The year in local sports had memorable moments

The sports world featured a number of highs and a few lows in 2021. Here are the top 10 as chosen by your intrepid sports editor.

1) Mark White fired

Whitley County Basketball had a rough season in 2020-21, going 4-16 that included and 11-game losing streak and a first-round loss in the 50th District Tournament.

Hopes were high as the Colonels opened the 2021-22 season 2-0, but Colonel Nation was left wondering after Coach Mark White was suddenly ousted without explanation from the school or district administration.

In a press release sent out announcing the decision, Athletic Director Bryan Stewart said that White was no longer with the program, but provided no details.

Assistant Coach Austin Horn took over as head coach from White.

2) Whitley County Baseball advances to Elite Eight

Coach Jeremy Shope’s Whitley County Colonels had an epic season, going 31-10 and advancing to the KHSAA Elite Eight at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington.

The Colonels dominated the 13th Region, defeating Middlesboro in the region title game for the school’s first baseball region title and then knocking off Raceland in the semi-state to advance to Lexington.

Whitley County lost to Lyon County in the Elite Eight, 4-2

“This team was special because of their work ethic and competitive fire,” Shope said. “Most importantly, they were special because they were unselfish.”

3) Corbin Eight Grade Football wins second consecutive state title

The Corbin Middle School Redhounds Eighth Grade Football team defeated Paducah to capture it second consecutive state title.

“Two in a row is special,” said Head Coach Brent Jackson. “It is the first time it has ever been done at Corbin Middle School.”

The Redhounds won the 2020 Eighth Grade Division 2 Championship with a 28-8 victory over South Oldham.

Corbin also won the Eighth Grade Championship in 2017, 2014 and 2010.

4) Corbin Football goes undefeated in regular season

The Corbin High School Redhounds Football team dominated their opponents throughout the regular season, going 10-0.

The Redhounds opened the season with a 35-21 victory over Christ School in the Cumberland Falls Pigskin Classic. 

The Redhounds outsored their opponents by a combined 444 to 95, shutting out Whitley County, Knox Central and Wayne County along the way. 

Corbin scored 56 points against Simon Kenton and Knox Central and 52 points against Somerset.

Corbin ran off playoff wins against Wayne County and Lincoln County before suffering a 34-14 loss at Johnson Central to end the season.

5) Zeke Eier named new Whitley County Football Coach

Zeke Eier is the new head football coach at Whitley County High School.

When Coach Jep Irwin left Whitley County to return to South Laurel High School, the Whitley County Colonels went on the hunt for a new football coach.

In January, it was announced that Zeke Eier, who played football at the University of the Cumberlands and was serving as special teams coordinator and running backs coach for the Patriots would be taking over the program.

We are going to be a tough, hard-nosed, relentless team that plays hard for four quarters,” Eier said. “We are going to be fundamentally sound and aggressive.”

Eier went 2-9 in his first season, picking up wins at Harlan County and at South Laurel.

The win at South Laurel earned the Colonels a playoff berth. The season came to an end with a 41-6 loss at Southwestern.

6) Mark Huddleston named new Lynn Camp Football Coach

Mark Huddleston was named the new head football coach at Lynn Camp High School Friday afternoon. He is seen with his wife, LeAnne Huddleston, and his daughter, Maci.

After seven seasons at the helm, Allen Harris announced that he would not be returning as head football coach at Lynn Camp in March.

In March, Mark Huddleston was named to take over the program that went winless in 2020.

Huddleston came to Lynn Camp from Knox Central where he served as an assistant coach, coaching the secondary.

“True success in the program is the type of people that leave the program,” Huddleston said. “I want to see great husbands, father, community leaders and business people come from here, and be really proud of them.”

The Wildcats suffered through a tough 2021, going winless, including forfeiting their final two regular season games against Williamsburg and McCreary Central.

7) Corbin High School adds wrestling team

The Corbin Board of Education approved the move in October and Chuck Davis Leigh Ann Walden and Jason Jones have been slated to lead the program that will include both boys and girls.

When practice began in December, Davis said more than 40 students had turned out, giving the program enough boys to fill all 14 weight classes and a good start to the girls team.

“We might take our lumps this year, but in two or three years this could be a pretty good little program,” Davis said.

8) Williamsburg’s Mikkah Siler named 13th Region Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year

Williamsburg senior basketball player Mikkah Siler was named 13th Region Play of the Year and was one of the 16 finalists for the 2021 Miss Kentucky Basketball.

“It’s not something that I was expecting to happen,” Siler said.

Siler averaged 26.6 points per game and 11.4 rebounds in the 21 games she played for the Lady Jackets in what was her second season on the team after transferring from Whitley County.

In addition, she became members of the 1,000-point club and 600-rebound club.

“Her relentless effort and energy is what stands out,” said Williamsburg Coach Randy Crider.

9. Corbin Tennis sends 11 players to state

The Racket Redhounds dominated the tennis courts across the 13th Region winning both the boys and girls region team titles and sending 11 players to compete in the state tournament.

The Lady Redhounds finished the season 16-2 as a team, while the Redhounds went 17-0, including 10-0 against 13th Region opponents.

The boys’ doubles team of Dylan Koen and Quinn Maguet highlighted the state tournament run for the Redhounds, reaching the quarterfinals.

“They were very close to being semifinalists,” said Coach Chris Hart of Koen and Maguet.

10. Corbin Track finishes fifth at state

Corbin’s Runnin’ Redhounds finished fifth at the Class 2A state track meet in June.

The Redhounds finished the meet 31 points.

Among the highlights for the Redhounds was Sean Simons finishing second in the boys’ 800-meter run.

The team of Simmons, Andon Asher, Connor Messer and John Hall finished fourth in the 4X800 meter relay.

Evan McCrickard finished fourth in the boy’s 100-meter dash, while Treyveon Longmire finished ninth.

The team of Longmire, Dylan Massengill, Boston Hardesty and McCrickard finished second in the boy’ 4X100 meter relay.