Enquirer announces winners, details of 2026 High School Sports Awards
The Cincinnati Enquirer announces the winners and finalists for the fall and winter sports seasons at the 2026 Cincinnati High School Sports Awards.
They will be honored on Tuesday, June 16, at Princeton High School. This year’s format will be different to offer more personal attention for everyone honored and make the ceremony more time-efficient.
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Doors will open at 5 p.m. for a reception/individual awards presentation for finalists. The Enquirer will take a group photo of all finalists and winners, with athletes heading for the auditorium at 6:30 p.m. The event starts at 7 p.m. with Rocky Boiman serving as a featured speaker. Joe Danneman of Fox19 and Shelby Dermer of The Cincinnati Enquirer will serve as presenters.
Everyone is invited to attend the awards show, but only winners will be called to the stage to receive their awards.
What the 2026 Cincinnati High School Sports Awards winners need to know
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Though tickets are not necessary, The Enquirer asks that all winners RSVP.
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The Enquirer will request an acceptance video from those who cannot attend.
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Winners will take the stage to give brief remarks when their category is called.
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All coaches and athletic directors of winning athletes and teams are welcome to come. No tickets necessary.
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Be at the venue by 6:30 p.m. for a group photo of all the honorees in attendance.
What the 2026 Cincinnati High School Sports Awards finalists need to know
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All finalists will be invited to a reception before the awards presentation, where they can have light refreshments, browse booths and connect with other athletes.
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There will be several stations, organized alphabetically by last names, where Enquirer staff will present athletes with their certificates and take photos. The photos will be used in a red-carpet gallery on cincinnati.com.
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They are invited to join a group photo about 30 minutes before the start of the live show.
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While finalists will not be called to the stage, they may see their names on the screen or memories in the sizzle reel.
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Families who cannot attend the early reception will have 30 minutes after the show (around 9 p.m.) to take part in the same activities, except for the group photo.
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The Enquirer will make a separate announcement when the spring and premium awards are ready. Please note this event is separate from the all-city teams and athlete of the week voting.
Here are the fall and winter winners and finalists for 2026.
Cincinnati High School Sports Awards winter nominees for the 2025-2026 sports season
Boys archery
Winner: Ethan Pauciulo, Ryle
Finalists: Ari Edmonds, Scott; Kyle Kirkpatrick, Cooper; Sawyer McClure, Walton-Verona; Brayden Nevels, Cooper; Michael Turner, Pendleton County
Girls archery
Winner: Karina Usman, Simon Kenton
Finalists: Emerson Caravona, Cooper; Lexus Goff, Scott; Joannah Hibbett, Cooper; Rylee Schmidt, St. Henry; Prisha Shah, Ryle
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Ohio boys basketball
Winners: A’mire Gill, Princeton; Kellen Wiley, Wyoming
Finalists: Grady Barber, Williamsburg; Jason Caimano, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Antwan Hinton, Taft; Max Joiner, Summit Country Day; Isaiah Mack-Russell, Winton Woods; Chase Martin, Loveland; Zevin Sesslar, Waynesville; Eli Stroud, Badin; Josh Tyson, Lakota West; Antonio White, Deer Park
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys basketball
Winner: Athens McGillis, Covington Catholic
Finalists: Anthony Blaackar, Lloyd Memorial; Anthony Coppola, Ryle; Austin Davie, Campbell County; Finn Louden, Conner; Amontae Lowe, Newport
Ohio girls basketball
Winner: Erin Thomas, Princeton
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Finalists: Lauren Bain, Seton; Gabby Chadwell, Milford; Braelyn Even, Badin; Katie Fox, Lakota West; Anna Habra, Mason; McKenzie Jones, Springboro; Yaya Parrish, Western Hills; Bella Rogers, Loveland; Bella Swisshelm, West Clermont; Mia Vieth, Mount Notre Dame; Samaya Wilkins, Purcell Marian
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls basketball
Winner: Haylee Noel, Cooper
Finalists: Emma Holtzapfel, Notre Dame; Izzy Jayasuriya, Campbell County; Jaelyn Jones, Ryle; Brynli Pernell, Simon Kenton; Natalie Stenger, East Central
Ohio boys bowling
Winner: Easton Pierani, Sycamore
Finalists: Matthew Alvear, Lebanon; Ty Barrett, West Clermont; Jayden Brown, Elder; Randy Eckman, Blanchester; Joseph Geers, St. Xavier
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Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys bowling
Winner: Maddox Kuryla, Boone County
Finalists: Tyler Blume, Simon Kenton; Mason Bowman, Covington Catholic; Dylan Davis, Covington Catholic; Aleck Meredith, Simon Kenton; Bryce Sargent, Campbell County
Ohio girls bowling
Winner: Carolyn Edmisten, Georgetown
Finalists: Kiley Comberger, Wilmington; Kendall Cook, Mercy McAuley; Caitlyn Kober, Lebanon; Kenlie Littelmann, Seton; Hannah Weigle, Little Miami; Ella Weinmann, Oak Hills
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls bowling
Winner: Alyssa Bechtol, Notre Dame
Finalists: Kree Brewer, Pendleton County; Mary Hollon, Simon Kenton; Hayley Pelstring, Notre Dame; Abby Sargent, Campbell County; Abree Young, Dixie Heights
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Gymnastics
Winner: Kiera Laite, Mariemont
Finalists: Leah DeVilbiss, Lakota East; Zoey Ostdiek, Lakota West; Ella Oum, Turpin; Chesnie Weisbrod, Kings; Hayden Zimmerman, Cincinnati Country Day
Ice hockey
Winner: Trever Bauwens, Northern Kentucky Norsemen (Walton-Verona)
Finalists: Colin Custer, St. Xavier; Carter Jung, Elder; Christian Rivard, Moeller; Landon Schroeder, Springboro
Ohio boys swimming and diving
Winner: Chase Grisi, St. Xavier
Finalists: Danny Beyerbach, Seven Hills; Brady Campbell, Milford; Tucker Charles, St. Xavier; Liam Clark, Mason; Bryce Cousins, West Clermont; Oliver Erck, Sycamore; Braden Fuller, Lakota East; Owen Gee, St. Xavier; Quinn Heis, Mariemont; Luke Mignery, Ross; Juju Nkhumane, Mason
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Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys swimming and diving
Winner: Chase Knopf, Ryle
Finalists: Andrew Boh, Covington Catholic; Noah Gracey, Highlands; Nash Parsons, Ryle; Cono Presti, Beechwood; Isaiah Reinhart, Simon Kenton
Ohio girls swimming and diving
Winner: Maya Schweikert, Kings
Finalists: Aubrey Buchanan, St. Ursula; Dana Fairbanks, Mason; Isabella Giraldo, Mason; Grier Gordon, Ursuline; Gabby Henz, Indian Hill; Marissa McNerney, Seven Hills; Ansley Neff, Wyoming; Reese Reilly, Roger Bacon; Calli Rieskamp, Taylor; Isabelle Schroeder, Loveland; Quinn Schureck, Walnut Hills; Bella Teply, Mason
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls swimming and diving
Winner: Clare Herfel, Notre Dame
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Finalists: Savannah Bien, Notre Dame; Gabrielle Lee, Beechwood; Chris Nowak, Cooper; Gabriella Stephens, Ryle; Danaka Tucker, Notre Dame
Ohio boys wrestling
Winners: Kane Shawger, St. Xavier; Colin Wooldridge, La Salle
Finalists: Greyson Boner, Harrison; Caleb Curry, Elder; Grant Dallio, Harrison; Ryan Hager, Williamsburg; Noah Jackson, Moeller; Jett Manley, Waynesville; Khary McCall Jr., Springboro; Landen Messer, Moeller; Alijah Mohanna, La Salle; Marshall Morency, Anderson; Caden Orr, Moeller
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys wrestling
Winner: Clayton Badida, Conner
Finalists: Cordion Abernathy, Conner; Cody Blevins, Simon Kenton; Aiden Brinkman, Ryle; Christian Brown, Cooper; Kayson White, Highlands
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Ohio girls wrestling
Winner: Elizabeth Madison, Loveland
Finalists: Caiden Baird, Harrison; Natalie Carlisle, Lebanon; Kimora Carpenter, Princeton; Camryn Gresham, Lakota East; Teegan Herrington, Badin; Liberty Johnson, Clermont Northeastern; Kelsey King, Lakota West; Haylynn Littleton, Harrison; Eleanor Polking, Oak Hills; Kaylee Vera, Little Miami; Leah Willen, Harrison
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls wrestling
Winner: Emma Moore, Walton-Verona
Finalists: Peyton Brinkman, Ryle; Emma Hood, Highlands; McAyla Steffen, Campbell County; Preslee Steiber, Ryle; Aaliyah Svec, Cooper
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Cincinnati High School Sports Awards fall nominees for the 2025-2026 sports season
Ohio boys cross country
Winner: Dom Ellis, St. Xavier
Finalists: Caleb Anderson, Turpin; Jagger Dollenmeyer, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Nate Gockerman, CHCA; Owen Huff, Oak Hills; James O’Driscoll, Indian Hill; Ryne Reynolds, Little Miami; Carson Spencer, Turpin; Caden Winship, Mason; Ronan Wolfer, Loveland; Liam Woodward, Summit Country Day; Paras Yadav, Mason
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys cross country
Winner: Paul Van Laningham, Cooper
Finalists: Ethan Mann, Conner; Joe Mayer, Covington Catholic; Joh Nerswick, Covington Catholic; Sam Neuhaus, St. Henry; Ryan Richards, Cooper
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Ohio girls cross country
Winner: Ava Shepard, Lakota West
Finalists: Elle Campbell, Milford; Delaney Cilley, Loveland; Aleah Coster, Oak Hills; Campbell Coyne, Seven Hills; Molly Deardorff, Lakota East; Callie Fox, Summit Country Day; Heidi Harmeyer, Seton; Atalia Hawkins, Milford; Havannah Long, Kings; Abra Mills, Talawanda; Lucy Staarmann, St. Ursula
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls cross country
Winner: Lily Parke, Beechwood
Finalists: Norah Barker, Notre Dame; Callie Bentley, East Central; Stella Carpenter, Ryle; Lila Dunlevy, Campbell County; Abigail Ford, Villa Madonna
Field hockey
Winners: Josie Broenner, Mount Notre Dame; Chloe Castellini, Summit Country Day
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Finalists: Lexie Burke, Ursuline Academy; Kaydance Givens, Indian Hill; Elizabeth Herzner, Mount Notre Dame; Cat Johnson, Ursuline Academy; Maddie Lanphear, Indian Hill; Anna Lange, St. Ursula Academy; Aubrey Ludwig, Mount Notre Dame; Alison Strang, Mount Notre Dame; Liz Thurnau, St. Ursula Academy; Fay Van de Meulengraaf, Indian Hill and Maddie Wells, Walnut Hills.
Ohio football offense
Winners: Lance Cantrell, Talawanda; Ryder Hooks, Lakota East
Finalists: Tommy Becker, Elder; Gage Croley, Goshen; Kaden Estep, Elder; Jackson Frey, St. Xavier; Lem Grayson, Badin; Levi Guttman, Cincinnati Country Day; Marcus Hughbanks, Batavia; Nile Knutson, Lakota East; Matt Ponatoski, Moeller; Griffin Ridner Richard, CHCA; Gray Robinson, Williamsburg; Owen Scalf, Anderson; Monsanna Torbert, Taft; Tysin Weaver, Anderson
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Northern Kentucky/Indiana football offense
Winner: Cam O’Hara, Cooper
Finalists: Kaleb Evans, Lloyd Memorial; Tyler Fryman, Beechwood; Crue Gilmour, Lawrenceburg; Cash Harney, Covington Catholic; Tayden Lorenzen, Highlands
Ohio football defense
Winners: Brady Kuhn, Anderson; Derek Uran, Elder
Finalists: Kobe Clapper, St. Xavier; Luke Czarnecki, Williamsburg; Jake Dixon, Milford; James Hall, St. Bernard-Elmwood Place; Rihyael Kelley, Winton Woods; Adam Kirtley, Taft; Alex Pate, Badin; Aden Reeder, St. Xavier; Brayden Reilly, St. Xavier; Max Rhodes, Oak Hills; Evan Riggs, Indian Hill; J.D. Singletary, Middletown; Cam Thomas, Lakota West; Jordan Vann, Middletown
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Northern Kentucky/Indiana football defense
Winner: Jacob Savage, Ryle
Finalists: Brady Ballart, South Dearborn; Ryker Campbell, Cooper; Nyden Euson, East Central; Chase McDaniel, Beechwood; Lincoln Tomlinson, Lloyd Memorial
Ohio boys golf
Winner: Toku Fujiwara, Lakota West
Finalists: Matia Kastner, Seven Hills; Zac McGrath, St. Xavier; Marshall Morency, Anderson; Blake Rohling, Roger Bacon; Griffin Wullenweber, Lakota West
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys golf
Winner: Talen Beane, Campbell County
Finalists: Parker Isaacs, St. Henry; Hayden Li, Ryle; Paxton McKelvey, Ryle; Alex Race, Highlands; Jack Woolwine, Dixie Heights
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Ohio girls golf
Winners: Eva Becerril, Sycamore; Ellie Hartung, Madeira
Finalists: Campbell Drum, MND; Sophia Fink, CHCA; Ellie Lamkin, Anderson; Charlotte Soller, Mariemont
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls golf
Winner: Anika Okuda, Ryle
Finalists: Tatjana Andracenko, Dixie Heights; Maria Penaranda, Notre Dame; Rowan Pies, East Central; Kendal Raney, Conner; Sarah Smith, Grant County
Ohio boys soccer
Winner: Rowen Arnold, Springboro
Finalists: Ryan Boyd, Lakota West; Rocco Fischer, Wyoming; Paolo Girandola, Walnut Hills; Aidan Gross, Mariemont; Kai Kuebler, Turpin; Karson Lang, Moeller; Brody Sucher, Kings; Jack Sweeney, St. Xavier; Elijah Warner, Summit Country Day; Davion Washington, Seven Hills; Edward Zha, Mason
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Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys soccer
Winner: Tanner Robertson, Covington Catholic
Finalists: Donovan Lameier, Dixie Heights; Grady Noble, Conner; Maddox Pemberton, Cooper; Max Runge, Bishop Brossart; Logan Thoss, St. Henry
Ohio girls soccer
Winner: Mia Stevens, Summit Country Day
Finalists: Nina Brandon, Anderson; Ella Cook, Little Miami; Natasha Davis, Madeira; Braelyn Even, Badin; Anna Habra, Mason; Mady Linenkugel, Oak Hills; Allie McCauley, Indian Hill; Bree Reder, Summit Country Day; Abby Smith, Harrison; Emma Yeager, Clermont Northeastern; Addy Zawaly, Mariemont
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls soccer
Winner: Ella Smith, Simon Kenton
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Finalists: Kennedy Crowley, Campbell County; Izelee Kerns, Conner; Maria Mayer, East Central; Kylie Smith, Bishop Brossart; Sadie Yapp, Notre Dame
Ohio girls tennis
Winners: Adriana Moreno-Saanvi Reddy, Mason
Finalists: Addison Cassidy, Mason; Pratyusha Chaudhuri-Emma Wagner, Mason; Renee Harper, Oak Hills; Corrine Labin-Miranda Wang, CHCA; Allison Sayles-Serena Sayles, Sycamore; Sophia Thompson, Indian Hill
Ohio girls volleyball
Winner: Callie Combs, Seton
Finalists: Kendall Bosse, Ross; Jillian Forrest, Ursuline Academy; Emma Frietch, St. Ursula; Grace Jones, Seton; MaKenna Kirlin, Loveland; Ava McIntyre, Kings; Morgan Meiring, Fenwick; Kendall Northern, Summit Country Day; Cara Richter, Mount Notre Dame; Savanna Stacey, McNicholas; Ali Strange, McNicholas
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Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls volleyball
Winner: Audrey Dyas, Notre Dame
Finalists: Morgan Heater, Ryle; Jenna Kitchens, Simon Kenton; Milyn Minor, Scott; Charlotte Patton, Conner; Grace Portwood, Notre Dame
Boys water polo
Winner: Marco Di Loreto Tarot, Mason
Finalists: Dan Ahrens, St. Xavier; Dylan Cahill, Mason; Ernie Manders, Walnut Hills; Ciaran Skinner, Sycamore; Dominic Walters, St. Xavier; Aaron Zelvy, Sycamore
Girls water polo
Winner: Madeline House, Milford
Finalists: Adalynn Dvorak, Mason; Meredith Ehlerding, Princeton; Veronika Khudiakova, Mason; Cameron Kilimnik, Milford; Maisie Moran, Walnut Hills; Claire Ponstingle, Mason
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Next up
The Cincinnati Enquirer will announce the spring and Premium Award nominees and winners in early June.
Spring categories, some split by state and/or gender, will include baseball, softball, boys tennis, Northern Kentucky girls tennis, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, boys volleyball, track and field athletes and flag football.
The premium awards will include Courage Award, Comeback Player of the Year, Student Photographer of the Year, Boys and Girls Athletes of the Year and Boys and Girls Teams of the Year.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Enquirer 2026 High School Sports Awards winners, details
