy high school swimming and diving rules changes for the 2020-21 school year.
These topics were among those discussed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Swimming and Diving Rules Committee at its annual meeting March 22-23, where a total of six rules changes were recommended for approval. The rules meeting was held in an online format to comply with current health safety guidelines. All recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Rule 1-1-1 was edited to profile the end wall in more detail. Previously described as “the walls perpendicular to the race course,” the new definition broadens the term to include “the vertical portion of the pool, contiguous surface of the deck and overflow gutter, the front of the starting block or platform, or the touchpad at […]
03/13/20- (revised 04/02/20 and 4/17/20)- Athletic Dead Period Instituted for Athletic Programs in All Sports and Sport-Activities Due to Covid-19
This information is in effect, as stated below, through April 30, 2020. Prior to that time, revised guidance and policy will be issued to be effective May 1 as we all collectively work to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus on our campuses and among our athletes and coaches. Updated 4/2/20 and 4/17/20 based on inquiries from member schools and revised orders from the Governor and CDC Guidance.
This impacts all KHSAA constituents and includes guidance from the Governor, Public Health Officials, the Kentucky Department of Education, and additional guidance from federal authorities. This original directive will continue to be updated regularly. This will be the sole site for information regarding interscholastic athletics in Kentucky involving rostered athletes or those that have participated in practices this year and coaches from KHSAA member schools, as well as the use of interscholastic facilities.
Effective Friday, March 13, all sports and sport-activities, regardless of season, are declared to […]
03/30/20- Status of KHSAA Sponsored Events and Deadlines
Updated: 3/31/20, 8:00 a.m.
This information is solely a summary of KHSAA events. Other specific information concerning options including the required Coronavirus Shutdown Period is listed elsewhere on the KHSAA website at https://khsaa.org/athletic-dead-period-instituted-for-athletic-programs-in-all-sports-and-sport-activities/. This list will be continually updated and potentially revised.
- Tryout Period for Sport-Activities, including Cheer and Dance has been postponed. See the post at https://khsaa.org/03-19-20-spring-sport-activity-tryout-window-postponed-for-now/ for details.
- All opportunities at KHSAA member schools and Kentucky middle schools for spring football practice have been eliminated for 2020. See the post at https://khsaa.org/spring-football-practice-eliminated-for-2020-for-high-and-middle-schools/ for details;
- No final determination has been made regarding annual Title IX and roster reporting for 2019-20. Member schools will be updated if and when this is revised.
- 2020 Mingua Beef Jerky/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen (originally March 11-15) remains currently suspended. Will be continually reviewed as more data is available regarding school resumption or cessation, and activities being conducted in alignment with CDC and state and local […]
03/25/20 – Officiating Courses Available for Free Through July 1 on the NFHS Learning Center
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (March 25, 2020) — Current high school sports officials, as well as individuals interested in joining the officiating ranks, will be able to access online education courses on the NFHS Learning Center for free through July 1.
Since many individuals are at home for an indefinite period of time due to the current worldwide health crisis, the NFHS has decided to make its 11 sports officiating courses available for free on the Learning Center at www.NFHSLearn.com.
“Everyone is looking for positive things to do at home during this difficult period of time, so we thought it would be a good opportunity for officials to take courses on the Learning Center to brush up on their skills,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS executive director. “As a means of encouraging more people to take advantage of this time at home, the NFHS is offering officiating courses for free until July 1.
“In addition to […]
03/19/20- Spring Sport-Activity Tryout Window Postponed
The KHSAA was made aware of communication sent to member schools from Varsity Spirit (specifically Universal Cheer Association and Universal Dance Association) about “virtual tryouts”. This notification was not approved by the KHSAA and as a reminder, the Athletic Dead Period that has been instituted for all sports and sport-activities in Kentucky because of the Covid-19 virus would preclude this type of tryout. No matter where held, this would then implicitly or explicitly imply mandatory participation by students and evaluation by coaches.
As previously stated, “all sports and sport-activities, regardless of season, are declared to be in a dead period.” In consultation with the Governor, Public Health Officials and the Kentucky Department of Education, an evaluation will be made for the period going forward.” No tryouts or “virtual tryouts” may take place until further notice.
The information related to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) is ever-evolving, and changes happen quickly. We will inform all stakeholders if there […]
03/18/20- Refund Options, 2020 Girls’ and Boys’ State Basketball Tournaments
Today (March 18) should have been a day of celebration. Newly crowned Mingua Beef Jerky/KHSAA girls’ state tournament champions and other participants should have been celebrating in their local communities. Downtown Lexington and the entire state should have been abuzz as the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ State Basketball Tournament played its first round. But such was not to be the case. Events totally beyond the control of everyone involved led to the determination that it would not be safe to conduct the remainder of the Mingua Beef Jerky girls’ event or conduct any of the Whitaker Bank boys’ event.
We know that many of you are as disappointed as we are. You had planned for months on the annual celebration of basketball in our Commonwealth. And while the cancelation (Ticketmaster term becessary to permit refunds) represents nothing less than a financial disaster for the Association, finances certainly could not be the determinant in our action steps. […]
03/16/20- Update on KHSAA Office Opening/Closing and Staff Availability
In partnership with our State Department of Education, the Governor’s office, our member schools, the NFHS and similar to many other state associations, KHSAA staff has been directed to work remotely from home until at least April 10 (revised 4/2/20). Administrators will available via email. Our hope is to return to the office for regular hours later in April, however, this is a very fluid situation and could change at any time. Updates will be posted online.
As of now and through at least May 1, all activity by rostered participants, coaches and those who have participated in at least one practice session for a middle or high school remain shut down as do all athletic facilities in control of our membership. As we all work together, everyone is hopeful to contain the spread of this virus. Staff will communicate any changes to future events through social media and the KHSAA website.
Closer to May […]
03/13/20- Spring Football Practice Eliminated for 2020 for High and Middle Schools
This is being distributed to all KHSAA member schools through the Principal, Superintendent, Athletic Director, Designated Representative. This notice also applies to any middle school (any participants grade 5-8 competing in any way with students enrolled in grades 6-8) with a football team in Kentucky. Superintendents are asked to forward this information to all possible middle school representatives to ensure accurate communication.
Effective immediately, the allowances contained in Bylaw 23 for high schools as well as 702 KAR 7:065 for middle schools, that allow for spring football, are hereby eliminated for the 2020 spring period. At all levels, no protective equipment may be issued to players at any time and for any purpose prior to the last academic day of the school year. This includes helmets, shoulder pads, any other player equipment, and all practice equipment such as dummies, pads and other drill gear.
In addition, there is also no allowance for […]
03/12/20- Girls’ and Boys’ State Basketball Tournaments Suspended Indefinitely
Based on additional information and guidance from both the Kentucky Department of Education and the Governor’s office in the last hour, at this time, the girls’ state tournament is postponed indefinitely effective with the conclusion of game five. Next week’s boys’ basketball tournament is also postponed indefinitely. The Association will try and seek options for rescheduling later in the spring if at all possible, but not until after we have received collaborative approval from our Governor’s office, the Commissioner of Public Health and the Kentucky Department of Education.
As has been stated for the last two weeks, the situation with the COVID-19 or Coronavirus is extremely fluid. As announced earlier today, our intention was to attempt to complete this first tournament with restrictions, however, this does not appear to be a wise option at this time and is not in the best interest of the student-athletes and the thousands of individuals who attend these events. […]
03/10/20 – Mingua Beef Jerky/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16® Begins Wednesday at Rupp Arena
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 10, 2020
The 2020 Mingua Beef Jerky/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16® (March 11-15) gets underway Wednesday afternoon at Rupp Arena when Elizabethtown faces Bullitt East at 12 p.m. Fans can follow all the action through live webcasts at KHSAA.tv or listen to the games online at KHSAA.net. The games will also be carried statewide across 49 stations through the Kentucky Utilities/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen® Radio Network, with the championship game airing locally in Lexington on iHeart Media’s Rewind 105.5 FM.
All 15 games of the Girls’ Sweet 16® will be webcast live at KHSAA.tv for subscribers to the NFHS Network (https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/), with subscription plans available for $10.99 a month. A monthly subscription, priced less than the cost of admission to a state championship event, entitles users to every broadcast by the KHSAA and the more than 45 participating state associations. Viewers who subscribe for the Girls’ Sweet 16® will […]
03/09/20 – Tim Couch Selected To 2020 Class of NFHS National High School Hall of Fame
Seven Former Standout High School Athletes Headline 2020 Class of National High School Hall of Fame
Matt Holliday, Alex English, Dave Logan, Tim Couch, Maicel (Malone) Green, Karyn Bye Dietz, Michele Smith Slated for Induction
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (March 9, 2020) – Seven outstanding former high school athletes highlight the 2020 class of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National High School Hall of Fame, including three who went on to earn gold medals in the Olympics and four others who excelled in professional football, basketball and baseball.
Joining the seven former athletes in this year’s class are three highly successful high school coaches, one former state association administrator and one speech and debate coach in the performing arts area. The 12 honorees will be inducted July 1 at the 38th induction ceremony of the National High School Hall of Fame, which will be held at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Denver, Colorado.
[…]03/08/20- Statement on Ongoing KHSAA Activities and the COVID-19 (Corona) Virus
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) is aware and continues to monitor the issues with COVID-19 (Coronavirus). We are keenly aware of the recently declared emergency status and the primary purpose for which those declarations were made, to enable and expedite federal assistance with state and local efforts. We will review any new developments and listen to medical experts as they advise not only the KHSAA but our Commonwealth and country on alternative next steps. We will work with our member schools and our host facilities to take every precaution to ensure a healthy and safe environment for everyone involved.
The last 96 hours have been particularly intense and nearly 24/7 for myself as Commissioner as well as others in communication with our office, with a continual review of information and advisories. We will continue to rely heavily on the information from the CDC and state and local health representatives while monitoring all available […]
03/05/20- Upcoming traffic changes on Upper Street and Avenue of Champions
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 4, 2020) – Lexington visitors and commuters will notice traffic changes in the University of Kentucky area soon. Avenue of Champions, from South Limestone to Lexington Avenue, will be restricted to one-way traffic beginning Monday, March 9. The intersection of South Upper and Winslow streets will be closed starting at 7 p.m., Friday, March 13, through the weekend. These temporary changes are needed to facilitate sewer line construction.
Starting March 9, Avenue of Champions will be one-way westbound (toward Limestone), beginning at Lexington Avenue. The car and bike lane on the south (Gatton Student Center) side of Avenue of Champions will be fenced off, and closed for sewer construction. Traffic from Limestone will not be able to turn right onto Avenue of Champions, and must use Maxwell Street as a detour.
See map of detour to Fayette Mall area from downtown (both events)
[…]02/19/20 – Board of Control Votes to Keep Field Hockey as a KHSAA-Sanctioned Sport
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 19, 2020
The Board of Control approved a motion during Wednesday’s meeting at the KHSAA Offices for the Association to continue offering Field Hockey as a sanctioned-sport. The vote followed a planned review and evaluation of the feasibility and growth of field hockey and preliminary discussion during the Board’s January meeting.
Included in the rationale for continuing to sanction field hockey were the facts that (1) there is no negative financial impact for the Association, and (2) the sport had been played for nearly 50 years when the KHSAA first adopted it as a sanctioned championship in 2014. In addition to continuing to sanction field hockey, the motion included a visible commitment from the Association to attempt to promote and monitor growth, and regular reporting to the Board, as well as an amendment to the sanctioning policy to be drafted to allow the Board to make an exception to its required […]
02/19/20 – Pannell Swim Shop/KHSAA State Swimming & Diving Championships Head to UK Thursday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 19, 2020
The Pannell Swim Shop/KHSAA State Swimming & Diving Championships will have a different look this year, with the event moving to the Lancaster Aquatic Center on the University of Kentucky campus. The state swim meet was last held at the Lancaster Aquatic Center in 2006 and spent the last 13 years at the University of Louisville’s Ralph Wright Natatorium.
Fans attending this week’s Pannell Swim Shop/KHSAA State Swimming & Diving Championships should be advised that backpacks may not be brought into the Lancaster Aquatics Center by the general public per campus policy (http://bit.ly/38IVMou).
On Thursday, parking will only be available in the Purple Lots located on Wildcat Court next to the Softball and Soccer Complex. After 2 p.m. ET, parking will also be available in the Green Lot next to Kroger Field off Cooper Drive.
On Friday and Saturday, fans will be able to park in the Green […]
02/18/20 – 2020 Sweet 16® Online Media Credentialing System
The media credentialing system for the 2020 Mingua Beef Jerky/KHSAA Girls’ and Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen® State Basketball Tournaments is now available online, and can be accessed by going to credentials.khsaa.org. Both of this year’s events will be held at Rupp Arena, with the girls playing March 11-15, followed by the boys’ tournament March 18-22.
The deadline to apply for credentials is 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to each respective tournament – March 9 for the Girls’ Sweet 16® and March 16 for the Boys.
OWNERSHIP OF MEDIA AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
The intellectual property, corporate, broadcasting and media rights to all State championship rounds of the KHSAA postseason championships belong exclusively to the KHSAA, including titling agreements and sponsorships. As such, the KHSAA is the only entity permitted to originate a live broadcast during the Sweet 16® (this includes the use of social media streaming platforms such […]
02/11/20 – KHSAA.tv to Carry State Wrestling Championships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2020
The 2020 KHSAA State Wrestling Championships, which begin Friday morning at Alltech Arena, will be broadcast by Trackwrestling this year and available at KHSAA.tv for subscribers to the NFHS Network. Tickets to the State Wrestling Championships are available for purchase online at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA, including a discounted online-only $30 all-session pass.
Gates open for fans at 8:30 a.m. on Friday with the first round matches commencing at 9:30 a.m. Friday’s opening session will continue through the third round of the championship bracket (bouts 1-616). Saturday’s opening session begins with third round consolation bracket matches at 9 a.m., and continues through the sixth round consolation bracket matches (bouts 785-812).
The medal round session is scheduled to begin with the KWCA awards at 3 p.m. followed by the consolation bracket finals for third, fifth and seventh place. Upon conclusion of the consolation bracket finals, the competitors in the finals will […]
02/06/20 – Additional Timing Changes on Play Clock Approved in High School Football Rules
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 6, 2020) — In an effort to eliminate a potential timing advantage gained by the defensive team in high school football, the play clock will be set to 40 seconds – effective with the 2020 season – when an official’s time-out is taken for an injury to a defensive player or a defensive player has an equipment issue.
This change was one of six rules revisions recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee at its January 12-14 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Last year, in an effort to establish a more consistent time period between downs, the play clock was expanded from 25 seconds to 40 seconds in many cases, although the play clock remained at 25 seconds in most cases following an official’s time-out. However, this coming season, the play clock will be set […]
02/06/20- Deadline Extended for 2019-2020 Seeded Basketball District Games
It goes without saying that many schools have missed many days of school recently. While little has been for the weather, when we have likely half of our school districts out of school at various points these last two weeks for illness, it is obvious that basketball has taken a second seat.
For that reason, and based solely on these extenuating circumstances this season only, the deadline for playing in seeded district games has been extended to THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20. This will no doubt cause hardship on some of our managers who will only have one business day for final arrangements, including brackets. However, it is apparent that this is a necessary step.
Any game not played by February 20 is to be counted as both a win and a loss for both teams in figuring the winning percentages for district seeding. This procedure has long existed in the Competition rules and was designed for […]
02/04/20 – State Bowling Championships Begin Thursday at Executive Strike & Spare
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 2020
The ninth-annual KHSAA State Bowling Championships begin Thursday at Executive Strike & Spare in Louisville with the Unified, Adapted and Singles competitions. The Unified Championship, which is in its fourth year as a KHSAA offering, and the second Adapted Championship open the day’s festivities at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Boys’ and Girls’ Singles Championship at 11:30 a.m. Advanced tickets to the event can be purchased at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
The Unified Championship will consist of one qualifying game for seeding followed by baker’s doubles matches throughout a 16-team bracket. The Adapted Championship will feature one qualifying game for seeding prior to head-to-head competition. For the Boys’ and Girls’ Singles Championship, each competitor will bowl three games before the field is trimmed to the top eight individuals. The top eight will then roll two additional games, with the top four boys’ and top four girls’ performers advancing to the step […]
01/30/20 – Official of the Year Winner Announced for Football
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2020
Following the completion of the 2019 KHSAA Football season, the Association has chosen the finalists for the sport’s Official of the Year Award. Of the 938 licensed officials in football, Shaun Williams (Lewisport), Jordan Tarrence (Lexington) and Gary Wise (Louisville) were chosen as finalists with Williams selected as the 2019 KHSAA Football Official of the Year.
The KHSAA will honor the top licensed officials for the 2019-20 season during the course of the year, with the honorees for each sport chosen in the weeks immediately following each respective sport’s championship. Finalists in each sport are selected through a combination of not only on-field/court performance but local association activity and leadership, training efforts and the mentoring of newer officials.
One official in each sport will be named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. Winners […]
01/28/20 – Sweet 16® Draw Show to Air February 11th on CW Lexington, KHSAA.tv
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 28, 2020
Pairings for the 2020 Mingua Beef Jerky/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen® and the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen® will be unveiled on Tuesday, Feb. 11th at 1 p.m. (ET) when the annual Sweet 16® Draw Show is televised by The CW Lexington. The Sweet 16® Draw Show will also be streamed live online at KHSAA.tv and WKYT.com.
The 59th Girls’ Sweet 16® will be held March 11-15 with the 103rd installment of the boys’ basketball state tournament taking place the following week (March 18-22). Both tournaments will be played at Rupp Arena for the second year, with ticket information available at KHSAA.org in the coming days.
Each game of the boys’ and girls’ Sweet 16® will be webcast live at khsaa.tv for subscribers to the NFHS Network. By purchasing a month pass to the NFHS Network, fans can watch all 30 games of the girls’ and boys’ Sweet 16® […]
01/27/20 – PlayVS/KHSAA Esports Winter State Championship Decided Thursday at UK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 27, 2020
State Champions will be crowned in Rocket League and League of Legends on Thursday, Jan. 30 when the PlayVS/KHSAA Esports Winter State Championship takes place at the Gatton Student Center on the University of Kentucky campus.
The Rocket League finals are set for 4 p.m. and will feature Shelby County’s “Rockets Gold Squad” taking on Graves County’s “Leverage Esports” team. The League of Legends championship will follow at 5:30 p.m., with Elizabethtown’s “E-Town Panthers” squaring off against Lafayette’s “Generals (A)”.
Admission is free to the esports state championship, which will be held in Ballroom B&C at the Gatton Student Center. Those unable to attend Thursday’s championship can watch the event live online through the NFHS Network or Twitch.tv (https://www.twitch.tv/playvs).
This is the second year esports has been a KHSAA-sanctioned sport activity. Boyle County claimed the inaugural League of Legends state title during the 2019 winter season, with […]
01/23/20 – Winter Sports Championship Credentials
The KHSAA’s online media credentialing system for the Winter Sports Championships (Bowling, Wrestling, Swimming & Diving) is now live, and can be accessed by going to credentials.khsaa.org.
Credentials to each KHSAA state championship event are issued by the KHSAA to working members of the media that regularly cover high school athletics. Credentials must be requested prior to the established deadline for each sport through the online credentialing system (credentials.khsaa.org).
Credentials should be requested by the sports editor/director for all members of his/her organization needing to attend an event. Credentials for freelance photographers and stringers must be requested by the sports editor/director at the outlet the freelancer will be representing. Media outlets are responsible for the actions of all individuals representing their organization, including compliance with KHSAA policies and procedures. No credentials will be issued outside of the online credentialing system. The KHSAA reserves the right to limit the quantity of credentials issued to […]
01/16/20 – 2018-19 National Coaches of the Year Selected by NFHS Coaches Association
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (January 16, 2020)— Twenty-three high school coaches from across the country have been selected as 2019 National Coaches of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association.
The NFHS, which has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982, honors coaches in the top 10 girls sports and top 10 boys sports (by participation numbers), and in two “other” sports – one for boys and one for girls – that are not included in the top 10 listings. The NFHS also recognizes a spirit coach as a separate award category. Winners of NFHS awards must be active coaches during the year for which they receive their award. This year’s awards recognize coaches for the 2018-19 school year.
Recipients of this year’s national awards for boys sports are: Glenn Cecchini, baseball, Lake Charles (Louisiana) Alfred M. Barbe High School; J.R. Holmes, basketball, Bloomington (Indiana) South High School; […]
01/16/20 – Board Approves Site and Date for Esports Championship, Approves Extensive Survey of Officials’ Fees, Reviews Ongoing Operations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 16, 2020
The Board of Control addressed several operational issues at its meeting at the KHSAA offices on Thursday. Among the actionable items on the agenda, the Board approved an offer from the University of Kentucky to host the upcoming esports state championship and approved the movement of five schools in Track & Field, as well as Cross Country, for the 2020-21 school year.
The University of Kentucky has offered to host the upcoming esports state championship on Jan. 30 and the Board accepted that proposal. UK has made a substantial investment into its Gatton Student Center as it expands its involvement in the world of competitive gaming.
“We are grateful to UK for reaching out to us to host a championship event in esports this year, allowing our competition and its participants to continue to receive outstanding support, ” said Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Their new facility is outstanding and will […]
01/09/20 – Mingua Beef Jerky Becomes Title Sponsor of KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16®
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 9, 2020
Mingua Beef Jerky, family-owned in Kentucky since 1994, has become the title sponsor of the KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16® beginning with the 2020 tournament. The agreement expands the existing corporate partnership between Mingua and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association which started last year when the Bourbon County-based company came on as a Silver Level partner. The increased corporate support moves Mingua to Gold Level status with the KHSAA, another symbol of their commitment to interscholastic athletics and Kentucky’s young people.
As a company that takes pride in its tasty Kentucky jerky that includes no preservatives or nitrates and uses real meat that is never chopped or formed, Mingua is showcasing its Kentucky pride even further by becoming the title sponsor of the state’s highest level of girls’ basketball competition.
“Mingua […]
12/19/19 – Initial Basketball Stat Leader Reports Released
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 19, 2019
The first statistical leader reports of the 2019-20 season for girls’ and boys’ basketball have been posted at KHSAA.org. The leader reports will be updated every day at approximately 3 a.m., and will include all teams missing stats for no more than two games.
Statistical entry is required of all member schools, and those failing to meet the requirement to enter stats are subject to penalties from the Commissioner, including fines and other actions within the constraints of Bylaw 27. Member schools are solely responsible for submitting statistical information. If a school or individual is omitted, or information is not updated, that means the team in question did not update its statistics through the KHSAA’s online system prior to the deadline.
The requirement to enter statistics, which has been in place for several years, was reiterated to coaches during the online rules clinic. Statistical entry has the benefit of […]
12/18/19 – KHSAA State Dance Championships Set for Saturday at Valley HS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2019
The third KHSAA State Dance Championships will take place Saturday at Valley High School in Louisville, with the Jazz Small, Hip Hop Large, Pom Large and Jazz Large divisions competing at 9 a.m. The second session will feature the Hip Hop Small and Pom Small divisions and is scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m. Advance tickets to the event are available for purchase online at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
The KHSAA State Dance Championships will be webcast live at KHSAA.tv for subscribers to the NFHS Network. Subscription plans for the NFHS Network are available for $10.99 a month and entitle users to every broadcast by the KHSAA and the more than 45 participating state associations.
Results will be posted to the Dance page at KHSAA.org upon the conclusion of each session. Following the event, fans can purchase DVD copies of the event and official championship photos at KHSAA.org.
12/11/19 – Competitive Cheer Championships Head to Alltech Arena Saturday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2019
The eighth annual KHSAA State Competitive Cheer Championships begin Saturday, Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. with the All-Girls Small, All-Girls Medium and Game Day Divisions at Alltech Arena. The afternoon session is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. with the All-Girls Large, All-Girls Super and Coed competitions.
Tickets to the KHSAA State Competitive Cheer Championships are available for purchase online at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA. Doors will open for fans at 8 a.m. and those planning to attend should be advised that the Kentucky Horse Park charges $5 for parking.
The KHSAA Competitive Cheer Championships will be webcast live at KHSAA.tv for subscribers to the NFHS Network. Subscription plans for the NFHS Network are available for $10.99 a month. A monthly subscription, priced less than the cost of admission to a state championship event, entitles users to every broadcast by the KHSAA and the more than 45 participating state […]
12/04/19 – UK Orthopaedics/KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl Broadcast Info
For Immediate Release: December 4, 2019
The 2019 UK Orthopaedics/KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl gets underway Friday afternoon at Kroger Field when the first of six championship games slated for this weekend kicks off at 2 p.m. Live webcasts of all six games will be available at KHSAA.tv for subscribers to the NFHS Network, with a free audio broadcast available at KHSAA.net. Single-game tickets are available for purchase online at http://bit.ly/2DDfFj4.
Championship action begins Friday when Paintsville (11-3) takes on Pikeville (13-0) in the 1A Championship at 2 p.m., followed by Bell County (14-0) versus Belfry (10-3) in the 3A Championship at 7 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule opens with the 2A Championship at 1 p.m., as Mayfield (13-1) squares off against Somerset (13-1). The second game of the day will pit Boyle County (14-0) against Johnson Central (14-0) in the 4A Championship at 4:30 p.m., with Covington Catholic (14-0) facing Frederick Douglass (14-0) in […]
11/27/19 – Official of the Year Winner Announced for Volleyball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 27, 2019
Following the completion of the 2019 KHSAA Volleyball season, the Association has chosen the finalists for the sport’s Official of the Year Award. Of the 559 licensed officials in volleyball, Mike Wooten (Paducah) and Doug Grinnell (Elizabethtown) were chosen as finalists with Wooten selected as the 2019 KHSAA Volleyball Official of the Year.
The KHSAA will honor the top licensed officials for the 2019-20 season during the course of the year, with the honorees for each sport chosen in the weeks immediately following each respective sport’s championship. Finalists in each sport are selected through a combination of not only on-field/court performance but local association activity and leadership, training efforts and the mentoring of newer officials.
One official in each sport will be named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. Winners are selected following […]
11/26/19 – Official of the Year Winner Announced for Soccer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 26, 2019
Following the completion of the 2019 KHSAA Soccer season, the Association has chosen the finalists for the sport’s Official of the Year Award. Of the 525 licensed officials in soccer, Terry Linscott (Radcliff) and Gustavo Turmero (Madisonville) were chosen as finalists with Linscott selected as the 2019 KHSAA Soccer Official of the Year.
The KHSAA will honor the top licensed officials for the 2019-20 season during the course of the year, with the honorees for each sport chosen in the weeks immediately following each respective sport’s championship. Finalists in each sport are selected through a combination of not only on-field/court performance but local association activity and leadership, training efforts and the mentoring of newer officials.
One official in each sport will be named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. Winners are selected following […]
11/26/19 – Official of the Year Winner Announced for Field Hockey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 26, 2019
Following the completion of the 2019 KHSAA Field Hockey season, the Association has chosen the finalists for the sport’s Official of the Year Award. Of the 43 licensed officials in field hockey, Megan McGrath (Louisville) and Jamie Gatewood (Louisville) were chosen as finalists with McGrath selected as the 2019 KHSAA Field Hockey Official of the Year.
The KHSAA will honor the top licensed officials for the 2019-20 season during the course of the year, with the honorees for each sport chosen in the weeks immediately following each respective sport’s championship. Finalists in each sport are selected through a combination of not only on-field/court performance but local association activity and leadership, training efforts and the mentoring of newer officials.
One official in each sport will be named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. Winners […]
11/22/19-Applications Being Accepted for Louis Stout Memorial Scholarships for 19-20
When former Commissioner Louis Stout passed away in 2012, his widow Anna directed that donations on his behalf go to the Louis Stout Memorial Fund for Students. She felt this was a chance for the KHSAA to honor student-athletes who excel in athletics, academics, school service and community service. The award process for 2019-2020 is now underway.
Applications are being accepted for students to apply for those awards through Friday, February 29, 2020. The award winners will be announced in conjunction with the boys’ state basketball tournament in March. Two grants, each in the amount of a one-time scholarship of $2,000 payable to an institution of higher learning, will be awarded. The scholarship is not renewable and is not endowed for expansion. Minimum criteria is a 3.5 (converted to 4.0 scale) grade point average; involvement in varsity sports or sport-activities; involvement in other school activities, a record of community service/involvement and a member of the […]
11/19/19 – Board Reviews Fall Sports Championships and Ongoing Operations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 19, 2019
The Board of Control conducted a lengthy review of the recently completed fall sports and each respective championship, while also discussing ongoing operations and issues during the course of its meeting at the KHSAA Offices on Tuesday. Among the actionable items in the meeting, the Board addressed the format of the Swimming & Diving postseason meets and the future placement for Sayre football.
Over the last few years, staff received multiple requests to restructure region diving competitions due in part to facility issues and a shortage of qualified judges without a connection to a specific school. The situation was exacerbated by the expansion to 40 qualifiers in the state diving competition, with 22 at-large participants potentially leading to competitive issues if there is a perception that the judges are not consistent and objective at each meet.
Following a survey of the membership, 75% of respondents voted in favor of […]
2019 KHSAA State Football Tickets Availability
Class 1A, 12/6, 2 pm ET
TBA vs TBA
Click Here to Purchase Single Game Tickets for the Class 1A game (includes parking)
TBA vs. TBA
Class 3A, 12/6, 7 pm ET
TBA vs TBA
Click Here to Purchase Single Game Tickets for the Class 3A game (includes parking)
TBA vs. TBA
Class 2A, 12/7, 1 pm ET
TBA vs TBA
Click Here to Purchase Single Game Tickets for the Class 2A game (includes parking)
TBA vs. TBA
For Class 4A, 12/7, 4:30 pm ET
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11/01/19- UK Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Seeks Nominations for Kentucky Comeback Athletes of the Year
UK Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, through its partnership with the KHSAA, seeks nominations for the Kentucky Comeback Athletes of the Year. This year, winners will be named for both male and female comeback athletes. Athletes should meet the following criteria:
- The nominee must have overcome illness or injury that affected their ability to participate in KHSAA sanctioned sports.
- The nominee must have returned to their sport(s) and demonstrated excellence and achievement beyond expectations.
- The nominee must consistently demonstrate good sportsmanship and ethical behavior on and off the playing field.
- The nominee must be in verified good academic standing with their school.
- The nominee must have participated and been a member of an athletic team during the 2018-2019 academic year.
- Nominations shall be submitted by January 15, 2020, to the KHSAA through the link at http://khsaa.org/ge36-uk-healthcare-comeback-athlete-of-the-year/.
Nominees will be automatically forwarded to UK HealthCare and the Sports Medicine Staff for review and selection.
[…]11/06/19 – UK Healthcare Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Becomes Title Sponsor of KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2019
UK Healthcare Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine has expanded its corporate partnership with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association with a four-year agreement to become the title sponsor of the Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl State Football Championships. UK Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, which has been a long-time partner of the Association, provides top of the line sports medicine and athletic training services at all KHSAA Championship events in the Lexington area. UK Healthcare and UK Ortho’s increased corporate support elevates it to Platinum Level partner status with the Association, on par with Whitaker Bank and Spalding, the two existing Platinum Level partners. The arrangement also includes naming rights for the 2019 UK Orthopaedics/KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl through the 2022 championships.
“UK Orthopaedics is honored to provide athletic training and medical care […]
11/06/19- High School Football Playoffs—A Community Happening
By Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and Julian Tackett, Commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
Many people would agree that their years in high school were some of the best years of their lives—particularly those individuals who were members of a sports team or participated in other activities such as the marching band or debate team.
In many cases, team members become lifelong friends. Reunion parties are held from time to time as teammates return to remember the fun—more so than the outcome of games or events—they had while participating in high school activities. Quite often, reunions for sports teams are staged during the highlight of each sports season—the state playoffs.
And as the calendar turns to November, there is nothing like the excitement of high school football playoffs in cities across Kentucky and throughout the nation every Friday night as the fall sports season […]
11/05/19 – State Volleyball Tournament Begins Friday in Louisville
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 5, 2019
The 2019 KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament gets underway Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. when Henderson County takes on Greenwood at Valley High School. The last of eight opening round matches will take place at 8 p.m. with Rowan County facing Corbin. Advanced tickets for the state tournament, including a discounted online-only all-session pass, can be purchased at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
The state tournament resumes Saturday morning with quarterfinal action starting at 10 a.m., followed by the semifinals beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday night. The championship match will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
The Semifinals and Championship of the 2019 KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament will be webcast live at KHSAA.tv through the NFHS Network, which is a subscription-based service. Subscription plans for the NFHS Network are available for $10.99 a month. A monthly subscription, priced less than the cost of admission to a state championship event, entitles users to […]
10/31/19 – Dawahares/KHSAA Hall Of Fame Class Of 2020 Inductees Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2019
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association will induct its Class of 2020 into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame presented by Roberts Insurance on Saturday, May 30, 2020, at the Embassy Suites Lexington. This year’s 12-member class will be the 33rd inducted into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame, and consists of former high school coaches, athletes, officials, administrators, and contributors. The Class of 2020 will also be recognized during the semifinals of the 2020 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16®. The induction of the 12-member Class of 2020 will bring the total number of honorees in the Hall of Fame to 491.
Nominations for the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame are always welcome and can be submitted by filling out the online form available at http://bit.ly/2K6vrUX.
CHARLIE ADKINS (Coach / Paintsville) – Charlie Adkins coached baseball in the 15th Region for 34 years, amassing a career record of 805-293 with 20 […]
10/30/19 – KHSAA State Cross Country Championships Set For Saturday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 30, 2019
The KHSAA State Cross Country Championships return to the Kentucky Horse Park this Saturday with the first race of the day slated for 9:30 a.m. A full meet schedule is available on the KHSAA website at http://bit.ly/2JA6Tpf, with advance tickets available for purchase at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
The 1A Girls’ race opens the day’s festivities at 9:30 a.m., followed by the 1A Boys at 10:15 a.m. The Class 2A meet will follow with the girls at 11:30 a.m. and the boys at 12:15 p.m. The 3A Girls’ Championship is set for 1:30 p.m., with the 3A Boys closing out the day’s events at 2:15 p.m.
Results will be posted at KHSAA.org following the conclusion of each race. Official championship photos will be available at khsaaphotos.org within 72 hours of the event.
For more information on each championship, visit the links below:
2019 KHSAA State Cross Country […]
10/29/19 – KHSAA State Soccer Championships Head To Bryan Station HS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 29, 2019
The 2019 KHSAA State Soccer Championships culminate this week with the semifinals and finals at Bryan Station High School. Each game will be broadcast live by KHSAA.tv as part of the NFHS Network, with advance tickets available for purchase at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
Boys’ Semifinal action gets underway Wednesday evening when East Carter (19-3-1) takes on Daviess County (20-2-2) at 6 p.m., followed by Oldham County (16-5-1) versus Henry Clay (23-1-3) at 8 p.m. The Girls’ Semifinals are set for Thursday evening, with Ashland Blazer (20-0-2) facing Greenwood (21-2-3) at 6 p.m., and Sacred Heart (24-1-2) squaring off against Highlands (19-3-5) at 8 p.m.
Both tournaments conclude Saturday, Nov. 2 with the boys’ championship slated for 6 p.m. and the girls’ final set for 8 p.m. The semifinals and finals will be webcast live at KHSAA.tv through the NFHS Network, which is a subscription-based service.
Subscription plans for the […]
10/25/19 – Field Hockey State Semifinals Set For Saturday In Louisville
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2019
The sixth annual KHSAA State Field Hockey Tournament resumes Saturday evening with the Semifinals heading to Christian Academy-Lou. The first match of the night at Centurion Stadium will pit DuPont Manual (18-4-4) against Christian Academy-Lou. (15-6-1) at 6 p.m., followed by Sacred Heart (21-7) versus Assumption (15-10-1) at 7:45 p.m. Tickets to the 2019 KHSAA State Field Hockey Tournament can be purchased online at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
The 2019 State Field Hockey Tournament concludes Monday evening at Centurion Field with the championship match at 7 p.m. Live stats for each game will be available on the Field Hockey page at KHSAA.org, with box scores posted following the completion of each match. Monday’s championship will be webcast live at KHSAA.tv through the NFHS Network, which is a subscription-based service.
Subscription plans for the NFHS Network are available for $10.99 a month. A monthly subscription, priced less than the cost of […]
Kentucky High School Scoreboard Show
The Kentucky High School Scoreboard Show airs every Friday night starting at 10 p.m. (ET). The Scoreboard Show recaps all of the night’s action from across the Bluegrass. The show can be heard online at WLAP.com, or via WLAP Radio 630 through the IHeart radio app.
You can listen to the Kentucky High School Scoreboard Show at any time on any device by downloading the podcast. Simply go to WLAP.com, click “On Demand Podcast”, and scroll down to Kentucky High School Scoreboard hours 1 and 2.
CALLS CITY FREQUENCY WCLU AM/FM GLASGOW 1490/102.3 WHOP AM/FM HOPKINSVILLE 1230/95.3 FM WLAP AM LEXINGTON 630 WKRD LOUISVILLE 790 WMSK AM/WMSK FM MORGANFIELD 1550/101.3 More
10/04/19 – Leachman/KHSAA State Golf Championships Begin Tuesday in Bowling Green
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 4, 2019
The fall championship season gets underway next week when the Bowling Green Country Club hosts the 2019 Leachman Buick•GMC•Cadillac/KHSAA State Golf Championships (Oct. 7-12). The girls’ tournament begins at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8 with the opening round, followed by the second 18 holes on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The boys’ championship opens with first round action on Friday, Oct. 11, with the final 18 holes slated for Saturday, Oct. 12.
Lexington Christian Academy will look to repeat as girls’ team champion after claiming the 2018 state title with a 639 total (324-315) led by individual medalist Laney Frye (72-74 – 146). On the boys’ side, Taylor County will also try to repeat as team champions after capturing the school’s first state title in 2018 with a 592 total (294-298) – edging St. Xavier by two strokes (291-303 – 594). John Marshall Butler (Trinity (Lou.)) enters the 2019 championship […]
10/01/19 – Fall Draw Show Set For Wednesday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 1, 2019
The matchups for the 2019 KHSAA Field Hockey, Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer, and Volleyball State Tournaments will be revealed Wednesday, October 2nd when the annual Fall Championship Draw Show is conducted at the KHSAA Offices at 1 p.m. The Draw Show will be broadcast live online by KHSAA.tv through the NFHS Network.
The 2019 KHSAA Field Hockey State Tournament begins Thursday, October 24th with quarterfinal matchups on campus sites. The semifinals and championship will be played Saturday, October 26th and Monday, October 28th at Christian Academy-Louisville.
The 2019 KHSAA State Soccer Championships open with the semi-state matches on Oct. 21-22, followed by the quarterfinals on campus sites from Oct. 24-26. The semifinals (Oct. 30-31) and finals (Nov. 2) will move to Lexington and be played at a Fayette County Public School.
The KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament will be held at Valley High School in Louisville for the eighth-straight […]
09/30/19 – Official KHSAA RPI Rankings Unveiled
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2019
The first official KHSAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) Rankings are now available on the Association’s website (https://khsaa.org/rpi-ratings-percentage-index/) following a thorough development and implementation process. Approved by the Board of Control in January of 2018, the RPI will be incorporated into the football competition rules as a means of seeding Rounds 3, 4, 5. The RPI is simply an informational tool in the other team sports and is provided as a means to increase publicity, interest and promotion.
“It has been an important period the last few weeks experimenting with output formats and screen layouts, while determining what documents were needed to ensure both transparency and replicability. We have continually stressed that as the only official results source, any other data outside of our website should be regarded with skepticism,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “We are very thankful to our friends with the Colorado High School Athletic Association […]
09/27/19 – Fall Sports Championship Media Credentials
The KHSAA’s online media credentialing system for the Spring Sports Championships (Golf, Field Hockey, Soccer, Cross Country, Volleyball, Football, Competitive Cheer and Dance) is now live, and can be accessed by going to credentials.khsaa.org.
Credentials to each KHSAA state championship event are issued by the KHSAA to working members of the media that regularly cover high school athletics. Credentials must be requested prior to the established deadline for each sport through the online credentialing system (credentials.khsaa.org).
Credentials should be requested by the sports editor/director for all members of his/her organization needing to attend an event. Credentials for freelance photographers and stringers must be requested by the sports editor/director at the outlet the freelancer will be representing. Media outlets are responsible for the actions of all individuals representing their organization, including compliance with KHSAA policies and procedures. No credentials will be issued outside of the online credentialing system. The KHSAA reserves the right to […]
09/23/19- KHSAA and Midway University Expand Student-Athlete Awards Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 2019
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association and Midway University are expanding their partnership in the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year Awards program to include recognition for males beginning in the fall of 2019. The program originally began in the spring of 2016 as a way for Midway University to honor female student-athletes, and will now include male and female student-athletes for all KHSAA-sanctioned sports and sport-activities.
“We value our partnership with the KHSAA as we expand our on-campus offerings to include male students and male sports and look forward to continuing to get our message out across the Commonwealth to even more student-athletes and potential students,” said Midway University President John P. Marsden, Ph.D.
“It is exciting to expand our relationship with Midway University to coincide with its own expansion of sports offerings,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “This was already a tremendous partnership through its effort to […]
09/19/19 – Board Approves Next Steps for Potential Lacrosse Sanctioning
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 19, 2019
The Board of Control approved a recommendation on Thursday to appoint a sport-specific focus group to study the sanctioning of boys’ and girls’ lacrosse following a survey of the membership. Earlier this month, the Association asked the designated representative for each member school to provide feedback on the possibilities of adding lacrosse as a sanctioned sport in either the fall or the spring. The membership responded positively that they would have a team and enter championship competition if the KHSAA were to conduct a spring lacrosse championship for both boys (56 votes) and girls (54 votes). Interest for a fall championship failed to meet the required 50-school threshold for further consideration.
Following review of the survey, the Board approved a recommendation from staff to form a focus group to confirm genuine interest in schools adding lacrosse should the KHSAA sanction a spring championship, with the earliest implementation being for […]
09/05/19 – Initial Stat Leader Reports Released for Football, Soccer, Volleyball and Field Hockey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 5, 2019
The first statistical leader reports of the season for football, boys’ and girls’ soccer, volleyball and field hockey have been posted at KHSAA.org. The leader reports will be updated every day at approximately 3 a.m., and will include all teams missing stats for no more than two games (one game in football).
The requirement to enter statistics in volleyball is new for 2019, and follows the addition of baseball, softball and field hockey stats to the KHSAA/Riherds.com Scoreboard during the 2018-19 academic year. Statistical entry, which is now available for all sports on the Scoreboard, has the benefit of allowing member schools to highlight and promote the accomplishments of their student-athletes, which should be a priority for all involved in school-based sports.
Statistical entry is required of all member schools, and those failing to meet the requirement to enter stats are subject to penalties, including fines and other actions […]
08/27/19 – Hype Student Leadership Conferences This Week in Lexington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 27, 2019
The 19th Annual KHSAA HYPE Student Leadership Conferences will be held this week at the Lexington Convention Center (Aug. 29-30). The conferences are a free service provided by the Association for student-athletes to learn teamwork exercises and sportsmanship initiatives, and discuss current issues.
The first conference will be held Thursday, Aug. 29 in the Bluegrass Ballroom at the Lexington Convention Center, with the second session taking place the following day (Friday, Aug. 30). Assisting with this year’s conference will be a group of four student-athletes that represented the KHSAA at the NFHS National Student Leadership Summit in July: Hannah Eastes (Fort Campbell), Mick Clines (Bishop Brossart), Lindey Lipe (Muhlenberg County) and Marcus Hay (Fort Campbell). In addition to helping facilitate this year’s conference, the group will help plan the 2020 HYPE Student Leadership Conference.
Topics for this year’s breakout sessions include seminars on Brain Mapping and Goal Setting (Omari […]
08/24/19- Parents and Adult Fans: The Biggest Challenge Facing High School Sports Today
By Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and Julian Tackett, Commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
Inappropriate adult behavior at high school athletic events in Kentucky and across the United States has reached epidemic proportion.
When more than 2,000 high school athletic directors were asked in a recent national survey what they like least about their job, 62.3% said it was “dealing with aggressive parents and adult fans.”
And the men and women who wear the black and white stripes agree. In fact, almost 80% of officials quit after the first two years on the job, and unruly parents are cited as the reason why. As a result, there is a growing shortage of high school officials here in Kentucky, and in some sports like wrestling, swimming, and track and field, the shortage is severe. No officials means no more games.
If you […]
06/21/19- Ferguson tabbed Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year for 2018-19
Ferguson tabbed Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year for 2018-19
June 21, 2019The third annual Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year program concluded when the award winners from the past year were invited to campus for a ceremony to announce the overall winner for 2018-19. It was announced at the ceremony that Maci Ferguson (tennis) of Russell High School was named the overall winner for 2018-19.
A 2018 graduate of Russell High School, Ferguson left a lasting impact in her time as a standout for the Red Devils. A two-time Doubles State Champion and a four-time All-State Tennis Team Selection, Ferguson helped lead the Red Devils to five consecutive Region Championships. She also is a three-time Region 16 Player of the Year who also won the 2017 Wendy’s Heisman Award.
Ferguson not only excelled on the court, but also in the classroom. While putting in many hours with lessons and travel on […]
07/18/19 – Student-Athlete Participation Reaches Record Levels Once Again
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2019
Student-athlete participation in Kentucky High School Athletic Association sports and sport-activities reached record levels in 2018-19 as 106,931 rostered participants competed across the KHSAA’s 13 sports and six sport-activities – surpassing last year’s then-record total of 106,241. Thirty-two percent of all student-athletes competed in multiple sports during the 2018-19 academic year, helping total KHSAA participation rise by 7,288 rostered participants from where it was six years ago (an increase of 6.8% since the 2012-13 season). Participant counts are cumulative among all KHSAA rosters and continue an upward trend in participation across the board according to the data submitted to the National Federation of State High Schools (NFHS) in Indianapolis.
Participation numbers have also been impacted over the last eight years by the addition of six sport-activities (Archery, Bass Fishing, Bowling, Competitive Cheer, Dance and esports) and the sport of Field Hockey. KHSAA participation in 2018-19 was also boosted by […]
07/17/19- Heat and Humidity Reminders for Member Schools Representatives
With temperatures rising across the state and predictions for record temperatures in the coming days, now is a good time to remind all of our school administrators and coaches of the requirements of the Heat Index and Heat Illness prevention program. The complete program is detailed at https://khsaa.org/common_documents/handbook/policies/policies-heatilllnesspolicy.pdf
No game or plan for a game or practice for a game is worth short-cutting this required procedure that is now more than fifteen years old. Nothing about the program has changed with the exception of the inclusion of the ability to use the wet bulb globe to monitor conditions, but with the turnover in coaches (and administrators) perhaps a few heat index and illness reminders are helpful:
- Heat index requirements and restrictions apply (and have always applied) to outdoor and indoor sports. In many cases during the summer, indoor practice areas (including gymnasiums) are set to be electronically controlled in terms of temperature and coaches […]
07/11/19 – Board Finalizes Golf Format; Addresses Tennis Championships and Future of Esports
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 11, 2019The Board of Control conducted its first organizational meeting of the 2019-20 academic year on Thursday in Covington, finalizing the format of the state golf tournament while also addressing the calendar for the state tennis championships and the future of esports.
After reviewing feedback following its earlier decision to change the team format to a four-person squad at the state tournament (which was a format of the tournament in past years), the Board of Control elected to revisit the issue at its July meeting. After significant discussion, the Board eventually settled on a final resolution to address its original concerns with the size of the field, match its boys and girls alignment, ensure all schools have an opportunity to participate in the championship regardless of squad size and complete the tournament during the mid-fall season while also addressing the team composition […]
06/14/19 – State Softball Schedule Adjusted
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 14, 2019
After nearly continuous consultation with a variety of media outlets and weather professionals, the KHSAA has revised the schedule for the final rounds of the State Softball Tournament.
The semifinals will be played Saturday starting at noon, with the finals scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday evening.
“We have talked to administrators at all eight schools this week to make them aware of the forecast and predictions we were hearing for the Lexington area for Saturday night and Sunday, along with the options we were considering,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “The consensus of all the media weather professionals is that to play the finals on Sunday would very likely lead to weather delays and cancellations. The predicted inclement weather and rain, once it begins, is scheduled to be considerable for the better part of the next four days.
“In the interest of the student participants and their families and […]
06/07/19 – KHSAA State Softball Postponed Till June 14
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2019
Due to this weekend’s long-range weather forecast in Lexington, the start of the 2019 KHSAA State Softball Tournament has been postponed to Friday, June 14. The quarterfinal games will be played in a continuous format on June 14 starting at 10 a.m. The order of games for the quarterfinals will remain the same and times for the other rounds will be finalized and assigned in the coming days.
“Though this was not an easy decision to make, it was one we reached after consulting with the University of Kentucky, our softball staff, and others in an effort to provide an optimal experience for the participants in the best interest of our member schools,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Postponing the games till next weekend will prevent our teams from having to wait out the weather on an hourly basis, while also incurring additional expenses through extended lodging and travel. […]
06/06/19 – First Logan Billings Scholarships Awarded
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2019
The KHSAA is proud to announce the recipients of the first Logan Billings Memorial Scholarships. Hazard’s Bailey Blair and Rowan County’s A.J. Hacker received the scholarships by virtue of their selection as Most Outstanding Player in the Baseball Semi-State games at Morehead State this past weekend. Each individual will receive a $500 scholarship payable to their enrolled institution of higher learning.
Logan Billings, the son of KHSAA Board of Control member Darrell Billings and his wife Jennifer, died unexpectedly in July, 2018. Following his untimely death, the family approved an initiative from the Association to establish a scholarship in Logan’s name, funded by private donations earmarked for that cause.
“Darrell, Jennifer, Logan and the entire Billings’ family have given a lifetime of service to the folks in Eastern Kentucky and the rest of the state. Long before Darrell was a member of our Board of Control, he and his […]
Ferguson tabbed Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year for 2018-19
(Special notice courtesy of Midway University. Photo courtesy of Midway University. Photo of KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett, the 2019 winner Maci Ferguson of Russell High School, and Dr. John P. Marsden, President of Midway University)
The third annual Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year program concluded when the award winners from the past year were invited to campus for a ceremony to announce the overall winner for 2018-19. It was announced at the ceremony that Maci Ferguson (tennis) of Russell High School was named the overall winner for 2018-19.
A 2018 graduate of Russell High School, Ferguson left a lasting impact in her time as a standout for the Red Devils. A two-time Doubles State Champion and a four-time All-State Tennis Team Selection, Ferguson helped lead the Red Devils to five consecutive Region Championships. She also […]
06/04/19 – Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Baseball and KHSAA Softball State Tournaments Set For Lexington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 4, 2019
The 2019 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Baseball and 2019 KHSAA Softball State Tournaments will be held this week in Lexington, with the state baseball tournament returning to Whitaker Bank Ballpark while the state softball tournament heads to the University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium for the first time.
Tickets for each event are available for purchase online with links available on the homepage at KHSAA.org. Re-entry is not permitted at either event, however, as is customary with all KHSAA General Admission events, the stands will not be cleared following the conclusion of any single game (with the exception of the reserved seating areas behind the plate) and fans are free to stay within the stadium confines.
The Whitaker Bank/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament (June 5-8) begins Wednesday evening when Beechwood takes on Breckinridge County at 5:30 p.m., followed by Tates Creek versus Pleasure Ridge Park at 8:30 p.m. Quarterfinal action resumes Thursday […]
05/29/19 – Triple Threat, Academic All-State Honorees Finalized for 2018-19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2019
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association today announced final counts for its “Triple Threat Award” and “Academic All-State” recognition programs for the 2018-19 academic year. In its second year of existence, the Triple Threat Award was presented to a total of 1,878 student-athletes for 2018-19, while 151 KHSAA member schools recognized a total of 10,046 students as First Team Academic All-State and 5,772 students as Academic All-State Honorable Mention.
“We are very pleased with the participation level of our membership with the Triple Threat and Academic All-State programs,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Both of those processes have been automated to help our membership and make the recognition more readily available to our great student-athletes.”
Created by the Commissioner’s office in May of 2018 as a way to continue the national emphasis and the KHSAA’s own efforts to de-emphasize sports specialization in the athletic culture, the Triple Threat Award […]
05/29/19 – State Tennis, Track and Field Championships Begin Thursday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2019
The 2019 Top Seed Tennis Club/KHSAA State Tennis Championships and the 2019 KHSAA Track and Field State Meet will be contested this weekend in Lexington, with both events culminating on the campus of the University of Kentucky. Advance tickets to each event are available for purchase online at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
The State Tennis Championships (May 30-June 1) begin Thursday morning at 8 a.m. with girls’ matches at Top Seed Tennis Club and the boys’ competition at the UK Boone/Downing Tennis Complex. All remaining tennis matches will move to the UK Boone/Downing Tennis Complex after the first day, with Friday’s competition starting at 8 a.m. Saturday’s action opens with the boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles semifinals at 9 a.m. Championship matches for boys’ and girls’ doubles are slated for 12 p.m., with the finals for boys’ and girls’ singles set for 2 p.m.
Team champions will be determined through […]
05/14/19 – Top Seed Tennis Club To Sponsor State Tennis Championships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2019
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association has added a new corporate partner, with Top Seed Tennis Club signing on to become the title sponsor of the State Tennis Championships. Located at 777 E. Brannon Road in Nicholasville, Top Seed Tennis Club (https://www.topseedtennis.net/) opened in 2018 and features 21 hard courts surfaced with DecoTurf® (12 indoor and nine outdoor).
“We are beyond thrilled and proud to place the Top Seed Tennis Club name and brand alongside the KHSAA State Tennis Championships,” said general manager Jon Sanders. “Top Seed Tennis Club is a facility built for tournaments like this and for the growth of the game of tennis and development of young players. We are looking forward to a fantastic tournament and the development of all players involved.”
“We are […]
05/09/19 – Kentucky Proud Park to Host Final Semi-State Games
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2019
Following yesterday’s Board of Control meeting, the KHSAA has reached an agreement with the University of Kentucky to hold the final two unscheduled Semi-State Baseball games at Kentucky Proud Park on June 1st. The doubleheader will feature Region 9 vs 10 and Region 11 vs 12, with the game times to be determined.
Semi-State 1 & 2 (Regions 2 vs. 1 and 4 vs. 3) – Western Kentucky University
Semi-State 3 & 4 (Regions 6 vs. 5 and 8 vs. 7) – University of Louisville *
Semi-State 5 & 6 (Regions 10 vs. 9 and 12 vs. 11) – University of Kentucky
Semi-State 7 & 8 (Regions 14 vs. 13 and 16 vs. 15) – Morehead State University
*-in the event UofL is selected to host NCAA Baseball, the site would be the newly renovated Eastern High School.
The 2019 KHSAA/Whitaker Bank State Baseball Tournament […]
05/09/19 – Bass Fishing Championship Begins Friday at Kentucky Dam Marina
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2019
The seventh-annual KHSAA State Bass Fishing Championship begins Friday morning at the Kentucky Dam Marina when 90 teams compete for the 2019 state title. The 90 boats competing at this year’s state championship marks an increase in participation for the second consecutive year, as the qualifying field was previously expanded from its original 64 boats to 80 in 2018, and is reflective of continued growth in the sport-activity of Bass Fishing.
The two-day KHSAA State Bass Fishing Championship (May 10-11), with Calvert City serving as official host city, begins each morning with the boat launch from Kentucky Dam Marina at 7 a.m. The teams will launch in three flights, with a staggered return to the dock for weigh-ins. The launch order will then be reversed for the second day of the competition.
Teams will start returning to the marina at 3 p.m. each day, with the weigh-ins scheduled to […]
05/08/19 – Board Approves BA/FP Semi-State Sites, Adopts Spectator Conduct Policy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 8, 2019
The Board of Control conducted its final meeting of the 2018-19 academic year on Tuesday and Wednesday at the KHSAA Offices, approving sites for the upcoming baseball and softball semi-state games while also addressing a number of policy revisions.
Acting on a prior directive from the Board of Control, KHSAA staff has worked throughout the year to secure neutral venues for the baseball and softball semi-state rounds – with a preference given to collegiate sites if possible. The semi-state games will take place Saturday, June 1st, with the Board approving the following sites:
SOFTBALL
Semi-State 1 & 2 (Regions 2 vs. 1 and 4 vs. 3) – Western Kentucky University
Semi-State 3 & 4 (Regions 6 vs. 5 and 8 vs. 7) – University of Louisville
Semi-State 5 (Region 10 vs. 9) – Northern Kentucky University
Semi-State 6 & 7 (Regions 12 vs. 11 and 14 […]
05/02/19 – Bass Fishing Qualifiers for State 2019
The preliminary field for the 2019 KHSAA State Fishing Championships is now set. This year’s event will feature 90 boats, all of which qualified based on their performance in one of four regional competitions.
All state championship anglers must pre-register online at HighSchoolFishing.org by May 7th. This will help confirm your participation and allow for boat captain changes if different from regional events. Only those teams who have qualified for the state championship will be able to register. The 2019 KHSAA State Bass Fishing Championship will be held May 10-11 at Kentucky Dam Marina.
“Upon review of the regional championship results and following consultation with our partners at Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), I feel comfortable that we can utilize three flights of thirty boats each and not impact the competition experience or our efforts to minimize risk,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Assistant Commissioner Mike Barren and the rest of our staff involved with […]
05/02/19 – Leachman Buick GMC Extends Title Sponsorship of State Golf Championships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 2, 2019
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association and longtime corporate partner Leachman Buick GMC have reached an agreement on a contract extension which will see the latter’s sponsorship of the state golf championships reach 21-consecutive years when the new contract expires in June of 2025.
“We at Leachman Buick GMC are extremely excited to extend our sponsorship commitment for the Boys and Girls State Golf Championships for an additional five years. The opportunity to be a part of our young student-athletes’ endeavors is something we do not take lightly and we always hope that the State Championship is a memory that positively affects each participant for life,” said David Jaggers, Leachman GMC Buick Executive Manager/Partner. “This extension will guarantee our sponsorship of this great event for 21-consecutive years and we hope that this event continues to grow and improve each and every year. We would like to thank Bowling Green […]
04/29/19- Getting Smart but Acting Foolishly: There is a Solution (Op-Ed Column)
By Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and Julian Tackett, Commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
We communicate on smartphones, drive smart cars, make purchases using smart cards and even drink smart water. But, really, how smart are we?
Between college admission and internet privacy scandals, sexual misconduct investigations, stolen trade secrets and the growing concern about how we communicate and connect with each other, technology seems to be outpacing our capacity to understand the most responsible way to use it.
In other words, how are tomorrow’s leaders being groomed to make decisions that provide the perspective, balance, and strength of character that today’s advanced world needs?
The answer is by participating in high school sports like the ones offered by the high schools in Kentucky.
Most researchers agree that leaders are made, not […]
04/28/19 – Official of the Year Winners Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 28, 2019
The KHSAA honored the top officials for 2019 during the Association’s 26th Annual Officials Recognition Banquet today at the Association’s headquarters. The ceremony recognized the finalists for each sport or sport-activity in which the KHSAA licenses officials, as well as the Larry G. Boucher Jr. Supervisor of the Year.
Finalists in each sport were selected through a combination of service to their association and excellence in officiating. One official in each sport was named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. The Association also presented the annual Larry G. Boucher Jr. Supervisor of the Year Award during the ceremony.
Outstanding Official Nominees (winners listed first)
BASEBALL – Terry Carter (Madisonville), Robert Bauer (Cave City), Carl Johnson (Metropolis, Ill.)
BASKETBALL – Jeremy Grantham (Boaz), Kristi Eller (Louisville), Nathan […]
04/24/19 – KHSAA State Archery Championships Head to Bowling Green Tuesday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2019
The KHSAA State Archery Championships will be contested in a new venue in 2019, with the event moving to Ephram White Park in Bowling Green. The state championship gets underway Tuesday, April 30th with the first of six flights slated for 9:30 a.m. (CT). Advance tickets to the event are available for purchase at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
The last flight of the day is set for 2:30 p.m., with awards presentations to begin immediately afterward. Team trophies will be presented to the top four boys’ and top four girls’ teams, with medallions presented to the top five individuals for each gender.
At last year’s state championship, Bullitt Central posted a team score of 2,030 to capture the boys’ team title and hold off state runner-up Madison Central (2,023). Henderson County’s Dalton Hinkle defeated Anderson County’s Henry Thompson in a tiebreaker to claim the individual state championship, after both players posted […]
04/22/19 – Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Baseball and KHSAA Softball State Tournament Draws Set for Tuesday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2019
The draws for the 2019 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA State Baseball and KHSAA State Softball Tournaments will take place Tuesday, April 23 at 12 p.m. The draw will be conducted at the KHSAA offices and can be viewed live online at KHSAA.tv.
The Whitaker Bank/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament will be held June 5-8 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, home of the Lexington Legends, for the ninth-straight year. The tournament begins with quarterfinal action June 5-6, followed by the semifinals on Friday, June 7 and the championship game on Saturday, June 8.
The State Softball Tournament will take place June 7-9 at the University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium, as the event transitions to a single-elimination format in 2019. The tournament begins with quarterfinal action on Friday, June 7th, followed by the semifinals on Saturday, June 8th and the championship game on Sunday, June 9th.
The Draw Show will be streamed live […]
04/18/19 – Spring Sports Championship Media Credentials
The KHSAA’s online media credentialing system for the Spring Sports Championships (Archery, Bass Fishing, Tennis, Track & Field, Baseball and Softball) is now live, and can be accessed by going to credentials.khsaa.org.
Credentials to each KHSAA state championship event are issued by the KHSAA to working members of the media that regularly cover high school athletics. Credentials must be requested prior to the established deadline for each sport through the online credentialing system (credentials.khsaa.org).
Credentials should be requested by the sports editor/director for all members of his/her organization needing to attend an event. Credentials for freelance photographers and stringers must be requested by the sports editor/director at the outlet the freelancer will be representing. Media outlets are responsible for the actions of all individuals representing their organization, including compliance with KHSAA policies and procedures. No credentials will be issued outside of the online credentialing system. The KHSAA reserves the right to limit the […]
04/16/19 – Official of the Year Candidates Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 16, 2019
The KHSAA will honor the top officials for 2019 on April 28th at the Association’s 26th Annual Officials Recognition Banquet. The ceremony, conducted at the KHSAA Offices, honors the finalists for each sport in which the KHSAA licenses officials. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. with the program scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Finalists in each sport were selected through a combination of service to their association and excellence in officiating. One official in each sport will be named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. The Association will also present the annual Larry G. Boucher Jr. Supervisor of the Year Award during the ceremony.
Outstanding Official Nominees
BASEBALL – Robert Bauer (Cave City), Terry Carter (Madisonville), Carl Johnson (Metropolis, Ill.)
BASKETBALL – Kristi Eller (Louisville), […]
04/01/19 – KHSAA.org Now Features Enhanced Stat Offerings for Baseball, Softball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2019
New for the 2019 season, box scores, cumulative team season statistics and state leaders for baseball and softball will be available at KHSAA.org. For the past two seasons, limited statistical information was available at KHSAA.org (only state leaders were offered in 2018) through an outsourced arrangement with a third-party vendor. Internalizing the stat entry process brings the statistical coverage for baseball and softball on par with soccer, football, basketball and field hockey on the KHSAA’s website and the KHSAA/Riherds.com Scoreboard.
Member schools are solely responsible for submitting statistical information. Failure to do so subjects the school to penalties from the Commissioner’s office, including fines and other actions, within the constraints of Bylaw 27. If a school or individual is omitted from the stat leaders report, or information is not current, that means the team in question did not enter its statistics prior to that morning’s […]
03/12/19 – KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16® Heads to Rupp Arena for the First Time
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 2019
The KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16® will make its debut at Rupp Arena this week (March 13-17), as the historic venue plays host to the girls’ basketball tournament for the first time. This year’s tournament will mark the first Girls’ Sweet 16® played in Lexington in the modern era, as the city held the event 11 times prior to the return of girls’ basketball as a KHSAA-sanctioned sport in 1975, with the games played at the Armory from 1922-26 and UK Alumni Gym from 1927-32.
The 2019 Girls’ Sweet 16® gets underway Wednesday afternoon when Knott County Central takes on Scott County at 12 p.m. (ET). Fans can follow all the action through live webcasts at KHSAA.tv or listen to the games online at KHSAA.net. The games will also be carried statewide across 46 stations through the Kentucky Utilities/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen® Radio Network, with the games […]
03/05/19 – Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16® Broadcast Info, 105.5 FM To Air Games Locally
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2019
The 2019 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16® gets underway Wednesday afternoon at Rupp Arena when Knox Central takes on Walton-Verona at 12 p.m. (ET). Fans can follow all the action through live webcasts at KHSAA.tv or listen to the games online at KHSAA.net. The games will also be carried statewide across 53 stations through the Kentucky Utilities/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen® Radio Network, with the games airing locally in Lexington on iHeart Media’s Rewind 105.5 FM.
All 15 games of the Boys’ Sweet 16® will be webcast live at KHSAA.tv for subscribers to the NFHS Network (https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/). Subscription plans for the NFHS Network are available for $9.95 a month. A monthly subscription, priced less than the cost of admission to a state championship event, entitles users to every broadcast by the KHSAA and the more than 40 participating state associations. Viewers who subscribe for the Boys’ […]
02/25/19 – KHSAA to Award Fourth Annual Louis Stout Memorial Scholarships at Boys’ Sweet 16®
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 25, 2019
The KHSAA will present the fourth annual Louis Stout Memorial Scholarships during the 2019 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16® to Lance Butler of Paducah Tilghman and Brynne Galloway of Garrard County.
When former Commissioner Louis Stout passed away in 2012, his late widow Anna directed that donations on his behalf go to the Louis Stout Memorial Fund for Students. Mrs. Stout felt this was an opportunity for the KHSAA to honor student-athletes who excel in athletics, academics, school service and community service.
Winners will receive a one-time $2,000 scholarship payable to an institution of higher learning, and were chosen after careful review, with selection criteria based on athletic activities, non-athletic activities, […]
02/20/19 – Pannell Swim Shop/KHSAA State Swimming & Diving Championships Begin Thursday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 20, 2018
The 2019 Pannell Swim Shop/KHSAA State Swimming & Diving Championships (Feb. 21-23) begin Thursday with the boys’ and girls’ diving preliminaries at the Ralph Wright Natatorium on the University of Louisville campus. Boys’ diving prelims are slated for 12:30-3 p.m. followed by the girls’ diving prelims from 6:30-9 p.m.
This year’s event features a new format, as the entirety of the boys’ swimming and diving championship will be completed on Friday, with the girls’ swimming prelims and & finals contested on Saturday. Boys’ swimming prelims begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, with the diving competition opening the championship finals at 5:30 p.m. and the first swimming events at 7 p.m. Saturday’s schedule of events will follow the same timeline, with the girls’ swimming prelims starting at 10:30 a.m. The girls’ championship begins with the diving finals at 5:30 p.m., followed by the girls’ swimming finals at 7 p.m.
Tickets […]
02/19/19 – Board of Control Addresses Future Postseason Formats for Fall Championships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 19, 2019
The Board of Control reviewed postseason formats and state qualifying for several fall sports during its meeting at the KHSAA Offices on Tuesday. Changes to the state golf qualifying process and golf alignment were among the topics discussed, along with the implementation of the RPI during the Football postseason and a revision of the semi-state round for the soccer postseason.
The final action in revising the golf regional alignment, as well as state tournament qualifying, completes nearly a full year of review of the manner in which the postseason championships are conducted in the sport. In past years, the golf format for advancement to the state tournament was for the top two teams from each region (four or five players), along with the top four girls at-large and top three boys at-large from each region, to qualify for state. Following the Board’s decision in January to revise the state […]
02/15/19 – Sweet Sixteen® Online Media Credentialing System
The media credentialing system for the 2019 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ and KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen® State Basketball Tournaments is now available online, and can be accessed by going to credentials.khsaa.org. Both of this year’s events will be held at Rupp Arena, with the boys playing March 6-10, followed by the girls’ tournament March 13-17.
The deadline to apply for credentials is 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to each respective tournament – March 4 for the Boys’ Sweet 16® and March 11 for the Girls.
OWNERSHIP OF MEDIA AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
The intellectual property, corporate, broadcasting and media rights to all State championship rounds of the KHSAA postseason championships belong exclusively to the KHSAA, including titling agreements and sponsorships. As such, the KHSAA is the only entity permitted to originate a live broadcast during the Sweet 16® (this includes the use of […]
02/13/19 – State Wrestling Championships Begin Friday at Alltech Arena
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 13, 2019
The 2019 KHSAA State Wrestling Championships sponsored by the U.S. Army ROTC begin Friday morning at Alltech Arena, with gates opening for fans at 8:30 a.m. and first round matches commencing at 9:30 a.m. Tickets to the State Wrestling Championships are available for purchase online at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA, including a discounted online-only $30 all-session pass.
Friday’s opening session will continue through the third round of the championship bracket (bouts 1-616). Saturday’s opening session begins with third round consolation bracket matches at 9 a.m., and continues through the sixth round consolation bracket matches (bouts 785-812).
The medal round session is scheduled to begin with the KWCA awards at 3 p.m. followed by the consolation bracket finals for third, fifth and seventh place. Upon conclusion of the consolation bracket finals, the competitors in the finals will be introduced and the first championship match will begin. Awards will be […]
02/06/19 – State Bowling Championships Begin Thursday at Executive Strike & Spare
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6, 2019
The eighth-annual KHSAA State Bowling Championships get underway Thursday at Executive Strike & Spare in Louisville with the Unified, Adapted and Singles competitions. The Unified Championship, which is in its third year as a KHSAA offering, and the inaugural Adapted Championship start at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Boys’ and Girls’ Singles Championship at 11:30 a.m. Advanced tickets to the event can be purchased at https://gofan.co/app/school/KHSAA.
The Unified Championship will consist of one qualifying game for seeding followed by baker’s doubles matches throughout a 16-team bracket. The Adapted Championship will feature one qualifying game for seeding prior to the final head-to-head matchup. The singles competition will have each competitor bowl three games before the field is trimmed to the top eight individuals. The top eight will then roll two additional games, with the top four boys’ and girls’ performers advancing to the step ladder bracket, which will continue […]
01/31/19 – Dawahares/KHSAA Hall Of Fame Class Of 2019 Inductees Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 31, 2019
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association will induct its Class of 2019 into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame presented by Roberts Insurance on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at the Hilton Downtown Lexington. This year’s 10-member class will be the 32nd inducted into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame, and consists of former high school coaches, athletes, officials, administrators, and contributors. The Class of 2019 will also be recognized during the semifinals of the 2019 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16®. The induction of the 10-member Class of 2019 will bring the total number of honorees in the Hall of Fame to 479.
KANDICE BROWN-PARKER (West Carter HS / Athlete) – As a senior at West Carter, Brown-Parker led the Lady Comets to the 2000 KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16® title and was named the most valuable player of the tournament after averaging 20.3 points per game. She scored a game-high 19 points […]
1/24/19- Dear Mom and Dad, and in some cases, School Personnel: Cool it (Op-Ed Column)
By Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and Julian Tackett, Commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
If you are the mother or father of a high school athlete here in Kentucky or one of the key school administrators in a member school or member school district, this message is primarily for you.
When you attend an athletic event that involves your son or daughter, or the members of your student body, cheer to your heart’s content, enjoy the camaraderie that high school sports offer and have fun. But when it comes to verbally criticizing game officials or coaches, it’s time for everyone to cool it. “The time has come for everyone involved in the game to “pump the brakes” as it relates to conduct at games, particularly, the parents who attend,” noted NFHS Executive Director Karissa Niehoff.
Make no mistake about it. Your passion is admired, […]
01/23/19 – Collins HS to Host Esports Season Zero Championship Monday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2019
The Season Zero Esports State Championship will be determined Monday at Collins High School, when squads from St. Henry District and Boyle County square off to decide the first state champion in a best-of-three League of Legends match. Admission to the esports state championship is free, though interested fans should reserve their tickets online at http://bit.ly/2sLlBAV.
Those unable to attend Monday’s championship can watch the event live online through the NFHS Network or Twitch.tv (https://www.twitch.tv/playvs).
Through its partnership with PlayVs, the KHSAA offered its member schools a new participation opportunity in October to join Season Zero and compete in League of Legends. The esports program will expand for the spring season, with team competing in League of Legends, SMITE and Rocket League. For more information on the Spring Season, visit http://bit.ly/2M4BKul.
-KHSAA-
About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High […]
01/18/19 – Sweet 16® Draw Show to Air Monday, January 28th on CW Lexington, KHSAA.tv
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2019
Pairings for the 2019 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen® and the 2019 KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen® will be revealed on Monday, January 28th at 1 p.m. (ET) when the annual Sweet 16® Draw Show is televised by The CW Lexington. The Sweet 16® Draw Show will also be streamed live online at KHSAA.tv and WKYT.com, and broadcast by WYMT (Hazard), WBKO (Bowling Green), WSAZ (Huntington) and WFIE (Evansville, on its app).
The 102nd installment of the boys’ basketball state tournament will be held March 6-10 when the 2019 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16® heads to Rupp Arena. The 58th KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16® will take place the following week (March 13-17) and will be a historic event for the KHSAA, with Rupp Arena playing host to the tournament for the first time.
The 2019 Girls’ Sweet 16® will mark the first time the girls’ state tournament has been played […]
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