Darren Doyle, story: Alyssa Doyle, photos:
Edmonson County's Lady Cats notched their first win of the season last night at ECHS as they defeated Russellville 49-30 in the 2022-23 season opener.

Zone defense from the Lady Cats held the Lady Panthers to 0% shooting from the field in the first half. Russellville did not score a field goal until 5:10 left in the third quarter. They made only four field goals all night, which included one three-pointer. The remaining 21 points scored by the Lady Panthers came from the free throw line, where they attempted 37 of them, compared to only 15 free throw attempts from Edmonson County.

The quick and athletic Lady Panthers couldn't buy a bucket, despite getting some good looks around the basket. Some went in and out of the rim while others bounced off the top of the backboard, or even over it.

Coach Bart Weaver credited his team for success early in the game.

"I thought we did a really good job first, you know, coming out and playing pretty well early," he said. Coach Weaver said his worry was playing sloppy in the second half with a big lead. Edmonson led 32-4 at the half. He said that while the turnovers were too high (18) and there were other things that needed to be "shored up," he was pleased with the defense early, where the Lady Cats caused some real trouble for Russellville with zone, shutting down Lady Panther senior guard A'miyah Collier.

"We've worked really hard the last couple days just working on that zone. Collier is one of the best players in the fourth region. She's very athletic and already signed to play softball at Central Arkansas. She's a really good player and she's such a good penetrator but not a good outside shooter, so we've worked really hard on closing those gaps in those zones. Overall, I thought we did a great job of keeping her out of the paint."

Senior point guard Annie Kiper led all scorers with 18 points and 3 rebounds. Freshman Cariann Williams had 15 points and 6 rebounds. Emma White had 6 points and 9 rebounds, Callie Webb had 3 points and 2 rebounds, and Lily Jayne Vincent had 2 points and 10 rebounds. Vincent also grabbed her 500th career rebound during the game. Kennadi Swihart and Jenna Cook each added 2 and Maggie Cassady added one point.

Edmonson County shot 53% from the field, 22% from three-point land, and 73% from the free throw line.

They are 1-0 on the season and are set to take on Cumberland County in a girl/boy doubleheader this Saturday at 3PM.

Edmonson County's boys earned their first win of the season on Tuesday night, defeating Nelson County on the road, 57-41. They are now 1-1.

Darren Doyle, story, Alyssa Doyle, photos:
An unexpected early barrage of three-pointers from Daviess County, paired with some very untimely turnovers from Edmonson County resulted in the 63-60 Wildcats' loss to the Panthers in the 2022-23 season opener at home last night at ECHS.

The Wildcats looked to get the ball in the paint, which worked early as they led 15-14 after the first. The second quarter saw Daviess County start knocking down threes and taking the lead. They hit seven of them in the first half and went 10/20 for the game for 50% shooting from behind the arc. The score was tied at 34 at halftime.

While the Panthers hit a three to start the third quarter, Edmonson County did a much better job of fighting through screens and defending the three-pointer; however, a few of those untimely turnovers led to a 46-38 lead from the Panthers.

Edmonson County then went on an impressive 8-0 run to tie the score at 46 with 2:21 left in the third, finished off by Boden Bates' bank shot from the left side, which forced a Panther timeout.

Neither team scored for the next minute until Tyler Anderson's free throws gave the Cats a 48-46 lead with 1:27 left in the third. Anderson finished with 14 points and 6 rebounds and was a perfect 8/8 from the line. Edmonson County led 50-48 at the end of the third quarter.

The Wildcats looked as though they were taking command as the fourth quarter began with a 54-48 lead. They held Daviess County scoreless until 5:38 to go. The Panthers were able to close the gap to 54-52 when the Wildcats threw the ball out of bounds for an unforced turnover with 2:54 left. The Panthers took a 55-54 lead on their next possession as they hit a three with 2:21 to go.

Edmonson's Zander Bass nailed a tough jumper through contact to regain the lead at 56-55 with two minutes left, but the Cats gave up a wide open three on Daviess County's next possession and the Panthers were up again at 58-56 with 1:37 left. The Cats couldn't convert on their next possession and Edmonson's Will Alexander set up for the charge on the other end under the basket for the incoming Panther shot. He was called for a foul as the bucket went in. Daviess missed the free throw and was then charged a foul on the rebound attempt.

Edmonson's Braxton Highbaugh missed the front end of the bonus but the ball was tipped out and rebounded by Alexander. Tyler Anderson drove to the right side of the basket and banked in a layup under heavy contact. The Cats trailed 58-60 with 46 seconds to go. Edmonson County's full court pressure caused a turnover as Highbaugh swiped a pass in midair; he threw the ball to Bass near the Cats' basket but he couldn't hang on to it through contact from the defensive player. Both players went to the ground and Daviess County recovered the ball and called timeout with 33 seconds left. The Cats were back in the same situation, this time with 13 seconds less left on the clock.

Daviess County drew the foul with 25 seconds to go and hit both free throws for a 62-58 lead. Highbaugh drove the lane and drew the foul with 16 seconds left. He hit both shots to bring them within two points. Daviess was fouled with 12 seconds on the clock. They missed the first shot but made the second, (63-60) leaving opportunity for the Cats to tie it with a three.

Coach Brad Johnson called a timeout to set up a final play. The Cats weren't able to get off a good shot and Braden Wall was forced to put up a difficult turnaround three at the buzzer that fell short.

Coach Johnson gave his assessment of the loss after the game.

"We didn't take care of the ball at key parts of the game," he said. "I take the blame myself, I've got to have them more ready, but on a key possession up three or four and we just throw it out of bounds? I mean come on."

He said the Cats obviously have some things to fix while the season gets off in full swing with another game tonight on the road at Nelson County and on Saturday at Cumberland County.

"I'm just really disappointed with, daggone it, how we handled the ball," he said. "We answered the call (when) they made a little run there. I said 'ok, we're gonna see what we're made of right here,' when we're down five or six, and man, we answered the charge, came back and took the lead. But then we just fiddle-farted around and threw it out of bounds."

Highbaugh led the Cats in scoring with 15 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds. Anderson added 14 and 6 rebounds. Boden Bates had 11 points off the bench. Alexander added 8, Wall added 6 points and 9 rebounds, and Bass had 6 points and 5 rebounds.

Edmonson County shot 47% from the field, 28% from behind the arc, and 77% from the free throw line. They committed 12 turnovers and out-rebounded the Panthers 28-15.

Edmonson County is 0-1 on the season and travels to Nelson County for a JV/V match tonight beginning at 6PM.

The Lady Cats will take on Russellville tonight at home in the season opener for a varsity game only, beginning at 7PM. The game will be streamed live through the Edmonson Voice.

The winning boys alumni team was coached by Johnny Pete Vincent and Slug Duvall, and the opposing team was coached by Kevin Clemmons and Phil Rich.

Afterwards, the Lady Cats divided up evenly into two teams and played a 30-minute quarter intersquad scrimmage. Team White won with a final score of 12-8. The Wildcats then divided into two teams and also played a 30 minute quarter. Team white won with a final score of 28-25.

The first official game of the season for the Wildcats is Monday, November 28, 2022 at home against Daviess County at 7:30PM. The Lady Cats will play Russellville at home on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at 7PM.

Darren Doyle, story and photos: Peytin Manor, photo editing assistant:
The 2022 Edmonson County Wildcat football season came to an end tonight with a 48-0 loss to Lexington Christian Academy in Lexington.

The Eagles of LCA were hoping to showcase the passing skills D1 prospect quarterback Cutter Boley, a junior, who has already received offers from Alabama, Michigan, Penn State, UK, and several other schools. Boley effortlessly threw a 40 yard pass on their first play of the game but the receiver bobbled it untouched after the catch and the Wildcats were able to recover the fumble.

The Cats weren't able to get anything going on offense during the possession and LCA got on the board first with 9:30 left in the first with JConte Emerson scoring on a 1-yard run. The extra point was good for a 7-0 Eagles lead.

The Eagles would make another big play on their next possession; a 55-yard punt return from Evan Brown, another highly touted college prospect. The extra point made it 14-0 with 5:30 in the first.

The Cats were snuffed out every time they began to get some momentum, which included a huge interception from Edmonson's Tyler Anderson, and several penalties against the Eagles that afforded Edmonson County some extra opportunities.

First year head coach Zach Vincent said he couldn't be any prouder of his guys despite the loss and the season's end.

"We had them on their heels the first part of the game but just couldn’t punch it in," he said. "Like I told the boys, things happen that are out of hands but we have to keep fighting and they did."

Vincent said that no one wants to see their season come to end unless you are the team that hoists up the state championship trophy, but despite the ups and downs over the season and injuries at inopportune times, the Wildcats found stability and were able to accomplish some goals.

"To have a group that came out of a season like they had last year and do the things they did was great to be apart of.  This group had a tough schedule--playing five teams that were at least top ten in their respective classes. I believe what best describes this team is they are fighters. Win or lose, they fight. We had a simple goal this year. Enjoy the game and try and fight for a win."

Coach Vincent also credited his seniors for their leadership that meant so much to the team.

"Couldn’t ask for a better group of young men. They have helped build and improve this program and left something  special for the seniors next year to take over and keep building. We talk all year about how people are watching, especially those little-leaguers as we walk off and on the field and practice field. That’s what we're building and maintaining; pride in Wildcat football."

Edmonson County finishes their season 3-8 on the year. While the record may not turn many heads, it's an improvement from last year's very tough winless season. Both Coach Vincent and Wildcat fans are looking for even more improvement next year.

Madison Doyle, story and photos:
Tonight at the ECHS football game against Breckenridge County, several seniors were recognized from band, cheer, golf, cross-country, and football. Below is a slideshow of each senior that was recognized and their families.

Not pictured was cross country senior Brandon Lindsey who has traveled to compete in state competition.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
It's been an up-and-down season for the Wildcats, and when you consider last season, more downs than ups; however, this year's senior Wildcats as well as the rest of the team, were up tonight with a big win over Breckinridge County on Senior Night 2022, winning 38-6.

Edmonson County got on the board early and never looked back. Michael Mills scored on a 23-yard TD run as senior Daren Alexander converted on the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead with 9:13 in the first quarter.

After the Tigers fumbled and the Cats recovered, senior Zander Bass scored on a 20-yard run, and a good two-point conversion made it 16-0 for the Cats with 6:33 to go in the first.

The Cats got the ball down to the two-yard line with seconds to go in the first, and as the second quarter started, Edmonson County was charged with a 10-yard penalty. It would then be senior Jude Clemons who rushed in for the TD. The conversion attempt was no good but the Cats led 22-0 with 11:40 in the second.

The game would finally be decided on some huge plays from the Wildcats, with Michael Mills scoring on 54-yard touchdown and another two-point conversion. Peyton Keith would then later score on a 64-yard TD, and with another conversion, the Cats led 38-0, which would be the score at the half.

Mills had an easy touchdown run but actually ran it out of bounds at the one-yard line in an attempt to give some other Wildcats a chance to score. With Edmonson County being the victim of several beat downs and the score being run up on them over the past couple of seasons, fans were glad to see the sportsmanship of the Cats as plays were run to give other guys opportunities that don't get a lot of touches to run the ball.

Breckinridge would eventually get a touchdown in the 4th quarter but the Wildcats had already sealed the deal earlier in the game.

Coach Zach Vincent discussed the win tonight, but talked more about the 11 seniors than anything else in his post game interview.

He went through each senior in the lineup and shared his thoughts on each player and their contributions to the team.

"Tyler Anderson, a great athlete," he said. "The only thing I could ever be mad about Tyler, and I tell him this all the time, he didn't play all four years. He came out as a freshman, great kid and great athlete, can cut up but knows when to cut it off."

"Zander Bass, also a great athlete and I hate what happened to him--he went down the first game. He's just big-hearted, such a competitive athlete. I mean, he just wants to win, he wants to score."

"David Brewer got introduced to football this year. And as he said before, 'I love it, I wished I'd done if for four years. He's always got a smile on him. I've never seen him when he didn't have a smile on him."

"Daren Alexander, me and him go way back. You gotta love him--he goofs around, but it's just amazing how he can be the guy that cuts up and then get serious."

"Peyton Keith turned into a pretty good leader, I think. I mean, we had the quarterback position open, he didn't win it right off the bat, played a different position, took that linebacker position, played it well, then took the quarterback position in a different style."

"Owen Still had some issues early, he's got some knee issues, but just a kid who's very passionate. People forget about the kickers, but he used to come out here and punt every day...a good, passionate kid where he thinks he can make the team better."

"Jude Clemons, you cannot meet a more passionate, big-hearted kid than Jude. He wants to win, not just for himself but for the team. He's a big team guy."

"Caden Swihart, a good, hard worker, great lineman," Coach Vincent said. "He's got good leadership skills and helping coaching guys on the sideline. He went down with a knee injury and has almost turned into a coach."

"Monte Orvis: hard-working-kid. If you saw Monte his first year here, he looked like a spaghetti noodle. But a kid that not only works hard during the season, but working during the off season, lifting weights. He's got a goal and he's very focused on his goal."

"Austin Cherry is a kid that's kind of like a Swiss Army knife. He can play left tackle, left guard, tight end, running back. He just wants to play and he doesn't care as long as he gets to hit somebody or beat up on the opposing team."

"Nolan Martin is a good kid and everybody loves him," Vincent said. "Like David (Brewer), always got a smile on his face, got a big heart, and let me tell you something, there's a monster in there and when it does wake up, I don't want to be on the other side of him."

Vincent also talked about the upcoming game next Friday against Lexington Catholic, a team that is heavily favored against the Wildcats.

"Don't put us down. These kids have some fight about them," he said. "I think we play better as underdogs a little bit, I think we have a little bit of fire in us in the second half, it's like I tell the kids every day, we gotta play four quarters. If we can do that, I think we can be very competitive next week."

Edmonson County improves to 3-7 on the season while Breckinridge County finished the regular season 0-10.

The Cats will travel to Lexington for a 6:30PM central time game start (7:30 local time) for a first round playoff.

Madison Doyle, story and photos:
The Edmonson County Lady Cat Volleyball team traveled to Meade County last night to take on the Meade County Lady Waves in round one of the Region 3 tournament, something Edmonson County's Volleyball team has not done since 2017.

Edmonson fell behind Meade by just a couple of points in the beginning of the first set, but quickly caught up and took the lead with some big blocks and hard attacks at the net, causing trouble for the Lady Waves. The Lady Cats tied things up at 8-8, where they then took the lead and stayed in the lead the remainder of the set. The were able to fight off an 8-0 run from Meade with their own 7-0 run to end the set, winning 25-18.

The second set was much of the same. Each team swapped the lead back and forth for most of the set. The Lady Waves tied things up at 20-20, but the Lady Cats stayed on top of their game. Edmonson won the second set 25-22.

In the third set the Lady Cats started out with a comfortable lead, and forced a Meade County timeout at 9-5. The mistakes Meade made in the first two sets were shored up, they gained some momentum, and tied things up at 15-15, forcing an Edmonson County timeout. The Lady Waves appeared to get rid of the jitters forced by Edmonson earlier as Meade won the third set 19-25, making the score 2-1.

The Lady Cats started to see trouble in set four. Small mistakes began costing points, and with Meade on top of their game it was difficult for Edmonson to recover. Meade went on to take set four 17-25, and then the score was tied 2-2, going into a final set five. The Lady Cats simply could not recover from their mistakes as the Lady Waves won set five 15-6, resulting in a 3-2 loss for the Lady Cats.

"A loss is always a loss, but last night's loss was hard for more than one reason," said first year Head Coach Caitlin Caudill. "This was the last time that this group will ever be together as a team. They played hard and pushed hard the whole game and as a coach that's all I could ask for." Caudill applauded the accomplishments this group have made this year. "This season we have played in three championship games, we made it to the regional tournament, and finished with a winning record. This group of girls have built back up and have brought back the respect around this volleyball program."

The Edmonson Voice also spoke with a few members of the Lady Cat Volleyball who wanted to thank the student section this season. The student section showed up home or away to cheer on the team this season. Many times when the Lady Cats were down and would normally start to give up, the pep section would lift them up and turn their attitudes around, and that is something the EC Volleyball Team has never had before.

"Our student section was a huge help this year," said Senior Rylee Laster. "They cheered us on consistently whether it was home or away. I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who has encouraged us during, and even after, all of our games this year."

Senior Whitney Davis also expressed her gratitude for the students who always came to loudly cheer on the Lady Cats. "I am so incredibly thankful to have had such an amazing pep section to cheer us on, especially when we were down. This season wouldn't have been the same without them, and I be sure to cheer them on during basketball season the way they have for us," said Davis.

Senior Alyssa Doyle also credited the student section. "This year's pep section played a big part in our success this year. They showed up to every home game, and the same group of boys showed up to all of our important away games. They were always loud and gave us the energy we needed to feed off of and to keep our momentum going."

Alyssa Doyle, Rylee Laster, Kaylee Lindsey, Raven Cast, and Whitney Davis laced up their volleyball shoes for the last time last night. "As our season comes to an end, we will be losing five seniors. These seniors have dedicated their time to this program and they will be greatly missed," said Coach Caudill.  "It has been a huge honor to be their coach for their final season. I am so incredibly proud of each and every one of them."

The Lady Cats ended their season with a winning record of 19-14, a major improvement from last year's 7-21 record. This is the most wins any Lady Cat Volleyball team has brought home in the last five years.

Edmonson Voice Sports:
The Wildcats were in it all the way down to their last possession, but a mishap in the first quarter would prove to be the difference in the game for Edmonson County.

The Cats scored early on Michael Mills' 37-yard touchdown run in addition to his 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead with 7:21 in the first quarter. With just over a minute left in the quarter, the Wildcats had a disappointing possession with a personal foul penalty then an incomplete pass on what was close to a 40-yard pass attempt. This would force the Cats to punt on fourth down with the kicker in the Wildcats' end zone; however, the snap was high and the Cats could not get on the ball, resulting in a Monroe County recovery and a Falcons' touchdown, plus a 2-point conversion to tie the score at 8-8 with 1:07 left in the first.

Early in the second, it was Mills again, as he scored on a 29-touchdown run, plus another 2-point conversion. The Cats took a 16-8 lead with 9:27 in the second quarter.

The Falcons bounced back on their next possession, returning the kickoff for a 38-yard gain. After being stuffed by the Cats on the next down, Monroe connected on a 10-yard pass then another 20-yard gain for a first down on Edmonson County's 20-yard line. The Falcons were able to score after another couple of short runs in the possession, plus a two-point conversion that tied the score at 16 with 6:15 left in the half, which would also be the score at halftime.

The Wildcats and Falcons swapped possessions in the third with no score but Monroe County was left with good field position after an errant punt attempt from the Wildcats early in the 4th. Monroe took over on the Wildcats' 16-yard line. They would eventually score on a 2-yard push with 10:27 left in the game. Their conversion attempt was no good but they led 22-16.

Edmonson County's last possession began early in the 4th and a facemask penalty against Monroe gave an advantage to the Cats, but they eventually turned the ball over on downs, going for it on 4th and 6 with 7:13 to go. The Falcons held Edmonson County for the remainder of the quarter and was able to utilize the clock to their advantage as the fourth wound down. It was Monroe County's second win of the season.

Edmonson County finished with a total of 162 yards rushing and 11 yards passing (unofficially), with 10 penalties, compared to four total penalties and one interception from Monroe County. Nolan Martin for the Wildcats intercepted a Falcon pass earlier in the game.

Edmonson County is now 2-7 on the season and will take on the winless Breckinridge County (0-9) next Friday night on the Wildcats' senior night, for the final home game of the year.

Madison Doyle, story and photos:
The Edmonson County Lady Cat Volleyball team fell 3-0 to the Trinity Lady Raiders last night in the 12th district championship game. The Lady Cats had not seen a district final since 2017.

In the first set the Lady Cats stayed neck and neck with the Lady Raiders through most of the set, until Whitesville went on a 9-1 run and eventually took the set 25-15. The second set was much different for Edmonson, as they were only able to put a total of 8 points on the scoreboard. Trinity won the second set 25-8, leading the match 2-0.

The start of the third set looked much like the second. Several errors were made by the Lady Cats which gave a heavy advantage to the Lady Raiders. Edmonson finally cleaned their game towards the end of the set but were not able to completely recover, losing the set 20-25, resulting in a 3-0 sweep for Trinity.

Head Coach Caitlin Caudill applauded her team despite the loss. "This was not the outcome we wanted," Caudill started. "But I don't want this loss to overshadow the accomplishments these girls have achieved this season. Being able to accomplish a winning season of 19-13 and being able to place in the district tournament for the first time years is so big. In my heart I believe my team is a champion team. These girls are not finished. As we prepare for region next week, I plan to to encourage my girls to keep fighting and to stay mentally strong."

In addition to the team receiving a runner-up trophy, two Lady Cat seniors were named to the All-District Tournament Team, Raven Cast and Kaylee Lindsey. For unknown reasons, Grayson County, who hosted the tournament, did not name district all-season or all-academic team members, something that has always been done.

The Lady Cats are now 19-13 on the season and are scheduled to play in the region tournament next week.

Watch the game live tonight on the Edmonson Voice Facebook page as the Lady Cats take on Whitesville Trinity at 6PM. Pregame show starts at 5:45PM with special guest commentator, ECHS Principal Jonathan Williams.

Darren Doyle, story: Madison Doyle, photos:
The Edmonson County Lady Cat Volleyball team is headed to the District 12 Championship for the first time since 2017 after defeating the Grayson County Cougars 3-2 in 5 sets on Monday night. The win also guarantees their trip to the Region 3 Tournament next week, also the first time in five years. 

After sweeping Grayson County at GCHS 3-0 in their last meeting, the Lady Cats knew they would have their hands full with the Lady Cougars seeking revenge, and especially since Grayson County would also be hosting the tournament.

Edmonson County established the tone early as they jumped out to a 7-1 lead, which forced the Lady Cougars into their first timeout. That timeout did little to change anything for Grayson County as Edmonson went on a 10-6 run, earning a 17-7 lead. The Lady Cats forced the Lady Cougars into their final timeout leading 19-12, but Edmonson County would only allow two more Grayson County points in the remainder of the set for a 25-14 set one victory.

The Lady Cats, led by the five seniors: Raven Cast, Whitney Davis, Alyssa Doyle, Kaylee Lindsey, and Rylee Laster, and junior Alivia Mabrey, kept the intensity up in the second set as well, getting out to another good start. The start was good enough to keep a comfortable lead, despite a couple of small runs from Grayson County. Edmonson went on to win the set 25-16 and grab a 2-0 lead.

While the Lady Cougars faced an uphill climb, they certainly weren't going away for set three, scoring the first point of the set, which was their first lead of the game at 1-0. They forced Edmonson County into their first timeout with a 7-3 lead and then again with a 16-7 Lady Cougar lead. Edmonson County cut the lead to four, but Grayson County went on a 6-0 run and took set three 25-15. 

Set four would be the barn burner of the match, featuring six ties and three lead changes and runs for both teams. Edmonson County's biggest lead was at 18-13, but an 8-1 Grayson County run allowed them to take a 21-19 lead. A couple of calls that didn't go the way the Lady Cats wanted and tough play from the Lady Cougars resulted in a 26-24 set four win, setting up the final 15-point set five. 

After Grayson County scored the first point, they would never lead again. They burned both timeouts by the time the score was 10-4 and they were unable to withstand the digs, kills, blocks from the Lady Cats as Edmonson went on to win 3-2 and ending the season from Grayson County. 

"I am simply on cloud nine," said Head Coach Caitlin Caudill. "What these girls accomplished out here tonight is nothing short of amazing. We fought with grit, heart, and soul for every point we earned. Nothing has been handed to us this season, and I expect the same for tomorrow night in the championship game. If we play tomorrow night with the same intensity and determination, I have no doubt we can win."

Kaylee Lindsey led the team with kills (15), Whitney Davis had 9, Alyssa Doyle had 7, and Rylee Laster added 5. Davis led the team in digs with 44, Alivia Mabrey added 38, Doyle had 34, Cast had 33, Lindsey had 28, and Laster had 33. Lindsey also led in blocks (13), while Doyle and Davis added 5 each and Laster had 2. 

Edmonson County is now 19-12 on the season and have won their last four matches. They will face a tough Whitesville Trinity team (25-7) on Tuesday night for the District 12 Championship at Grayson County at 6PM. The game will be streamed live on the Edmonson Voice.

Madison Doyle, story and photos:
Last night the Edmonson County Lady Cat Volleyball team held their 2022 senior night match-up against the Monroe County Lady Falcons. Five Lady Cat seniors played their last game in ECHS, and walked away with a win against the Lady Falcons.

Edmonson started off with the lead in the first set, but Monroe was not far behind. The set was very close as both teams took turns taking the lead, and nothing more than a 3 point gap, until the Lady Cats forced a Lady Falcon timeout at 20-18. Edmonson shut Monroe down for the remainder of the set, resulting in a 25-18 win.

Monroe started out with the lead in the second set but Edmonson quickly tied things up at 6-6, and then again at 8-8, where they then took the lead. The Lady Falcons were not able to catch up back up to the Lady Cats. Edmonson won the set 25-21, resulting in a 2-0 win overall.

"What a bittersweet ending to an exceptional season," said Head Coach Caitlin Caudill. "I am so grateful I had the opportunity to coach this group of girls. This was such a special season for me because I played with so many of these girls my senior year when they were just starting out. So, to be their head coach now as they are seniors is something very special to me. This group of seniors have put so much time into this program and they will be deeply missed. Although season games have come to an end, now it's time to prepare for Monday night as we take on Grayson County in the first round of the district tournament. I encourage everyone to come out and support these girls Monday night."

The Lady Cats are now 18-12 on the season and are scheduled to take on The Lady Cougars at Grayson County at 7:30 pm Monday night for the first round of the district tournament.

Madison Doyle, story and photos:
Last night at the volleyball match-up between the Edmonson County Lady Cats and the Monroe County Lady Falcons, five Lady Cat Seniors, Alyssa Doyle, Kaylee Lindsey, Rylee Laster, Whitney Davis, and Raven Cast were honored as it was their last game they will ever play in the ECHS gym.

The Lady Cats defeated the Lady Falcons in a 2-0 sweep. They are now 18-12 on the season.

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
After suffering a loss last week to district opponent Metcalfe County, the Wildcats bounced back tonight with a win over Clinton County 44-6 in their first district win of the year. The win is the second one this season and something Head Coach Zach Vincent said was much needed after last week's 39-22 loss.

"These kids are capable of more than what they know," he said. "I told them today that 'guys, we played Metcalfe 1-1 in the third quarter with their starters and it should've been that way the whole entire time. And we gotta keep battling. And we told them, when you first come out, it's pedal to the metal--we're going."

And that's what they did as the Cats were able to get on the scoreboard early with help from running back Michael Mills, who led the way with 268* rushing yards on the night. Mills made it into the end zone with 5:14 in the first quarter on an 11-yard run and the Cats led 6-0.

The Bulldogs answered with a huge kickoff return for a 76-yard touchdown to tie the score at 6-6, but that's the only offensive threat Clinton County showed the Cats for the rest of the night. The Bulldogs were also plagued with penalty calls throughout the game.

Mills scored all 6 of the Wildcats' touchdowns, which included two runs over 50-yards. The Wildcats notched 378 total yards of rushing. Edmonson County had no passing yardage tonight. Despite the impressive yardage by the Wildcats, Coach Vincent credited the defense for getting the job done tonight.

"They did a great job, they shut them out," he said. He also noted that kids were playing play-by-play tonight and not thinking about a mistake that happened three plays ago.

Nolan Martin had 9 tackles for the Wildcats. 

The Wildcats are now 2-5 on the season and are off next week for fall break. Their next game is Friday, October 14th on the road at Green County for another district match.

*all stats are unofficial  

Madison Doyle, story and photos:
Last night, September 27, 2022, the Edmonson County Lady Cats traveled to Grayson County, where they took down the Lady Cougars in a 3-0 sweep.

In the first set, the Lady Cats got off to a bit of a bumpy start as they fell behind the Lady Cougars 11-6, forcing Head Coach Caitlin Caudill to call a timeout. Edmonson got the ball back and notched some much needed kills to tie it up at 11 each.

From there, the Lady Cats and the Lady Cougars fought point for point, when Edmonson finally took the set 27-25.

In set two, Edmonson got off to a rough start yet again, where Grayson jumped out to a commanding 15-6 lead. In recent years, getting behind this early seemed to doom the Lady Cats; however, Edmonson fought back with a 12-1 run, forcing a Grayson timeout with a Lady Cat 18-16 lead. After the timeout, the Lady Cats continued their scoring run with strong serves from Senior Rylee Laster, and kills and blocks from multiple players. This mixture rattled Grayson too much, and Edmonson took the set 25-19.

In the third and final set, Edmonson stayed ahead for almost the entire set, until the Lady Cougars tied things up at 23-23. The atmosphere was very intense as both teams again were fighting point for point. The Lady Cats won the set 27-25, and the three-set sweep over their District 12 rival.

"There is only one word that can describe the feeling after winning that game last night, which is amazing," said Coach Caitlin Caudill. "This is the first time we have been able to beat Grayson at Grayson County in 5 years. That 3-0 sweep proves that we are zoning in and preparing for this post season. I am so proud of all my girls. This is what a team win looks like."

The Lady Cats are now 14-10 on the season and are scheduled to take on Allen County at Allen County at 5:30 pm.

Edmonson Voice Sports:
Edmonson County Lady Cat Volleyball brought some more hardware back to the gym on Saturday, September 24th after claiming first place in the SOKY Slam Silver Division, hosted by Allen County-Scottsville.

The Lady Cats went 3-2 on the day, losing to Apollo and Russell County, and winning over Allen Co., Franklin Simpson, and Warren Central.

Edmonson County started the day off in pool play, falling to Apollo to two sets (25-14, 25-8). They then took on Russell County for a more evenly-matched set. They fell in the first set (25-22), then took set two (25-18); however, they fell short in the final set (15-7).

After qualifying for the Silver Division, the Lady Cats were able to handle Franklin Simpson (25-10, 25-9), then Allen County Scottsville (25-21, 25-15), and finally Warren Central in two sets (25-15, 25-18).

They are now 13-9 on the season (2-4 in District 12) and are scheduled to take on Allen County Scottsville again tonight at home in JV/V/F matches starting at 5:30PM.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Edmonson County fell to the Metcalfe County Hornets 39-22 tonight at Wildcat Field.

The Hornets struck first as speedy running back Michael Bennett scored on a 50-yard touchdown with 8:53 in the first quarter. The extra point was good and Metcalfe led 7-0.

It would be Metcalfe's Bennett once more just as the second quarter began with an 11-yard touchdown. The extra point attempt was blocked as the Hornets led 13-0 with 11:42 on the clock.

Metcalfe scored again on Wyatt Blythe's 15-yard catch and the extra point was good for a 20-0 Hornet lead with 6:15 left in the half.

Blythe scored again with a tough catch in the end zone on a 19-yard pass. The extra point was no good and the Cats trailed 33-0 at halftime.

Metcalfe scored again with 8:46 in the third quarter for a 39-0 lead.

With the third quarter winding down, it appeared as though the Wildcats had finally got on the board as Michael Mills made his way into the end zone, but it was called back as a result of a penalty on Edmonson County.

However, as the fourth began, the Wildcats were able to finally get across the goal line as Peyton Keith connected with Michael Mills for a 25-yard touchdown with 11:50 left in the game. The two-point conversion was good and the Cats cut the lead to 39-8.

Mills picked off a 25-yard pass from Metcalfe County with 9:30 left in the game. The Hornets were called for two different pass interference penalties during the Cats' possession and with 3:01 left in the game, Mills scored again on a 12-yard run. The two-point conversion attempt was no good as Edmonson County cut the lead to 39-14.

Edmonson County was able to regain possession with an onside kick on the next play. Noah Meredith caught a 36-yard pass from Keith for a first down with about 1:45 left. The Cats took it down to 23 seconds on the clock when Daren Alexander scored on an 18-yard pass from Mills. The two-point conversion was good and the Cats cut the lead to 39-22.

Edmonson County showed plenty of life in the fourth quarter, but it wouldn't be enough as the Hornets held on to win with a running clock.

Head Coach Zach Vincent said while the result wasn't what the team had hoped for, he was happy with how the Wildcats hung in there until the end.

"Our boys finally showed up at the half and I'm proud of them tonight," he said. "We got a special group of kids this year. You take most kids that have lost since last year, then you pick up win last week, then you come out (tonight) and your down--most kids would give in, but when we went in at the half, you can fuss and yell as much as you want, but we just had a good heart-to-heart."

Coach Vincent said the team came out way too flat in the first half to compete.

"I said boys, you gotta show me something. I need eleven guys that want it. I don't care if it's JV, or a freshman, whoever it is, I gotta have eleven. And they stepped up, every single one, even the sideline."

The Wildcats will remain at home again next week as they host Clinton County (0-5).

Edmonson County falls to 1-5 on the season as Metcalfe County improved to 6-0.

Darren Doyle, story:
The Edmonson County Lady Cat volleyball team and Volleyball Boosters joined forces with the community and the Butler County Lady Bears last night to help one local individual, Katherine Lindsey, who is currently fighting cancer.

The Lady Cats swept Butler County 3-0 last night in the district match up but the coming together of two teams and a community was what made the night a success.

The Lady Cats raised over $6K at a silent auction at the game, as well as donations gathered during the event, all of which will be donated to Katherine in her fight. Two parent volunteers, Joe Monroe and Matt Ferguson, who are frequent line judges at volleyball games, agreed to perform their duties last night in pink fairy costumes if an additional $250 was donated just before game time. One anonymous individual donated $250 alone just to guarantee the guys would be suiting up.

Katherine Lindsey, who is the daughter of Johnny and the late Kathy Lindsey of the Mohawk Community, is a 1990 graduate of Edmonson County High School.  Katherine was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in July.  It has now spread to her lymph nodes, spine, adrenal glands, and right lung and she is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. She also continues to work and help care for her father.

Edmonson County is now 10-7 on the season and is scheduled to take on Allen County at home on Monday, Sept. 26th.

Darren Doyle, story:
The 6th Annual Santa’s Helping Hands Golf Scramble was once again another success with 30 teams coming out to support the county's most popular charity, bringing in over $6,500 for local families.

"We were blessed with beautiful weather and a huge turnout of competitive teams, said SHH Board Member and co-founder Mark Wardlow.

The end of the scramble, held at Shady Hollow Golf Club in Cub Run, had two teams that had tied for first place at a score of -20, which forced a playoff on hole number 18. The team consisting of Mark Ashley, Nathan Ashley, Barry Alexander, and Brad Alexander edged out the team of Greg Meredith, Cameron Rhoades, Dawson McDaniels, and James Rhoades.

"Santa’s Helping Hands would like to thank Michael Meredith, Brad Johnson, & J.C. Ramsey for all their assistance with this event," Wardlow said. "We would also like to thank all of our hole and prize sponsors. Without their help, this would not be possible. And a big thanks goes out to Eric Decker & Adron Merryman for their amazing BBQ that was provided for all our golfers on Saturday. We are very blessed to live in a county that supports all of our fundraising events."

The 18th annual Santa’s Helping Hands Auction/Benefit is scheduled for November 5th at the Edmonson County High School gym.

Edmonson Voice Sports:
Brayden Johnson, a freshman tennis player at ECHS has claimed the top ranking in the Central Kentucky Tennis Series as a result of his stellar play in this summer's eight tournaments, where Johnson entered in two different categories: age 18 and under and age 15 and under. The Wildcat varsity tennis player won both divisions in a points race series.

Johnson claimed the top spot in at least one category in all the tournaments, which consisted of

• winning both divisions in five different tournaments
• winning the 18u in one tournament
• winning the 15u in two different tournaments

The tournaments included the Glasgow Open, Gator Open, Lake Cumberland Open, Campbellsville University Classic, E-town Open, Kids on the Block Points For Puppets, Barren Classic, and the Freeman Lake Classic.

His complete record in the tournaments is 50-3.

He is the son of Brad and Jodi Johnson of Bee Spring. Jodi Johnson is the head tennis coach at ECHS. This year is the second full year of the program.

Edmonson Voice Report:
The Edmonson County High School Soccer team played Monroe County Saturday, September 17, 2022, which was their Senior Day.
 
The Girls team fell to Monroe County 12-1, with Senior Claire Burklow scoring the only goal. The Boys team defeated Monroe 5-2, with goals from Hunter Hayes, Moez Shabaz, Julien Wilson, and Tucker Harp. 

Below is a slideshow of each senior with their families:

Madison Doyle, story and photos:
The ECHS Football homecoming was held tonight, September 16, 2022. Tina Compton, daughter of Bill Akridge and Lisa Akridge, was named the Senior Football Homecoming Queen. Ms. Compton was escorted by Will Alexander, son of Brian Alexander and Tyra Alexander.

The other winners are in the slideshow below:

The Wildcats ended the night with a win against Caverna, their first win since the 2020 season.