Bass fishing titles on the line for 5 Northern Kentucky teams at state

Easton Ballinger of Eastwood shares the certificate he won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine wrestler of the week for March 6, 2026.

Knox Mills of Hamilton shares the certificate he won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball player of the week, Jan. 23, 2026.

The St. Bernard-Elmwood Place boys basketball team shared the certificate they won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball team of the week for Feb. 13, 2026.

The Norwood boys basketball team shared the certificate they won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball team of the week for Dec. 26, 2025.

Maddie Turner of Norwood shared the certificate she won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine wrestler of the week for Jan. 9, 2026.

The Norwood boys wrestling team shared the certificate the boys won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine winter team of the week for Jan. 9, 2026. With them, at left, is Maddie Turner, who won the girls wrestler of the week the same week.

Grayson Ozias of Ross shares the certificate she earned by winning The Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine swimmer/diver of the week for Feb. 6, 2026

Kian Bronner of Loveland shares the certificate he earned by winning The Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine bowler of the week for Feb. 6, 2026

Logan Cole of Felicity-Franklin shares the certificate he earned by winning The Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Ohio small-school boys basketball player of the week for Feb. 6, 2026

Bryton Vaughn of Talawanda shares the certificate he won as the Feb. 6 Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine boys bowler of the week.

Stacia Simmons of Clark Montessori shares the certificate she won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball player of the week for Jan. 23, 2026.

The Clark Montessori girls basketball team share the certificate they won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball team of the week for Jan. 23, 2026.

Hannah Weigle of Little Miami shares the certificate she won as The Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine bowler of the week for Dec. 19.

Colton Dickerson of Springboro shares the certificate he won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine bowler of the week for Dec. 19.

The Blanchester bowling team, with coach Paul Jackson in the middle, shares the certificates they won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine boys winter team of the week for Dec. 12, 2025. The team is, from left, Brian White, Samuel Woolridge, Caleb Mobley, coach Paul Jackson, Elijah McVey, Lucas Cirivello and Randy Eckman.

Randy Eckman of Blanchester, with his coach Paul Jackson, shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Ohio small-school bowler of the week for Dec. 12, 2025.

Beechwood's Dylan Topmiller, joined by his coach Ross Hart, shares the certificate he earned by being voted the Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Northern Kentucky basketball player of the week for Dec 26, 2025.

Tyler Owens of Goshen shares the certificate he won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball player of the week for Dec. 19, 2025.

Alyssa Bechtol of Notre Dame Academy shares the certificate she won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine bowler of the week for Nov. 21, 2025.

Ty Martin of Clinton-Massie shares the certificate he earned as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine's football player of the week for Oct. 31, 2025.

Kaylin Wegford of Dixie Heights shares the certificate she won as The Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine volleyball player of the week for Oct. 31, 2025.

From left, Moeller's Preston Wesley, Brock Grubert, and Hayden Sorg share the certificates they won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine cross country runners of the week for Sept. 26, Sept. 19 and Oct. 10, respectively.

Brooke Woosley of Oak Hills shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine soccer player of the week for Sept. 5.

Noah Fuller of Holy Cross shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine cross-country runner of the week for Oct. 10.

Sam VandeWater of Campbell County High School shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine boys cross-country runner of the week for Sept. 19.

Sophie Qiao of Indian Hill shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine small-school volleyball player of the week for Sept. 19, 2025. With her are varsity head coach Angel Miller-Ell and assistant coach Mike Barrie.

Sam Neuhaus of St. Henry District High School shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine cross country runner of the week for Sept. 26.

Colin Wooldridge of La Salle shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine football player of the week for Sept. 26, 2025.

Emily Steinke of Lakota East shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer Spirit Award individual winner for the week of Sept. 12, 2025.

The South Dearborn High School cheerleaders share the certificate they won as The Enquirer Spirit Award team winner for Sept. 19.

Joined by his teammates, Aengus Growcock of Middletown Madison shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine soccer player of the week for Sept. 19, 2025.

Mia Young of Seton shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine tennis player of the week for Sept. 19.

Elena Kelley of Seton shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine golfer of the week for Sept. 19.

Makenna Martin of Fairfield shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer's Spirit Award winner for Sept. 26, 2025.

Shepherd Dozier of Conner High School shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine football player of the week for Sept. 19, 2025.

Alexis Kampsen of Conner shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine volleyball player of the week for Sept. 19, 2025.

Laura Raines of Kings shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine volleyball player of the week for Sept. 12, 2025.

Bacon Geer of Clermont Northeastern shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Ohio small-school football player of the week for Sept. 12, 2025.

Aaron Eckler of Ryle High School shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine cross country runner of the week for Sept. 5, 2025.

Annie Zuerner of Calvary Christian girls soccer, shown with her teammates, shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls soccer player of the week for Aug. 29, 2025.

The Newport Central Catholic cheerleaders won the Cincinnati Enquirer Spirit Award for Aug. 29, 2025.

Victoria Sebald of Villa Madonna shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine volleyball of the week for Sept. 5, 2025.

Nina Tibbs of Villa Madonna shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine cross country runner of the week for Sept. 5, 2025.

Preslee Walter of East Central shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine soccer player of the week for Sept. 5, 2025.

John Meis and Rocco Fischer share the certificates they won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine golfer (Sept. 5) and soccer player (Aug. 29) of the week, respectively.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Easton Ballinger of Eastwood shares the certificate he won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine wrestler of the week for March 6, 2026.

1 / 45

2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Easton Ballinger of Eastwood shares the certificate he won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine wrestler of the week for March 6, 2026.

2 / 45

2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Knox Mills of Hamilton shares the certificate he won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball player of the week, Jan. 23, 2026.

3 / 45

2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

The St. Bernard-Elmwood Place boys basketball team shared the certificate they won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball team of the week for Feb. 13, 2026.

4 / 45

2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

The Norwood boys basketball team shared the certificate they won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball team of the week for Dec. 26, 2025.

5 / 45

2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Maddie Turner of Norwood shared the certificate she won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine wrestler of the week for Jan. 9, 2026.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

The Norwood boys wrestling team shared the certificate the boys won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine winter team of the week for Jan. 9, 2026. With them, at left, is Maddie Turner, who won the girls wrestler of the week the same week.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Grayson Ozias of Ross shares the certificate she earned by winning The Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine swimmer/diver of the week for Feb. 6, 2026

8 / 45

2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Kian Bronner of Loveland shares the certificate he earned by winning The Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine bowler of the week for Feb. 6, 2026

9 / 45

2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Logan Cole of Felicity-Franklin shares the certificate he earned by winning The Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Ohio small-school boys basketball player of the week for Feb. 6, 2026

10 / 45

2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Bryton Vaughn of Talawanda shares the certificate he won as the Feb. 6 Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine boys bowler of the week.

11 / 45

2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Stacia Simmons of Clark Montessori shares the certificate she won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball player of the week for Jan. 23, 2026.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

The Clark Montessori girls basketball team share the certificate they won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball team of the week for Jan. 23, 2026.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Hannah Weigle of Little Miami shares the certificate she won as The Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine bowler of the week for Dec. 19.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Colton Dickerson of Springboro shares the certificate he won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine bowler of the week for Dec. 19.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

The Blanchester bowling team, with coach Paul Jackson in the middle, shares the certificates they won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine boys winter team of the week for Dec. 12, 2025. The team is, from left, Brian White, Samuel Woolridge, Caleb Mobley, coach Paul Jackson, Elijah McVey, Lucas Cirivello and Randy Eckman.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Randy Eckman of Blanchester, with his coach Paul Jackson, shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Ohio small-school bowler of the week for Dec. 12, 2025.

17 / 45

2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Beechwood's Dylan Topmiller, joined by his coach Ross Hart, shares the certificate he earned by being voted the Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Northern Kentucky basketball player of the week for Dec 26, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Tyler Owens of Goshen shares the certificate he won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine basketball player of the week for Dec. 19, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Alyssa Bechtol of Notre Dame Academy shares the certificate she won as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine bowler of the week for Nov. 21, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Ty Martin of Clinton-Massie shares the certificate he earned as The Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine's football player of the week for Oct. 31, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Kaylin Wegford of Dixie Heights shares the certificate she won as The Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine volleyball player of the week for Oct. 31, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

From left, Moeller's Preston Wesley, Brock Grubert, and Hayden Sorg share the certificates they won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine cross country runners of the week for Sept. 26, Sept. 19 and Oct. 10, respectively.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Brooke Woosley of Oak Hills shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine soccer player of the week for Sept. 5.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Noah Fuller of Holy Cross shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine cross-country runner of the week for Oct. 10.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Sam VandeWater of Campbell County High School shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine boys cross-country runner of the week for Sept. 19.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Sophie Qiao of Indian Hill shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine small-school volleyball player of the week for Sept. 19, 2025. With her are varsity head coach Angel Miller-Ell and assistant coach Mike Barrie.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Sam Neuhaus of St. Henry District High School shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine cross country runner of the week for Sept. 26.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Colin Wooldridge of La Salle shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine football player of the week for Sept. 26, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Emily Steinke of Lakota East shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer Spirit Award individual winner for the week of Sept. 12, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

The South Dearborn High School cheerleaders share the certificate they won as The Enquirer Spirit Award team winner for Sept. 19.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Joined by his teammates, Aengus Growcock of Middletown Madison shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine soccer player of the week for Sept. 19, 2025.

32 / 45

2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Mia Young of Seton shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine tennis player of the week for Sept. 19.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Elena Kelley of Seton shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine golfer of the week for Sept. 19.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Makenna Martin of Fairfield shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer's Spirit Award winner for Sept. 26, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Shepherd Dozier of Conner High School shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine football player of the week for Sept. 19, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Alexis Kampsen of Conner shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine volleyball player of the week for Sept. 19, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Laura Raines of Kings shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine volleyball player of the week for Sept. 12, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Bacon Geer of Clermont Northeastern shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Ohio small-school football player of the week for Sept. 12, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Aaron Eckler of Ryle High School shares the certificate he won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine cross country runner of the week for Sept. 5, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Annie Zuerner of Calvary Christian girls soccer, shown with her teammates, shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls soccer player of the week for Aug. 29, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

The Newport Central Catholic cheerleaders won the Cincinnati Enquirer Spirit Award for Aug. 29, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Victoria Sebald of Villa Madonna shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine volleyball of the week for Sept. 5, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Nina Tibbs of Villa Madonna shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine cross country runner of the week for Sept. 5, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

Preslee Walter of East Central shares the certificate she won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine soccer player of the week for Sept. 5, 2025.

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2025-2026 Enquirer Spirit Award, Beacon Orthopaedics athlete of week winners' photos

John Meis and Rocco Fischer share the certificates they won as the Enquirer / Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine golfer (Sept. 5) and soccer player (Aug. 29) of the week, respectively.

In these days of cell phones, social media and hundreds of TV channels, teenagers have a lot of distractions.

To be good in fishing, you have to set all of that aside and be locked in to what you’re doing for eight or more hours.

Ten Northern Kentucky high schoolers will take on that challenge this weekend at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association state bass fishing tournament. The event is a two-day competition, May 8-9, at the Kentucky Dam Marina in Gilbertsville, western Kentucky.

Anglers can catch a maximum of five fish per day. Teams win by accumulating the highest total weight of fish.

“I’m pretty excited,” said Covington Catholic junior Drew Berling, one of the competitors. “Fishing up in Northern Kentucky doesn’t get a lot of recognition and hopefully we can do pretty well.”

Covington Catholic teammates Drew Berling, left, and Eli Scroggins at the Region 2 fishing tournament.

Berling and teammate Eli Scroggins are one of five two-person teams that will have a boat in the competition after qualifying from the Region 2 tournament in Jamestown. They finished 14th in the regional.

Grant County has two boats. Hunter Lilly and Kyle Lilly finished third in the regional, Brian Hamm and Raymond Hamm finished 27th. Bishop Brossart’s Cooper Lackey and Paxton Litmer finished sixth. Ryle’s Tanner Norman and Owen Miller placed 28th.

Berling and Scroggins finished 49th in the state meet last year. Scroggins is competing at state for the third straight season.

Northern Kentucky has never won a bass fishing state title. CovCath has a strong recent history of success, with three top-10 finishes in the past five seasons, including second place by Brandon Smith and Phoenix Parks in 2024.

Grant’s Hunter Lilly finished 14th last year with a different partner. Dixie Heights had a fourth-place showing in 2015.

Berling, who has been fishing since seventh grade, said constant communication is a key between the partners.

“I like being out in the water and hanging out with my buddies,” he said. “Being out in the water is fun.”

While it’s fun, you have to be laser focused on what’s going on in the water. Patience is key.

“You can’t just be screwing around in the boat,” Berling said. “You got to really lock in and focus on the goal, which is to win the tournament. If you’re not focused, you’ll lose fish. You might pass over something that potentially holds the tournament-winning fish.”

The closest competition water to Northern Kentucky is Williamstown Lake, where Berling and others compete once or twice a week.

Berling said like any other sport the ability to stay in the present after a mistake is also important.

“If you’re angry and frustrated it’s pretty easy to lose your focus,” he said. “You just have to move past it.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: KHSAA state bass fishing tournament for Northern Kentucky teams