Bluebirds, Colonels applied for 5A starting in 2015

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds experienced a ton of success playing in Class 5A between the 2007 and 2010 seasons.

The Bluebirds went 58-2 during those seasons and won the first four titles ever handed out in that class. The Kentucky High School Athletic Association expanded the football classes from four to six in 2007.

Highlands and Covington Catholic applied to move up to Class 5A for the 2015 through 2018 seasons. They were in the same district with Scott and Dixie Heights between 2007 and 2010. Dixie Heights appears to be headed from 6A down to 5A and Scott accepted an offer to move down to 4A.

“We requested to go to 5A because of geography with the district,” Weinrich said. “When (the numbers) came out, if nothing would change, it would have been Highlands, CovCath, Scott, Cooper and Conner in a Northern Kentucky district. We were super excited about to play those guys and not have to travel all over the world. We like playing local teams.” 

But Cooper and Conner applied to move up to Class 6A to potentially be in a Boone County district with Ryle and Boone County. Boone County declined to play down to 5A.

It looks as though Highlands, Dixie Heights and Covington Catholic could be in the same district with the Grant County Braves, coached by Highlands alum Kevin Siple. The Braves struggled to a 1-9 mark last year.

There was hardly any movement in the lower classes. Newport Central Catholic appears to be headed back to Class 2A with current district opponents Newport, Covington Holy Cross and Lloyd Memorial. But Mayfield moved up from 1A to 2A while Bishop Brossart moved down to 1A.

The KHSAA Board of Control will look over the draft alignment of teams in football districts to start in 2015 on April 15. The final approval takes place in May in Lexington.