By: James Weber, jweber@communitypress.com
Covington Catholic senior Cole VonHandorf, right, puts on his Fairmont State hat.(Photo: James Weber/The Community Recorder)
PARK HILLS Covington Catholic High School added new flair to its gymnasium in the past week, just in time for its annual open house, and then its annual fall signing ceremony.
As his teammates prepared for practice, and with the banner for CovCath's 2014 state basketball championship hanging behind him, senior Cole VonHandorf signed to play the sport for Fairmont State in West Virginia.
Fairmont is ranked 25th in Division II this preseason and second in the Mountain East Conference to perennial national contender West Liberty.
VonHandorf, a returning all-state player who averaged 17 points a game last year, was a freshman starter on CovCath's 2014 state champions, and he has 92 career wins in three years.
"It doesn't seem like we've had 92," he said. "It seems like freshman year was so long ago and it didn't happen. Ninety-two wins is crazy and it's one of the best in Kentucky. I'm looking forward to adding on to it this year."
VonHandorf said he felt at home in his two visits to Fairmont. He is ready to adjust to being a big leader on this year's Colonels, who were Ninth Region runner-up last year after finishing as state semifinalists in 2015.
"I really need to be a leader," he said. "We only have two seniors on the team this year. In my freshman year when we won state, we had five, which was great. We have a lot of talent so we just have to put it all together... Practice has been intense. We're really shaping up. It's going to be a great season."
CovCath celebrated two Division I signees.
Swimmer Nick Smith will head to the University of Kentucky. Last year at the KHSAA state meet, he was fourth in the 200 individual medley, third in the 100 freestyle and helped the Colonels win the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
"It was a long journey," he said. "I had visits to Florida State, LSU and Missouri. Having my hometown team recruiting me was awesome and some guys from my team go there now. It's going to be a blast and I'm excited."
Golfer Griffin Flesch will go to Xavier. He was 32nd at the state tourney this fall and led the Colonels to this year's regional championship. He has grown up under the tutelage of his father, PGA golfer and analyst Steve Flesch.
"All the long days, helping me on the practice tees, helping me get better. He's always been a big help to me," Griffin said.