Best of luck to the P.C. Wildcats & Ladycats
Ladycats Soccer striving for improvement under Trenkamp
By Stacey Myers
Johnny Trenkamp returns for his second season leading the Pendleton County Ladycats soccer program. His 2025 roster boasts over a dozen returners from last year including junior goalkeeper Aubrey Record, who ranked eighth overall in the state with 271 saves in 2024.
Another junior, Riley Browning, will be counted onto anchor the defense, while newcomers Lilly Ashcraft, Jessa Gerhardstein and Aubrey Mullins are looking to make an impact with their athleticism on offense. Coach Trenkamp is excited to see the growth of his squad that includes many underclassmen as the season unfolds.
"We're are a young team and we have lots to learn, but there's a lot of potential for growth and a lot of energy," Trenkamp says.
The Ladycats played their first home game on August 11 against district rival Harrison county losing 3-0 with goalie Aubrey Record having 10 saves. Coach Trenkamp said they had a few girls out due to illness and on vacations, but several players stepped up and played well defensively. It was a physical and hard fought game. The team played away on August 13 and came away with their first win of the season against Owen County by a score of 3-1. Coach Trenkamp was very proud of the team as they played through heavy rain conditions for the first half then sat through a lightning delay to start the second half. Ashcraft scored twice and Gerhardstein scoring one goal. These goals were their first ever varsity goals.
This week, Pendleton County hosts Mason County on August 20 and will travel to battle Maysville St. Pat on August 23.
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Wildcats Soccer seeking depth and consistency in 2025
By Sam McClanahan
The Pendleton County Wildcats soccer team aims to outclass the competition under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Amber Nichols. She and her squad will look to build upon last year's success which included the most wins (nine) since 2019, and the program's best record since 2020.
Coach Nichols believes her squad has the right pieces to make some noise in 2025 but will also be relying on some younger players to emerge and play key roles as the season progresses.
"We have a lot of returning talent on offense. Dawson Nichols way among the top scorers in northern Kentucky last year in producing 21 goals to go with nine assists. Our second leading scorer, Jacob Frisch is also back. He put together 10 goals and seven assists last year. We'll definitely be expecting big seasons from them as well as senior leadership on the field. Senior goalkeeper Adam Beebe had 203 saves last year and is among the best in the state at his position. We know he'll do his part as well," Nichols said.
For the Wildcats to reach their full potential, Coach Nichols acknowledges that new faces will need to fill roles once occupied by solid contributors.
"We went into the offseason knowing we had about five spots to fill on our starting lineup and we're still searching to see who can step up to fill those gaps. The beginning of the season is always a work in progress but I'm confident that this team will keep improving as the season goes on and we fill up that win column," she added.
Other senior members of the team include: Mason Ammerman, Clark Cummins, Alex Mosley, and Patrick Patton.
The Wildcats began their season hosting Calvary Christian on August 12 and fell 2-1 in a game that was suspended due to inclement weather that moved in early into the second half. On August 14, the team hosted Holy Cross and were defeated 4-2. This week, the team will travel for a pair of road contests versus Harrison County and Maysville St. Patrick.
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Youth movement overtakes Wildcats Golf
By Sam McClanahan
The Pendleton County Wildcats Golf program has seen its roster more than double in size as the team is stacked with 15 members.
Nine members of the team are between grades seven and nine, with the lone senior on the squad being Matthew Musk. The team began their season last month and head coach Clay Monroe is exited for the potential of his squad not only for the next few months but looking ahead years down the road.
"Golf season unlike other fall sport starts their regular season almost immediately following dead period, it is a full sprint starting July 15. Pendleton County Boys Golf usually hosts the first tournament of the season in the state of Kentucky but it was canceled because of a bad thunderstorm on the evening of July 20. Two days later we kicked off our season at Kenton County Golf Course on July 23 where we had pretty balanced scoring from our first five," Monroe said.
"We have increased our roster size from seven players to 15 this year. I am super excited to see our younger guys showing interest in playing. We are able to field a full Varsity and JV team this season which is something the golf program has not done in a long time. When I played we were lucky to be able to field just a varsity team with four to five guys. As far as personnel this year, eighth grader Easton Verst has been our low medalist in two of our first three varsity tournaments. We traveled to AJ Jolly to play Campbell County for our first JV match in quite some time. Eighth grader Charlie Hammons fired our low round with a 53 while seventh graders Aiden Verst and Jase Gerhardstein were coming in just behind him. Having 15 guys has been a different challenge for me, but I am excited to really see the interest growing in the game of golf," Monroe added.
The Wildcats will continue their season through the end of September with home course Pendleton Hills hosting the Semi-State Tournament on September 29 and 30.for September 22.round with a 53 while seventh graders Aiden Verst and Jase Gerhardstein were coming in just behind him. Having 15 guys has been a different challenge for me, but I am excited to really see the interest growing in the game of golf," Monroe added.
The Wildcats will continue their season through the end of September with home course Pendleton Hills hosting the Semi-State Tournament on September 29 and 30.
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Ladycats Golf program enters the Bruener era
By Sam McClanahan
The Pendleton County Ladycats Golf team has a brand new look in 2025 as new head coach Adam Bruener looks to make his mark on a program that has enjoyed much success through the years.
Bruener replaces Kennedy Walthers, who stepped down after one season, and he becomes the program's third different head coach in three seasons. But despite the recent turnover in leadership, the enthusiasm around the team is high as Bruener put together a squad of five ladies (four newcomers) who are eager to claim success.
"This is a motivated group of ladies," Bruener said. "Our team has a mix of experience and youth but everyone has showed up from day one ready to work and improve. Some of the girls have dedicated a lot of time in their personal lives outside of practice to getting on the course and practicing. That's the kind of dedication that will lead to great things," he added.
The Ladycats top returners is Taylor Bruener. She has seen her golf game blossom over the past two years and she is expected to lead the team and be in the hunt for qualifying for the state tournament in October. Laci Tackett returns to her Pendleton County roots after being in Augusta for the past few years. She was a member of their program and has had plenty of success as a multi-sport athlete. Three members are first time golfers in Kinly Cooper, Lilly Jones and Anna Pugh. According to Coach Bruener, each of these girls have shown a drastic improvement in a short amount of time.
"Kinly has natural athletism, power, and instincts that allow her to read the golf course and make adjustments on her own. Our two seventh graders, Lilly and Anna have grown with each passing week and are quickly accomplishing new milestones. Our leaders will be Taylor and Laci as they have plenty of experience in match play. All of these girls are very coachable and that makes my job a lot easier, " Bruener explained.
Pendleton County have already competed in four tournaments and will continue play through mid-September. The Region 8 Tournament is scheduled for September 22.
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Wildcats Football will rely on balance and discipline to find victories
By Sam McClanahan
Pendleton County football coach Jaegger Graham enters his second season leading the Wildcats on the gridiron. This year's squad features a blend of experience and youth on both sides of the ball.
The team will rely on 12 seniors (about five newcomers among the group) to lead the way in creating excitement on offense while displaying aggression on defense. One of the biggest challenges facing the team will be replacing the offensive production from Joey Butke, who carried the bulk of the offensive load a year ago. Butke scored 10 of the team's 15 touchdowns in 2024 while hauling in nearly 500 receiving yards. Coach Graham believes his team can have success on offense, but the production will likely be by committee.
"We have some talented athletes capable of giving us a balanced attack. It's actually my preference to have multiple options at our disposal because that's going to create more problems on our opponents if they can't hone in on who our offense is catered to. Guys like Dawson Nichols, Eli Barhorst, Kegan Barhorst and Colton Morton have shown lots of improvement over the offseason and have the skills to get the ball in the end zone," Coach Graham said.
The Wildcats strength is expected to be found on the defensive side of the ball. Coach Graham believes his players will showcase an aggressive, physical style that will need to be matched with discipline.
"I want our guys to be ferocious in pursuit on defense but they must also be disciplined. One area that hurt us last year was untimely penalties. We need to be physical and embrace contact but also play clean football. If we can do that, I like our chances to surprise some people this year," he explained.
The Wildcats begin their 10-game season on August 22 when they host Nicholas County at Sharp Middle School. The team will then venture north for their first road game at Dayton on August 29. Other opponents rounding out the schedule include: Bellevue, Owen and Grant County. Lloyd Memorial, Carroll, Henry and Bourbon County. And the regular season finale pitting the team against Bishop Brossart.
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Ladycats Volleyball hopes to avoid a rebuild season and make another postseason run
By Kayley Bruener
The Pendleton County High School Ladycats volleyball team is gearing up for what promises to be an exciting and competitive season. With a strong mix of experienced returners and fresh new talent, the Ladycats are poised to make a deep run and turn heads in the region.
The Ladycats will be coached by Marian Rice, who will be returning for her second season. Leading the charge is senior Gracie Cotterman, a dominant force in the middle. Known for her powerful spikes and towering blocks, Cotterman averaged an impressive 4 blocks and 10 kills per match last season. Her presence on the court is commanding, but it’s her leadership off the court that makes her a cornerstone of the team’s success. Joining her is fellow senior Isabella Roberts, a dynamic defensive specialist who brings relentless energy and precision to every match. Roberts is known for her agility and court awareness, and as a senior, she’s stepping confidently into a leadership role. Megan Creech, another key senior, returns as the team’s setter and offensive orchestrator. Her ability to read opposing defenses and make quick decisions has made her an essential part of the Ladycats' playmaking. She’s spent the offseason refining her skills, and her growth in assists is already showing early in practice. Junior Pypr McCloud adds versatility to the Ladycats' rotation, having played both middle and outside hitter positions. She’s quick to adapt and has shown she can handle the pressure, averaging 3 blocks and 8 kills per match last season. Her flexibility and court IQ make her a player to watch. On the right side, junior Madison Gosney has emerged as one of the most consistent performers on the team. After a standout offseason, Gosney has improved both her serving accuracy and power. Coaches note her dedication and determination have led to major improvements throughout her volleyball career. Rounding out the lineup is a promising young newcomer, Hadley Spaulding, an eighth grader set to play across JV and varsity squads. Despite her youth, Spaulding has already earned her place on the court as both an outside hitter and setter. Her grit, high energy, and fearless attitude have made an immediate impression on her teammates and coaches alike.
With such a well-rounded and determined group, the Ladycats are ready to make their mark this season. Coach Rice closed by stating:
“Our approach is to take each game one at a time, analyze our opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, and tailor our strategies accordingly. We hold regular team meetings to discuss tactics and will begin watching game footage, which will help us stay adaptable and prepared for any scenario.”
The team has already set the tone early, kicking off the season with a scrimmage win against Newport High School on August 14. The preseason matchup gave fans a glimpse of the team’s depth and chemistry, and coaches were pleased with how the group handled their first match. The Ladycats officially begin their regular season on August 18 with an away match against Dayton High School, where they'll look to carry their early momentum into the start of competitive play.
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Ready, Set, Go: PC Cross Country looks to out-pace the competition
By Jennifer Redden
Cross County is a 5K race that takes place on hilly, uneven surfaces as the athletes run through the woods and fields. Each course is different and has its own challenges. The weather can also be factor at cross country meets, which adds to the difficulty of competing in such an event.
Pendleton County is led by Coach Craig Chaplin who is beginning his 50th year as a running coach. This year Jacob Hanser, a former PCHS runner, will be joining the coaching staff to help train the distance runners.
Practices will begin this week after school at Sharp Middle School. Athletes expected to return are Kara Bishop, Miles Collins, Brayden Conner, Taylor Flannagan, Catalina Furman, Izzi Jones, and Matthew Turner. More athletes are expected to be added to the roster. If you are interested in joining the team, contact Coach Chaplin or Athletic Director Jon Wirth. “I’m excited for this year because I’m a senior,” says Catalina Furman. “I’m excited to teach the incoming freshman about cross country and finish strong for my senior year.”
The PCHS team plans to host the Wildcat Prowl on September 13 and will participate in other meets throughout the region.