Northern Kentucky Sports Chronicle

(This story was originally published on Feb. 26, 2020) Are you searching for the ultimate irony of sports justice inside the wishy-washy, leaning-tower-of-jello world called the NCAA? Look no further. It’s on full display simultaneously at Northern Kentucky University and the University of Houston. All you need to do is peer through the NCAA eyepiece nicknamed “betterment of the student-athlete” and you’ll see the contradictory view. But it’s easier to locate Alpha Centauri with a hand-held magnifying glass than to find common sense through the NCAA’s flawed administrative telescope.   Unfortunately for NKU senior basketball standout Tyler Sharpe, the NCAA’s logic-challenged focus is on the 11 total minutes he played as a freshman walk-on at the University of Louisville. And those seven games — virtually all in mop-up roles — will cost Sharpe a year of eligibility. Meanwhile, Houston quarterback D’Eriq King — a full scholarship recipient — throws for 663 yards and six touchdow...

Kerry Lewin (center) takes a final bow in front of the home fans after NKU wins the 1995 GLVC Tournament championship in Regents Hall. (Photo by Jeff McCurry) ------------------- (This column was originally published on Oct. 26, 2020) A royal coronation took place in Regents Hall 25 years ago last night. That’s when Kerry Lewin was officially crowned the NCAA’s Queen of Aces and elevated Northern Kentucky University volleyball into the national spotlight. On Oct. 25, 1995, Lewin served up her 510th career ace during a four-set victory against Mount St. Joseph. NKU’s standout outside hitter eclipsed the previous NCAA all-time record of 509, much to the delight of a large crowd that had gathered in Regents Hall to watch Lewin leap into volleyball history. Lewin’s devastating jump serve was virtually impossible to handle for most back rows at the NCAA Division II level. The Notre Dame Academy graduate led the nation in aces for two straight seasons and helped lift NKU’s volleyball progra...

One of the most overlooked events in the history of Northern Kentucky University sports history occurred on Oct. 23, 1979. On that chilly Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio, the NKU volleyball team knocked off a powerful Ohio State squad in five sets. The Norsewomen, coached by Jane Meier (née Scheper), pulled out a thriller on the road against the Buckeyes by scores of 15-8, 12-15, 15-4, 9-15, 15-12. This is an Ohio State squad that would finish 37-14 in 1979 and sixth nationally in the AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) Tournament. The Buckeyes of head coach Sue Collins also won state and regional championships that season en route to the national finals. At that time, women’s collegiate sports competed in the AIAW, while the NCAA only sponsored championships for men’s sports. Meier made her coaching debut for NKU on Sept. 16, 1978, and recorded wins against Morehead State, Miami (Ohio), Michigan State and Mount St. Joseph in Regents Hall all on the same day. It marked...

Down 15 at halftime, Norse awake in final 20 minutes to win NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region championship NKU players celebrate after defeating Quincy in the 2003 Great Lakes Region championship game. (Story from March 17, 2003) Special to The Post INDIANAPOLIS — From every conceivable angle, they were gone. Not just simply beaten, but flat-out overwhelmed. It was halftime of Monday night’s NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region championship game, and Quincy University owned a 36-21 lead over Northern Kentucky University. The Lady Hawks had held the Norse to just 29.6 percent shooting from the field, won the rebounding battle by a whopping 28-13 margin and were preparing to make reservations for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, a prize that awaited the winner of Monday’s contest. The Norse — playing without powerful inside presence Sharell Snardon, who was out with an injury — appeared to be 20 minutes away from calling it a season. Instead, they awoke. Maybe it’s the mammoth traditio...

NKU celebrates the 2000 NCAA Division II national title. (Photo by Jeff McCurry) (Don Owen column from Sept. 16, 2020) F or those who aren’t aware, Northern Kentucky University is celebrating its 50th anniversary of intercollegiate athletics during the 2020-21 academic year. NKU’s fall sports have been sidelined by the pandemic, but there is guarded optimism that basketball season will proceed in November or December. In the meantime, the 50th anniversary of NKU sports is an excellent diversion from all the current negativism surrounding the planet. It’s also a chance to celebrate the numerous outstanding achievements that have taken place in Highland Heights since 1971. And there have been plenty. So many, in fact, it’s difficult to place them in order of significance. But I tried about 3 ½ years ago. I received a pair of calls in early 2017 regarding the 50th anniversary of NKU, which was founded in 1968. A committee had been formed to put together a list of the 50 top accomplishmen...

(This article is from Dec. 3, 1987) Special to The Post HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky placed a total of 13 players in the scoring column Thursday night as the Norsemen rolled to a 124-81 win over Wilmington (Ohio) in Regents Hall. Chris Wall netted 19 points for NKU, which set the program’s single-game scoring record with the 124 points. Wall, a 6-foot-7 junior forward, also grabbed 11 rebounds. Derek Fields added 16 points as the Norsemen improved to 5-1 and reached the 100-point mark for the second straight game. On Tuesday night, NKU knocked off Lincoln Memorial by a 106-101 final in Regents Hall. Shawn Scott and Terry Hairston each scored 15 for NKU. Chris Russell contributed nine points for the Norsemen, and teammate Jeff Moffett drained a trio of 3-pointers to finish with nine points. Jimmy Matthews and Tracey Davis each finished with eight points as the NKU reserves outscored Wilmington’s bench by a 57-9 margin. The Norsemen also gave head coach Mike Beitzel his 116t...