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."