From a Different View: ATHLETICS How the Aces Powered Through an Unforgettable Year in Athletics

By Jason Morris, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach

When the pandemic began, we had our hearts ripped out of us because both of our basketball teams (boys and girls) were not allowed to participate in the KHSAA state tournaments they had earned the right to play in. Shortly after, we also had to shut down all spring sports and there were no spring sports at all in 2020.

We hoped that when things lightened up during the summer of 2020, we would be able to get back to playing athletics. However, the pandemic had just begun and tough decisions had to be made on how Owensboro Catholic could come back to school in 2020. Hardly any other school in the entire state would be going to school in person daily and this had to be our focus as a school system. Athletics plays a huge role in our student’s lives so we wanted to make sure they were able to participate in sports also.

Some of these decisions included how to transport kids to and from sporting events and practices, how players could or could not use the locker rooms, how we were going to safely hydrate

OCHS Girls Track

Caroline Kanipe, Mallary Bailey, Emilee Cecil and Kash Rice came in second place in the 4x100 meter relay at the 2021 KHSAA State Track and Field Championship.

Kash Rice placed 15th in the 100 with a 13.47. Carol Staples, Maleigha Shelton, Mallary Bailey, and Abby Payne placed 10th in the 4x200 relay with a time of 1:55.66. Ella Claire Goetz was 12th in the girls 3,200 with 13:30.68. Staples was 16th in the girls long jump with a 29-6.25, also a personal record.

Ann Switzer and Dylan Nichols placed third in the mixed unified shot put.

our athletes in the middle of the summer heat, whether we needed to wear masks while actively participating in sports, how many, if any, fans would be allowed at our home events, etc.

Luckily, we came together like the Catholic community always does and we made sports possible for our students. Fans, although limited, were also allowed to come watch and we are very thankful for them.

In closing, we have been more successful in athletics than we ever could have imagined while also going to school every day in a pandemic. We did not have a teamwide Covid outbreak in any sport for the entire school year. Every sport either improved on their previous seasons’ records or had winning records. Our administration, players, coaches, parents, and fans did whatever it took to make school and sports happen. As our athletic director, I am very proud of our athletic programs and our school system! ♠

OCHS Boys and Girls Tennis Teams

The girls went 22-1 in the season, won Region for the 5th year in a row, and finished in 3rd place at state.

Two of our senior players were All-State, Emmy Moore and Sarah Kate Young (who won region and made it to the final 16 in state). Aisha Merchant (8th) and Olivia Hayden (11th) lost to Moore/Young in the Region final and also made it to the final 16 in the state.

One singles player, Ella Cason, an 8th grader, also went to state

OCHS Baseball

The OCHS baseball team had an impressive campaign in 2021. We won our first All-A State championship since 2008, bringing home the 4th state title in program history (2005, 2007, 2008). We won our second consecutive 9th District championship and claimed our first 3rd Region Championship since 2005. The team finished with a record of 32-6, going undefeated versus 3rd Region opponents & winning more games than any OC club since the 2005 team, who went 34-7.

and finished in the final 16.

Our boys finished 10-10 in the season. Tucker Ray and Brett Conder lost in the semi-final at Region but went on to win a round at the state.

Thank you to our OCHS Tennis Coach, Noel Clayton, for coaching the OCHS tennis teams. He has done this for 20 years!

OCHS Softball

Owensboro Catholic Lady Softball finished runner-up in the All “A” State Tournament. They were runner-up in the 9th District Tournament and advanced to the semi-finals of the 3rd Region Tournament.

Did you know?

This year’s team set a new record of homeruns hit in one season! The 2021 team hit a total of 24 homeruns! The number to beat was 21.

Bye George, He’s Retired!

After teaching at OCHS for 29 years and coaching for 22 years as the most successful softball coach in the state of KY, George Randolph is signing off! To recap, Coach Randolph has had an extraordinary athletic coaching career which included 6 state Championships, 4 runner ups, 1 third place, and 2 fourth place finishes. Coach, along with his teams, has had the best winning record in any sports program throughout the state at 78%, which includes 678 wins!

George Randolph will be one of the most remembered and celebrated educators OCHS has ever had. He led his co-workers and students by his Christian example, and his faith never wavered when tested.

We wish to congratulate and thank Coach George Randolph for all the love he poured into OCHS over the last 29 years and all the lives he impacted on and off the field! Enjoy retirement Coach!