The calendar year 2019 saw some big highlights, and saw some big losses for sports fans across the region, and some heartbreaking news for one young man who was starting to take off in his collegiate career. As we now turn the page to 2020, here are the Top 10 stories, determined by your page views, for 2019.
1. Passing of David Barnes/Waynee McGowan Named Coach – the sudden passing of Caldwell County football coach left a void not only in Caldwell County but across the state. Former Tiger Waynee McGowan took over on an interim basis. Barnes’ son Will was named the new head coach after the season. – READ THE STORY
2. KHSAA Adopts Fan Conduct Policy – With fan behavior becoming an issue, not just in Kentucky, but across the country, the KHSAA took the step to enact a policy in regards to fan behavior. Whether or not it will have a significant effect is to be seen. – READ THE STORY
3. Michigan Man Charged with Assaulting Referee – It was a brutal attack that left a Western Kentucky referee seriously injured, and drew condemnation from across the country. Another sign that fan conduct has become a problem at youth sporting events. – READ THE STORY
4. Kelly Carwile Passes Away – Coach Carwile had coached across the region over the years, and was well known and well respected. Carwile died days after suffering a sudden illness. – READ THE STORY
5. HoopFest Features Interesting Matchups – It is annually one of the premiere basketball events across the country, with some of the biggest names in high school hoops coming to play. 2019 was no different. – READ THE STORY
6. State Softball Tourney Headed to Lexington – After being played in Owensboro, Jeffersontown, Hopkinsville, and other locations over the years, the KHSAA made the decision in 2019 to change the state softball tournament, going to sectional play, and moving the Elite 8 to the University of Kentucky. – READ THE STORY
7. No officials for Todd Central football game – The Todd County Central Rebels made the long trek to Fort Knox to take on the Eagles. After waiting and waiting, the Rebels were finally informed that the game would not be played. The KHSAA would ultimately award the Rebels a win by forfeit in the contest. – READ THE STORY
8. Coach Sieg Passes Away – If you had ever been in contact with the Trigg County football program over the past 30 years or so, you had come into contact with Gary Siegmund. But then again, no one ever called him Gary, to all of us he was simply Sieg, or Coach Sieg. – READ THE STORY
9. KyKy Tandy Should Have Been Mr. Basketball – Most basketball fans in Wester Kentucky fell this was a slight of epic proportions. No one was truly more deserving of the Kentucky Mr. Basketball award in 2019 than the UHA graduate, who led the Blazers to the All A title, and had a game for the ages in the 2nd Region tournament. – READ THE STORY
10. Cullan Brown Diagnosed with Cancer – if there is one young man the whole Commonwealth of Kentucky is behind and pulling for in his battle, it is Lyon County graduate Cullan Brown. Just as he appeared to be ready to become one of the premiere golfers in the SEC, the announcement of his cancer diagnosis left us all in shock and pulling for this young man. – READ THE STORY
