Edmonson Voice Sports:
​Edmonson County Lady Cat soccer won their season opener on the road in Monroe County 1-0.

The  goal was scored by freshman Autumn Carwile while senior goalkeeper Haley shields recorded nine saves along with her first shutout of the season.

Darren Doyle, story, photos, and video:
Edmonson County sports fans will hopefully be excited with some new and big changes coming to ECHS sports for the 2026-27 school year with the construction of a new turf-playing surface football field at Wildcat Stadium.

The surface, which feels like soft carpet, will not only be utilized by football, but also by soccer and band. Workers are in the final stages of construction on the project, which began on May 29th. 

With the new field comes big changes to the Edmonson Voice WildcatsLive sports broadcast for the upcoming season, which will include more coverage.

The Edmonson Voice has proudly brought live high school sports broadcasts to watchers and listeners for the past 11 sports seasons and we're excited to announce new additions.

This past May, the Superintendent Brian Alexander and the Edmonson County Board of Education signed an exclusive licensing agreement with The Edmonson Voice to allow us to operate as independent broadcasters for Edmonson County High School.

This will allow the Voice to work independently with our sponsors, who have also agreed to be part of this new agreement.

As part of these new changes, Jamie Carnes will manage the broadcast moving forward.

Jamie, or “Mr. Carnes,” as he is known by many former ECHS students, has been a member of WildcatsLive since its beginning in 2015. He had several years of radio and broadcasting experience before that.

“There’s no better person to lead our broadcast in the future than Jamie Carnes,” said Darren Doyle. “I have known Jamie since before he became part of the Edmonson County education system. You won’t find a more dedicated and loyal friend, and he knows how to get things done.”

Carnes’ new role is announced after Doyle has decided to step away from the broadcast.

“While I’ve enjoyed calling games with Jamie, and working with our football crew with Scott Lindsey and Granville Meredith, running the Voice is a 24/7 job. My personal family is growing and I plan on balancing more of my time with them.”

Scott and Granville will remain as the football broadcasters, but you may also see the addition of local school resource officer Austin Meredith from time to time.

Additionally, ECHS senior Peytin Manor will become the producer of WildcatsLive, pushing all the buttons behind the scenes after a great season last year as camera tech. ECHS students Macy Miller and Annie Parsley have also joined the crew for the upcoming season.

Jamie will also continue his basketball play-by-play work with the help of a new color commentator, former ECHS Principal and basketball coach Gary Meredith.

“Coach Meredith forgot more about basketball last week than I will ever know,” Doyle joked. “He was part of some of the greatest basketball teams to ever play here and his experience and history will help make our basketball coverage some of the best out there.”

Some other changes that are coming is the discontinuation of our audio-only broadcasts and the addition of more game coverage, including more sports.

“Over the last several years, our audio-only broadcasts have only had a handful of listeners each game,” Doyle said. “The cost for us to provide this service has become non-sustainable. Everyone wants to watch video coverage and we understand why. All our coverage will continue on our Facebook and YouTube Channels.”

Additionally, the Voice plans to cover a limited number of live baseball, softball, and hopefully soccer and volleyball.

“One of the main reasons we haven’t covered soccer is that none of our crew knows enough about it,” Doyle said. “I’ve joked in the past that if I tried to call a soccer game, the viewer would be more confused than if we’d just show the footage with no commentary. But we’re doing our best to learn and we hope to be able to bring some coverage to our fans. It’s also not easy to find commentators for the other sports at times, but again, we’re looking to make improvements in those areas to highlight more of our own kids.”

Doyle said it is also important to know that sponsors are the sole reason the broadcast will continue.

"I've said it for years and I will continue to do so. We have so much local support for this endeavor and it simply cannot happen without our local sponsors. Please let these folks know you appreciate what they do by doing business with them in any way you can."

WildcatsLive is presented by Alford's Pharmacy and brought to you by:

• Bank of Edmonson County
• A Plus Family Healthcare
• NCTC Fiber by WRECC
• Rafferty's and Double Dogs Restaurants
• Gravil Funeral Home
• SCRTC
• Patton Funeral Home
• Ace Hardware of Brownsville
• Scott Waste Services
• Julie Skaggs-Reed, Mike Reed, Realtors
• CMS Roofing and Restoration

Additional support is provided by:

• Kepple Auction and Realty
• H&K Construction and Management
• Warnell Family Pharmacy and Soda Shoppe
• Kyle White, Edmonson County PVA
• C&C Firearms and Outdoors
• Kevin Alexander, Edmonson County Clerk
• Webb's Eats and Treats
• M&L Electric
• Carriage Hill Insurance, Ryan Stice, Agent

The first day of school for students is Thursday, August 13th. The Wildcats' first football game is scheduled for Friday, August 21st at Grayson County High School.

Edmonson Voice Sports:
​The 2026 Edmonson County 8U All-Star softball team closed its season Tuesday, July 15, with two victories in a round-robin at Caneyville, defeating Ohio County 9-7 and Grayson County 14-0. The wins extended their winning streak to 12 games and finished the summer with a 13-4-1 record.


The All-Stars opened their season on June 13 in Glasgow after just two team practices. Despite the limited preparation, they earned Silver Bracket Runner-Up honors while facing several talented travel teams, including the 8U SOKY Lady Soldiers who recently won the USSSA Gulf Coast National Championship. This early tough competition set the girls up for a successful run.


On July 4, Edmonson County hosted its own All-Star tournament at the Edmonson County High School softball field. Teams from Edmonson, Metcalfe, Breckinridge, and Grayson counties competed, with EC finishing a perfect 4-0 to win the championship. The tournament was well attended and a great success for the program and community.


The team was also scheduled to compete in the Kentucky All-Star Classic in Edmonton on Saturday, July 11, but the tournament was canceled because of weather.


In addition to tournament play, Edmonson County traveled to Ohio County, Grayson County, and Allen County for weekday games throughout the summer.

Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County High School has announced Todd Webb, Jr., as the newest addition to the coaching staff on the Wildcats' bench. He will assist Head Coach Brad Meredith and the other coaches in the 26-27 season.

​"We're excited to welcome Coach Todd Webb to our boys basketball coaching staff and to the faculty at ECHS," said Jonathan Williams, ECHS Principal.

"Todd and I were high school teammates and have remained friends over the years, so this is truly a full-circle moment. While the circumstances bringing him home are heartbreaking following the loss of his father, Todd Sr., I have tremendous respect for the way he has handled this difficult season and for his commitment to being closer to his family."

Mr. Williams said that from both a basketball and educational standpoint, this is an outstanding addition for Edmonson's students, program, and Coach Meredith's staff.

"Todd has been successful at multiple levels and I believe will be an asset both on the court and in the classroom."

​​Coach Webb, also known as "Little Todd," to many of his friends in Edmonson County, is no stranger to basketball success, both in high school and in college. He brings quite the resume to Edmonson County, which is nothing but little.

​Coach Webb, a 2004 ECHS graduate, as well as a 2009 & 2012 WKU graduate,  started coaching shortly after medically retiring as a college athlete in track & field at WKU.

He was an assistant at Warren Central from 2006 - 2009, then became boys’ middle school head coach & girls’ middle school head coach in Adairville High from 2009 - 2013.

He then joined Springfield High School (Springfield, TN) for the 2013-14 season as boys' associate and JV head coach, then girls' varsity head coach at Hopkins County Central High School (Madisonville, KY), from 2014-2018.

In 2018, he was named girls' varsity coach at Brookwood School in Thomasville, GA, where he lead the team to their first & only girls' basketball state championship in 2020. He was also named state coach of they year that year. 

He has since served as Women’s Top Assistant Coach at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, GA from 2023-2026, where he also was Defensive Coordinator; Zone Offense Coordinator; and led International & HS Recruiting. He also helped lead UWG in their transition from NCAA D2 to NCAA D1 in 2024, and he has coached three players that went on to professional basketball.

Coach Webb told the Edmonson Voice he was happy to be back home and looks forward to joining his alma mater.

"The best thing about EC has always been the people," he said. "I’m looking forward to giving back to the community that shaped me into who I am today. It’s a special bonus when you get to work with so many familiar faces. Brad Meredith, Brian Davidson, & Jonathan Williams were all former teammates of mine. I look forward to working with them again."
​
Wildcat Head Coach Brad Meredith said he was excited to welcome Coach Webb to the coaching staff.

"Todd and I were teammates in high school, and we've remained close friends ever since," Coach Meredith said. "He has been a successful coach at multiple levels, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program."

"I'm glad he chose to come home to be closer to his family during this difficult time in their life, and we're fortunate that it also gave us the opportunity to add him to our staff. We want coaches who are high-character, hardworking, knowledgeable, and committed to developing young people both on and off the court. Todd embodies those qualities, and he will be a tremendous addition to an already outstanding coaching staff."

Superintendent Brian Alexander echoed much of the same from the school staff.

"It is great to have Todd Webb as a part of our school district," said Alexander. "Todd is a championship level coach that we are excited to have as part of our basketball program. More importantly, Todd is a wonderful person and will be a great asset to our school and our students.” 

​Principal Williams said both he and Coach Meredith are excited to work with Coach Webb to build on two winning seasons in a row.​

Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County High School has announced the hiring of Derrick Alfonso as the newest head baseball coach for the Wildcats.

"Coach Alfonso has a distinguished past in baseball as a player and a coach, said ECHS Principal Jonathan Williams.  "We are very excited to get him to work with and coach our kids at ECHS.  Derrick and his family have recently moved to Edmonson County and he is currently teaching special education in the district."

Coach Alfonso said baseball is one thing that has remained consistent in his life since his early childhood. He grew up in 
Bowling Green where he was a 6-year letterman at Warren Central High School. There, he helped earn a Regional Championship as a junior as well as being awarded Gatorade Player of the Year for the State of Kentucky in 2004.  

Alfonso then went on to become a four-year starter at The University of Louisville, earning All-Conference honors three of those years, as well as having the privilege to start on the first ever CWS (College World Series) team to represent the state of Kentucky in Omaha.  

He was drafted in the 26th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, where after three years in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, he began coaching travel baseball in addition to running a hitting academy that he ran from 2012-2020.

"I have coached or worked with over 250 kids that have gone on to play collegiately," he said. "I am blessed to be married to the love of my life and we have four children and are part of this community now and I look forward to building something special here."  

ECHS Athletic Director Kyle Pierce said the school is excited to welcome Coach Alfonso to the Wildcat family.

"It’s not everyday you can bring in a coach who was highly successful as a high school player, played at the highest collegiate level, competed in professional baseball, and knows how to teach the game," he said. "He is well known for player development and has proven to win games against a highly competitive  schedule. Derrick’s passion for baseball and his commitment to developing young men, both on and off the field, make him the perfect fit to lead our baseball program into the future."

Mr. Williams said the school looks forward to where his leadership and skill set will lead the Wildcat program in years to come. 

"We will utilize patience with Coach as he helps rebuild from losing several seniors the past few years.  Exciting days ahead," Williams added.

Coach Alfonso also said "I’m excited for the opportunity to build a new path forward for the program, while acknowledging the players and coaches from the past that have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into it.”

Peytin Manor, story:
On June 19th, the Edmonson County High School and Middle School Archery teams will compete at the 2026 National Archery Championship (NASP) in Daytona Beach, Florida. The NASP is a prestigious event that serves as the final tier of the National Archery in the Schools Program tournament series, which unites top-qualified archers in grades 4-12 from across the nation who advanced from the Eastern and Western National tournaments.

This season, the team has made way in Edmonson County archery history. This will be the first time the middle school team has ever been to Eastern Nationals or NASP. 

ECHS sophomore, Jayden Jones also made program history at the Eastern National Tournament by shooting two perfect rounds on the 3D targets, an achievement never before accomplished in the history of the archery program.

Elijah Bryant, ECMS eighth grader, placed among the top 90 archers at the Eastern National Tournament out of more than 15,000 middle and high school competitors. Bryant also holds the season’s highest shooting average across the entire middle and high school archery program.

First year head coach, Robert Bryant, stated, “Their consistency and dedication was the key to the team’s success.”

​

Darren Doyle, story:
One of the most heated high school basketball rivalries in the area will not face each other in the 26-27 school year, according to Edmonson County Superintendent Brian Alexander.

Supt. Alexander provided a copy of an emailed letter to the Edmonson Voice that he sent to both Doug Robinson, Superintendent of Grayson County Schools, and Julian Tackett, Commissioner of the KHSAA.

Two key players from last year's Edmonson team have transferred to play at Grayson County for the next school year.

In the letter, Mr. Alexander states, "In the past several years there have been multiple ejections in our games, which has been one of the hottest rivalries in Kentucky's boy's basketball. However, these recent transfers have taken this to another level, and I will not put my school and my school district in a position where something could happen at a basketball game that will cause Edmonson County to be in a negative light."

Alexander added the only way they would face each other would be a pairing in the 12th District Tournament. Alexander also noted that it was "100% my decision."
​
There have been multiple incidents over the past few years during games between the two schools, including a Grayson County fan being ejected for aggressively approaching Edmonson County Principal Jonathan Williams during a game. The fan was escorted out of the building by law enforcement. 

This past season, a Grayson County player threw a punch at an Edmonson County student when he dove after a ball into the Wildcat student section at ECHS. Cougar fans said the player claimed students grabbed his jersey in the crowd but ECHS students say they were trying to pull him up. The player and an ECHS student were ejected in the incident.

Players from both teams have received multiple technical fouls and ejections over the past several years during their matchups. Fans from both sides have also been ejected during their contests.

"There are some things more important than rivalries, wins, losses, and gate proceeds," Alexander told the Edmonson Voice. "This is one of those times."

When asked if the move is an attempt to dial down the rhetoric between the two teams, Alexander's reply was "It's definitely a move in order not to amplify it in any way."

Edmonson Voice Sports:
Edmonson County High School senior tennis standout Brayden Johnson has advanced in the KHSAA singles state tournament.

A three-time Region 3 champion, Johnson defeated Metcalfe County's Lucas Sa, 6-0, 6-2, to advance to the round of 32 on Wednesday, May 20th at Buchannon Park in Bowling Green. ​

Johnson then defeated Paducah Tilghman’s Henry Wright, 6-0, 6-4, to advance to the boys singles State Sweet 16.

Brayden will play Tuesday, May 26th, at the University of Kentucky.

Additionally, he was also named the Midway University/KHSAA Male Student Athlete-of-the-Year, which is based on athletic and academic achievement as well as community service and leadership. 

It was a pitcher's duel last night in Morgantown as the Lady Cats took on heavily-favored Trinity High School (Whitesville) (20-8, 7-1) for the District 12 Championship. Tough pitching and solid defense from the Lady Raiders resulted with Edmonson leaving 11 runners on base in the 2-1 Trinity win.

Lady Cat pitcher Emma Price went 6 innings, gave up only two earned runs on 7 hits with 4 strikeouts and only 2 walks, but Trinity's Ella Morris struck out 10 Edmonson batters which hindered the Lady Cats from advancing on the base paths when they needed it the most.

The Lady Cats were still able to put 9 hits on the board and committed no errors, which is a good sign as they now look to continue their season in the region tournament, which begins on Monday, May 25th

Price was also 3 for 3 at the plate with a double, Abigail Hogg was 2-3, Emma Davis went 2-4, Emma Hight was 1-3, and Kylee Williams went 1-3.

Head Coach Kevin Clemmons described the loss as a tough one.

"Defensively we played really well.," he said. "We were able to make great plays in critical situations. The ladies came ready to go and gave a great effort. Our coaching staff had an excellent scouting report and strategic plan. I just couldn’t come up with the right offensive strategy with runners on base to get the 2 more runs we needed."

Clemmons said while the opportunities were there, they are ready to move on as they focus on their first round region opponent.

"Trinity is a really good team with one of the best defenses in our region. They responded well to our strategy. We will find out Saturday our next opponent. The ladies will be ready to give a great effort. Really a wonderful group."

Multiple Lady Cats also were named to post-season teams. Emma Price and Jolee Vincent were named All-District, Price and Emma Davis were named All-Tournament, and Abigail Hogg was named All-Academic.

The Lady Cats are now 16-16 on the season. The region tournament schedule will be determined in a draw set to be held on Saturday.

Darren Doyle, story:
The bats were alive for the Edmonson County Lady Cats last night at Butler County in the first round of the District 12 Tournament, hosted by Butler County.

The Lady Cats amassed 19 hits and 13 RBIs in the lopsided 13-5 victory over the Lady Bears to advance to the district finals tonight against tough opponent Whitesville -Trinity in Morgantown.

The Edmonson County offense was led by Emma Price, who went 3-5 with 4 RBIs. She also pitched the complete game, going 7 innings, giving up 6 hits with no walks and 2 strikeouts.

Emma Hight went 3-4 with an RBI, Jolee Vincent was 3-5 with 3 RBIs, Emma Davis was 3-4, Hayley Sanders and Abigail Hogg each went 2-4, Brooklyn Carroll was 2-5, while Shelby Sowders and Kylee Williams, notched one hit each.

Extra base hits were plentiful for the Lady Cats as Sanders earned a triple and a double, and Davis, Vincent, and Price earned doubles.  

​Head Coach Kevin Clemmons said he felt like the team is playing at a high level right now. 

"They are extremely focused on playing as a team and excited about the opportunity to play for a District Championship," he said. "They are great representatives of ECHS pride and courage. Every young lady on this team is first class.  Trinity is a really strong team. They have been one of the top teams in our region all year.  They are well coached and have very talented players. It will take our best effort to win. The Lady Cats look forward to playing  them tonight."

Darren Doyle, story: Gabe DeArmond, photos:
Despite two homeruns from Edmonson County's Drew Pierce, the bats were cold at other times in an 11-6 loss to Grayson County that ended the Wildcats' season last night in the first round of the District 12 Tournament, hosted by Edmonson County.

Pierce was 2-4 on the night with 4 RBIs and pitched 2.1 innings, giving up three hits, three earned runs, while walking two with a strikeout.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings but Grayson County answered with two big innings of their own, putting 4 on the board in the third and three more in the fourth inning to take a 7-5 lead. 

The Cats also committed 5 errors on the night while leaving 7 runners on base.

In relief, Braxton Green threw 3.1 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits, while striking out 4 and walking 2. Jacob Logan pitched 1.1 innings while giving up 2 hits.

Edmonson County's Logan Key went 3-4 with an RBI and a double, eighth grader Braxton Green was 2-4 with a double, and Chase Bullock was 1-2 with a double and stolen base.

Grayson County's Gage Napier pitched a complete game, giving up 4 earned runs on 8 hits, 7 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 2 hit-by-pitch.

Coach Michael Meredith said he was proud of his team, despite the fact the result wasn't what they wanted.

"They lost a teammate and brother in Eli Meredith this past summer to a tragic accident and we missed him dearly in so many ways," Meredith said. "His calmness and leadership just wasn’t replaceable.  Then we suffered the loss of one of the best pitching arms our school has ever seen when Hunter (Wilson) simply wasn’t able to get the pain to leave his arm throughout the season.  He played in pain most everyday and I appreciate that he endured it for his brothers. "Lately, Drew (Pierce) got shingles and missed 3 or 4 games.  It’s like we would clear a hurdle and another would come along.  I am very proud of how hard they worked. I’ve taken these kids a lot of places and never had to worry about their shenanigans.  They are a fine group of young men that I’m honored to have coached."

Meredith also told the Edmonson Voice that he has decided to step down as head coach after five seasons in the role. 

"This will be my last group as I have told Mr. Williams and the team that I’m stepping down it as their head coach," he said. "Baseball has been a huge part of my life for a long time, and I’ve enjoyed the people that I have met along the way.  I’ve coached a lot of quality young men, and I’m honored to have been given the opportunity to coach them.  My health has become a concern as of late and my medical team feels it’s best for me to hand things over to someone else.  It has been a chapter in my life that I will always cherish."

Meredith was first hired as head coach for the 2022 season, where the Cats went 17-13 and won the District 12 Championship. Edmonson County is 74-67 under Meredith for a win percentage of .525.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
The Wildcats clicked against the visiting Todd County Rebels on Friday, May 1st, thanks to a complete game, one hitter by senior Jacob Logan and hot hitting from the Cats.
​

Both Hunter Wilson and Drew Pierce slugged homers for the Cats as the team racked up 6 hits and 6 RBIs against the Rebels. Logan struck out 5 while only walking two batters.

​The Wildcats are now 10-13 on the season. They are scheduled to play Butler County on the road on Monday, May 4th.

The Warren East Lady Raiders got on the board quickly after a big first inning and the Lady Cats couldn't overcome the rest as they fell 9-5 on senior night.

Edmonson County is now 10-14 on the season. They are scheduled to take on Metcalfe County on the road on Monday, May 4th.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Five senior Wildcats and their families were honored at Wildcat Field on Friday, May 1, 2026 as Edmonson County hosted Todd County on senior night.

Chase Bullock, Jake Coates, Jacob Logan, Drew Pierce, and Hunter Wilson were all honored in a pregame ceremony with their respective families. 

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
The ECHS Lady Cats celebrated their annual softball senior night at James Woodcock Field on Friday, May 1st.

Two senior Lady Cats, Jolee Vincent and Abigail Hogg, and public address announcer Preston Doyle were honored with their families before their game against Warren East. 

Senior Jolee Vincent, daughter of Kyle and Jennifer Vincent, has been a part of Lady Cat Softball for 5 years.

Senior Abigail Hogg, daughter of Caleb and Melinda Hogg, has been part of the team for 6 years. 

Preston Doyle, the PA announcer for the team, is the son of Shane and Jessica Doyle.

Darren Doyle, story:
Two familiar faces from local athletics were honored today at the annual Edmonson County Parks and Rec Baseball/Softball Jamboree, held at HWY 70 Park.

Carlton Alexander and Gerald Meredith were the guests of honor this morning, throwing out ceremonial first pitches as youth league personnel shared their appreciation for achievements for Edmonson County youth sports.

District 2 Magistrate T.J. Massey, who also serves as a youth league softball coach and board member, said that both men were huge parts of county sports for local youths.

"Carlton Alexander played a pivotal role in one of the most important milestones in our program’s history," he said. "Through his work with the Judge/Executive in the mid 80s, he helped turn a vision into reality by securing and developing the first two fields here at Highway 70."

He also said that Gerald Meredith's contributions helped define the structure and legitimacy of Edmonson County Baseball and Softball.

"Coach Meredith was instrumental in getting our league sanctioned through Babe Ruth Baseball, establishing it as a fully organized and recognized league, which he continued to run for years to come."

​Massey said that the results of their efforts from 40-plus years ago are still being seen today.

"These projects don’t just happen overnight, they take persistence, leadership, and a belief in what this program could become. Carlton and Gerald brought all of that and more."

Games were played today despite some wet weather. Both the South Edmonson Bulldog Choir and the Kyrock Blackhawk Choir performed the National Anthem before the games began today.

Representative Michael Meredith recently helped secure $1.45M in funding that will be used to update the park's youth sports fields.

Peytin Manor, story and photo:
On Friday, April 17th, Hunter Kinser, Edmonson County High School senior signed a letter of intent to play football for Campbellsville University, an NAIA university located in Campbellsville, Kentucky.

ECHS head football coach, Justin Vessels, states, “Hunter is one of the best centers I have ever coached but even as good of a player as he was, he always remained coachable…and I appreciate that.”

He is the son of Shawn and Samantha Kinser and plans to pursue a degree in business with a certification in welding. 

Kinser grew up in the Segal area, where he played football from a small boy through his high school years.

During his senior season, Kinser recorded eighteen solo tackles and added thirty assisted tackles, finishing with forty-eight total tackles this year. He had eleven tackles for loss and three defensive sacks this season.

Kinser’s senior year was filled with standout accomplishments. He was recognized as 3A All-State, a prestigious honor that highlights his exceptional performance on the field. In addition, he earned First Team All-Region as well as First Team Sky Conference accolades.

​

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Daniel Caudill was named the newest head coach for Lady Cat Basketball this afternoon at ECHS. The announcement comes after Jody Booth stepped down as head coach two weeks ago, citing family obligations after three seasons as head coach.

Caudill was a standout athlete at ECHS, playing football and basketball. He has served as a girls' basketball coach at ECMS and an assistant under Booth this past season for ECHS. His wife, Caitlin (Simon) Caudill, is the all-team leader in points scored in Lady Cat Basketball, with well over 2,000 points and a former head coach for ECHS Volleyball. They are both teachers in the Edmonson County School system.

Caudill spoke to a small crowd in the ECHS gym today, made up of Lady Cat players, school administration, and other student athletes.

"I hope you know how excited I am to start this with you all," he said. "I've built relationships with most of you already, and I'm super thankful and super motivated to get this going."

Coach Caudill attributed past Lady Cat success to former coaches Kevin Jackson, Ted Hill, Mike McClintic, Bart Weaver, and Booth. He said nothing he would ever do would take away from the accomplishments of those teams, but he would only wish to add to that success.

"Everything we do is building off that. It's not taking away from it or tearing it down. I'm super appreciative of that."

ECHS Athletic Director Kyle Pierce also noted the past success in Lady Cat Basketball and was looking forward for a future with Coach Caudill.

"Today is the start of one of those tenures," Pierce said. "I believe it's going to be one of those that we'll look back on and think back to 2026 because he's going to be coaching for quite a while and I believe he will be successful."

ECHS Principal Jonathan Williams said the school was excited to announce the next head coach in Caudill.

"Daniel is an extremely talented, energetic, and relentless competitor, that I have full confidence will lead our program at a high level," Williams said. "His passion for the game and genuine care for our students are evident, and his energy are contagious. Daniel is a proud Edmonson County resident and alumnus at ECHS.  He is someone I have known since he was nine years old. It is special to me to welcome him back to ECHS, and I could not be more proud to have him serve as both a teacher and coach."

Caudill concluded the announcement today by handing out practice schedules and plans for summer ball as he was welcomed by his players.

Darren Doyle, story:
The five-series documentary, "50 Years as Champions" is now available with the series finale being released on Friday, March 27th. Across all Edmonson Voice platforms, it's getting close to receiving 40,000 views. 

In the film world, that's nothing. Not even a drop in the tiniest bucket. But for a county with a population of only 12,000, with a homegrown production, that's pretty significant. 

I first had the idea of this project 10 years ago when the team "celebrated" their 40th anniversary. When I use the term "celebrated," I mean some of the members of the team came to the high school and waved at the crowd during halftime at one of the games. It was a nice gesture but I felt like they deserved more. I remember thinking, "somebody better do something really special for their 50th."

Who would that be? Would I write an article on how great the team was? There was no way to do that in one article. No matter whether or not you are a sports fan, you have to understand that the chances of Edmonson County winning the state basketball championship was the same as getting struck by lightning. Twice. At the end of the rainbow, in a field of four-leaf clovers.

I said it before and I'll say it again. This wasn't just a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. It's more like ten lifetimes. That's no disrespect to any of the other teams that have come through Edmonson County High School. There have been some dandy teams and amazing players down through the years. But winning the championship for a community like ours takes so much more than just being a great team.

In 1976, the ECHS Wildcats were a group of young boys that would have played on a homemade hoop in a dirt floor barn. In fact, most of them did. They never set out to win a championship, but because their love and dedication to each other was a bond so strong, they fought for each other on and off the court, which led to winning.

This group of boys had practiced against some of the best players that ever came through Edmonson County. There was never a night where the 76 Wildcats would ever face players better than Gary Key or Gary Meredith. Those earlier teams showed the 76 team what it was like to be winners. The teams before them were just as good, if not better, statistically in some areas.

But the 76 Wildcats had something all championship teams have--it's hard to say exactly what that was. They were all obviously skilled at their positions but not really stars. For whatever reason, Coach Bo Davenport played mostly six players. There were a few others that got into some games during that season, but they didn't earn many minutes. There was other talent there besides the six, but the six were the ones that played the majority of the minutes. The ones that sat the bench were not only some of the loudest cheerleaders, but also very talented athletes. 

When their coach got in their faces, they didn't run home and tell their mommies. They didn't call the superintendent's office and demand a meeting. They didn't demand the coach be fired. They respected their coach enough and their commitment to the team enough, to do what it took to win. They cared about the name on the front of the jersey much more that individual accolades.

The 76 team was fearless but not arrogant. They simply took each game one at a time and knew that it would take the same thing to win every night. They didn't win because of their super-stardom; they won because losing meant they were letting their teammates down, their coach down, their school down, and their community, and they did not want to lose.

They had some luck along the way. They made the big plays when they had to. They knew they had to make them, and they did. They got an outstanding draw in the Sweet Sixteen, and one of the best teams in the nation, with national player of the year Darryl Griffith, didn't even make it to the state tournament that year.

The strokes of good fortune they had are too many to name, on TOP of being an outstanding team. So when you say "once-in-a-lifetime," it's more than just a phrase; however, the boys saw an opportunity and they were relentless in making the most out of that opportunity, which ultimately ended with cutting down the nets at Freedom Hall.

Interviews with former players, staff, administration, and even an opponent, tell the stories of how the team came to be. The audience gets to hear straight from them. You'll get to see the comradery between the guys, and even 50 years later, they are still laughing and sharing these memories.

I would like to personally thank everyone that was a part of this series in any way, and specifically, those who helped financially. Those people include Dion Houchins, Kasey Alford, and Alan Kepple. They helped make my vision of this possible.

I would also like to thank Yellowberri Creative Studios in Bowling Green. One of my dear friends in the media business is Josh Hampton, who helped create this company nearly 20 years ago. I am not a filmmaker, I've never claimed to be, and I needed some real help to figure out if I could pull this off. He was a huge help in the very beginning of this project as a consultant, and with the help of other YB team members Nate Morgulen and Dave Downing, they brought my idea to life. 

The rest of the thanks are in the credits of the series, and there are plenty more of them. 

I would encourage any athlete at any level to watch this series. This is how championships are won. It's literally a recipe to bring home trophies; and while the recipe is simple, following it is anything but easy. 

Need motivation to get something done? To move to another level of something in your life? Watch this series. If you aren't motivated to do something better after watching it, you can't be motivated.

These guys deserve all the accolades, ceremonies, and reflection possible, and more. People keep thanking me and the Voice crew for doing this, but please direct your thanks to the guys that made up this team. 

The Voice didn't profit from this project and that wasn't the intent. This was for two reasons: honor and preservation. I hope both can be accomplished.

It's incredible, and I thank all of you for watching and sharing it. With as much work as this one took, I'm already behind on the next project: "100 Years as Champions..."