Tyler Grubbs Commits

Highlands offensive lineman Tyler Grubbs has committed to NCAA FBS (formerly Division I-A) Miami University (Ohio). He is the first Highlands football player from the Class of 2010 to verbally accept a football scholarship. Grubbs also had football scholarship offers from Western Kentucky University, Troy University and Central Michigan University.

In addition to Grubbs, multipurpose player Austin Collinsworth has received football scholarship offers from the University of Kentucky, Stanford University, the University of Louisville, the University of Cincinnati and Vanderbilt University.

Other Highlands players are also expected to receive football scholarships during the upcoming football season.

7-on-7 Competitions

Fort Thomas Highlands will participate in 7-on-7 passing competitions against Simon Kenton, Mason County, Cincinnati Moeller, Covington Holmes, Cincinnati Taft, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy and Hamilton (Ohio) this summer, in preparation for the 2009 football season. These competitions will be held in June and July at Highlands High School.

Northern Kentucky All-Star Game

On Monday, June 1 at 7:00PM, the 2009 Northern Kentucky Football Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game was held at Ryle High School. Five Highlands seniors, Tony Guidugli, Nick Martin, Adam Dempsey, Michael Laber and Oliver Head played on the East squad.

The East squad defeated the West squad by a score of 6-0. The game's sole score was a 35-yard touchdown pass from Highlands' Tony Guidugli to Newport Central Catholic's Mark Kelly in the third quarter. Guidugli led all players in rushing yards, in addition to leading the East squad in passing yards. He was named the East squad's Offensive Back of the Game.

This was the 27th all-star game held by the Northern Kentucky Football Coaches Association.

Highlands Ranked by MaxPreps

Fort Thomas Highlands is ranked 24th nationally in the 2009 MaxPreps Football Xcellent 25 Early Contenders list. Highlands is the only Kentucky school listed in this prestigious preseason national ranking.

Highlands' Cannon Retired

The Highlands cannon, affectionately known as "Olde Betsy," has been retired. The 800-pound cannon has been fired during Highlands home football games since 1968. This decision was made in large part because of an injury sustained to a member of the cannon crew on the day of the 2008 Kentucky Class 5A state championship game, which Highlands won.

Former Highlands Coach Honored

On May 9, 2009, Mr. Homer Rice, former head football coach at Highlands High School, was honored as Alumnus of the Year by the Highlands High School Alumni Association. Coach Rice was inducted into the Kentucky High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 1988, the first year the program was installed.

Four Highlands Seniors Invited to All-Star Game

Four Highlands seniors have been invited to participate in the second annual Kentucky East vs. West All Star Football Game. The game will be played on Friday, June 12, 2009 at 7:30PM, at Western Kentucky University. The Highlands seniors have been invited to play on the East squad. The four players are:

QB Tony Guidugli
OL/DL Adam Dempsey
RB/DB Josh Conner
DL Kody Rosenhagen