(10-22-18) For many years Kenton was known as a ‘football school’ under former Head Football Coach and AD Mike Mauk. The Wildcats football team was constantly in the news, even the national spotlight. But during that time the rest of the Kenton athletic department struggled…a lot. The Wildcats had a long streak of years placing 10th in the All-Sports Trophy standings.
Since Mauk left you can see many positive changes in other sports, no longer just a win, they have become very competitive in numerous sports, especially in conference place.
Since Mauk’s time as AD, two men have been the AD’s, that is when the change started. Mike Leddy was the first and held the position for three years before he left for a new job with the Findlay City Schools. Replacing Leddy was Joseph (Joey) Day who took over in July of 2017. During this time of change you could see the Wildcat overall athletic program make positive moves.
This year the Kenton’s boys soccer team won their first WBL title in school history, plus a sectional title last season, and still playing in the tournament.
The girls soccer team picked up a sectional title, beating St. Marys 1-0 in OT this year, another first for the Wildcats.
The girls cross country team advanced to the regionals, another first.
An impressive fall season for the Wildcats.
#WildcatPride #WBLChampions 🏆 pic.twitter.com/xeWlOMU79x
— Kenton Athletics (@KentonWildcats) October 12, 2018
Adding the soccer title could just be the start, it has been a tough few years for Kenton, but the future looks bright.
Did you know….
Mike Mauk retired, but the school board decided not to rehire him after he made that choice.
Kenton has won just 35 WBL titles, just six in girls sports, 10 of the championships have come in football.
It’s nice that the other sports are doing so well, but it is sad to see someone felt it necessary to slap Mike in the face, for ALL of years of service!! Whoever wrote this article, owes Coach Mauk an apology!!
I know for a fact, the man dedicated his life to the kids, and the school. No athletic director has anything to do with how well the sports teams are doing, this responsibility falls back on your coaches, and when you are using the talent of your players!!
I’m thrilled that the kids are doing so well, but giving the credit to the athletic director seems to be a little fishy to me!!
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Instead of titling this article “A Revitalized Kenton Athletic Department Makes Giant Strides” why didn’t you just title it “Taking a Cheap Shot at Mike Mauk”?
Aside from this article being poorly written, your “facts” are flawed and you’re developing a story line off incomplete information.
I am not exactly sure how this author (whom doesn’t display his/her name) measures “GIANT strides” but the general public doesn’t consider one soccer sectional title and one advancement to regional’s a “Giant Stride” forward for a school athletic department. Especially, when you acknowledge what the organization was able to accomplish under former AD, Mike Mauk. Since this bias, faux article failed to do so, allow me;
-Two (2) State Football Championships (NONE SINCE HE LEFT)
– Two (2) runner-up and 2 ( two) final four appearances
– New soccer field
– New softball field
-New baseball field
-New Tennis surface
– New track
-New athletic building with weight room and auxiliary gym and etc.
Kenton football only had nine winning seasons in the history of the school and never made it to the playoffs prior to Mike Mauk. Maybe that’s why Kenton “was” known as a football school? Because building a program from the ground-up is pretty remarkable. Athletic Directors are not solely responsible for the entire success or non-success of a program, contrary to whatever this article is trying to convey.
Maybe when you measure a successful program & “giant strides” by winning you’ll write a valid, factual article.
Your “Did you know…….” is tacky and classless. Next time you falsely defame someone at lease have the fortitude to place your name under your sub-par article.
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Thank you!! Very well stated!!
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Sorry I have to disagree, those regional and sectional advancements are huge strides to programs just 5-6 years ago could barely win a game. They deserve huge props!
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I agree, you’re right, those are notable accomplishments . However, this article fails those accomplishments miserably. The students involved in those achievements should be furious that their accomplishments are being mudded with an article solely to defame a former AD.
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I agree. I would love to know who wrote this article. Apparently it was written by someone who had an axe to grind with Mike Mauk. Before Mike Mauk became AD and head football coach Kenton in all sports was know as a easy game in all sports. Money that was spent on sports was basically wasted because there was no return on that money ( championships and such) After he came things slowly began to change for the better. More so in football as he was also head coach. Do to his expertise and the talent of his players football began to start making money for the athletic dept. This money was used to fund the other non profitable sports. Other than a few players here or there most of our talent was in football. Therefore most of the pressure to keep to athletic dept going was squarely on the football team. Now we are seeing more talent coming into the other sports. Maybe if this continues in other sports then just maybe our athletic dept can be self sustaining. But to blame Mike Mauk for failure of the other sports is just ludicrist. Mile Mauk gave KCS 32 great years.
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All I see in this article is a demeaning of Coach Mauk and a tauting of the success of this year’s soccer team. So truly, you have not touched on the success of the other sports programs at KHS or the turnaround. Shame on you!! This is not sports writing. It’s defaming someone’s character.
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We appreciate your feedback, we have posted articles in the past on the success of the Kenton football program. https://statelinesportsnetwork.net/?s=mauk Story is based on observations over the past several years and based on results of the past.
Facts were used, including Mauk not being rehired after he retired and the consecutive years years the Wildcats finished 10th in the WBL All Sports Trophy standings
That is why we encourage anyone to comment on our postings, that allows everyone to comment.
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This is untrue. Mauk did not wait for the school board to decide whether or not to hire him; that is a lie and poor journalism. The editor, let alone the writer, should be held accountable for this blatant lie. The article was an attack on Mauk, instead of a focus on the coaches and student-athletes who have been successful. Obviously, an anonymous writer wanted to cause division and has a vandetta out for Coach Mauk. Congratulations to the student athletes who have put in much time and effort to securing successful seasons. Mr. Mauk left Kenton on his own terms. He may not have wanted to leave, but he sure as hell didn’t wait for a vote to be held as to whether he would be rehired. 2 were for him, 2 were against, and 1 was on the fence, so Mauk left. Shame on this wannabe sports writer for having such poor journalism ethics.
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Where are the facts supporting the new AD’s “success”? What did they do to help the other sports win? I do believe Mike Mauk hired Jamie Bartlett.
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You failed the student athletes with this article. You made it about the AD, which is s hard position to hold. But failed to mention the hard work and countless hours put in by coaches and athletes. Mauk did wonderful things while he was here, but he has moved on and so has the community. Why focus on him? This just seemed like a kick in the gut to who really changed the programs around, the athletes.
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This is a sad, sad article! The accomplishments of any team is not and should not be credited to an AD period! Give the credit where it’s due Dear Author, the Student Athletes, and Coaches who put in all the countless hours season in and out the dedication and heart. The FAMILY these TEAMS have built! The bond, your bashing of Mike Mauk has zero to do with this, now does Mr. Day. Without these athletes, the schools wouldn’t need an AD, or am I mistakenly here? Your facts, did you interview Mauk before you published the article? Trying to cause a community to divide is not appreciated truthfully, and I’m thankful for our Athletic Directors, ALL of them, PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE! When you write an article, give the credit to the proper people! You write about sports?? This is the Athletes all of them, Boys and Girls Soccer, Cross Country, Swimming, Baseball, Football, Wrestling,Golf, Tennis, Volleyball, Boys/Girls Basketball and everything in between! Because guess what, when our kiddos now we’re just starting out… Guess who was the AD?? Mike Mauk..
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Who is the author of this article?
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What a nice puff piece! I especially like the part where they skipped presenting any facts that either AD had in the change in other sports. Really loved the shade thrown at Mike Mauk.
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The author is dunno whatdahell lol as in dunno whatdahell they be talking bout
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Congrats to all! No need to say anything except positives! Our coaches rock and I miss Coach Mauk and his family in our community! ❤️
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This is a sad sad article!! Coach Mauk has been out of this community for 5 years and some still can not leave it alone!!! Although many many people still to this day are in contact with him along with his wonderful family. He and his family cared both on and off the field and continue to do so.
As for the success of other sports ..yes we are fortunate to have been/or am being on the winning side….stop and think about Coach Bartlett…he has been with this group of boys from a very early age, playing the sport and being a group of fine young men (with a few stumbles along the way) for some time and they have become not only a team but family. Congratulations to team and coaches on building that!!!! You have earned and deserve it!!!
Now to return to the “AD”. Mr Leddy instilled a student sport admission pass…wonderful idea.
Mr Day….has had to hire(recommend) a few/couple new coaches as the coaches resigned for personal reasons or retirement…but I believe the rest are in and have been in those positions for several years….which means what..yep…you guessed it…
So maybe the author of this article needs to do just a bit more research…please and thank you
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I don’t like Kenton very much at all, but everyone should understand that the person who wrote this article is a 1st class jackass. He has a very long track record of taking others’ work and paraphrasing and passing it off as his own – you know, plagiarism.
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