Celebrating Excellence: The Winter Nominees for the 2026 High School Sports Awards

Introduction to the Awards

The Cincinnati Enquirer's annual High School Sports Awards are just around the corner! This year, the 2026 event is set to be different, focusing more on honoring the winners while still celebrating the incredible athletes on both sides of the river.

A New Format

This year's awards will be hosted at Princeton High School, and the Enquirer will announce winners weeks ahead of the live show, streamlining the event to recognize talent without delay. The decision to require RSVPs instead of distributing tickets aims to create a more controlled and festive environment, ensuring that all finalists can participate in the pre-awards reception.

The Celebration for Athletes

All finalists are welcomed to a reception filled with light refreshments where they'll receive their certificates, meet other athletes, and even snag some red-carpet photos! While families unable to attend the early reception will have a chance to share in the celebrations post-awards, the collective spirit of these athletes will surely light up Princeton High School.

Announcing the Nominees

Without further ado, let's dive into the thrilling nominees nominated this winter season for the 2025-2026 sports season! These young athletes have demonstrated not just skill but passion and commitment to their sports.

Ohio Boys Basketball Nominees

• Grady Barber, Williamsburg
• Jason Caimano, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
• A'mire Gill, Princeton
• 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
• Kellen Wiley, Wyoming

Northern Kentucky/Indiana Boys Basketball Nominees

• Anthony Blaackar, Lloyd Memorial
• Anthony Coppola, Ryle
• Austin Davie, Campbell County
• Finn Louden, Conner
• Amontae Lowe, Newport
• Athens McGillis, Covington Catholic

Ohio Girls Basketball Nominees

• 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
• Erin Thomas, Princeton
• Mia Vieth, Mount Notre Dame
• Samaya Wilkins, Purcell Marian

Northern Kentucky/Indiana Girls Basketball Nominees

• Emma Holtzapfel, Notre Dame
• Izzy Jayasuriya, Campbell County
• Jaelyn Jones, Ryle
• Haylee Noel, Cooper
• Brynli Pernell, Simon Kenton
• Natalie Stenger, East Central

Ohio Boys Bowling Nominees

• Matthew Alvear, Lebanon
• Ty Barrett, West Clermont
• Jayden Brown, Elder
• Randy Eckman, Blanchester
• Joseph Geers, St. Xavier
• Easton Pierani, Sycamore

Northern Kentucky/Indiana Boys Bowling Nominees

• Tyler Blume, Simon Kenton
• Mason Bowman, Covington Catholic
• Dylan Davis, Covington Catholic
• Maddox Kuryla, Boone County
• Aleck Meredith, Simon Kenton
• Bryce Sargent, Campbell County

Ohio Girls Bowling Nominees

• 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 Nominees

• Alyssa Bechtol, Notre Dame
• Kree Brewer, Pendleton County
• Mary Hollon, Simon Kenton
• Hayley Pelstring, Notre Dame
• Abby Sargent, Campbell County
• Abree Young, Dixie Heights

The Gymnastics Achievements

In addition to basketball and bowling, let's not forget about gymnastics. These athletes demonstrate incredible skill and athleticism across various disciplines, showcasing how high school sports bring communities together. See more about the nominees and follow their journeys as they aim for excellence.

In Conclusion

The countdown to the 2026 High School Sports Awards has begun. With an impressive list of nominees and a new streamlined format, this event promises to be a celebration of the talent, hard work, and dedication of our young athletes. Stay tuned for further announcements!

As the event approaches, I encourage everyone to support our athletes and the spirit of high school sports. Let's honor the hard work and tenacity of these young stars!

For more coverage on the Cincinnati High School Sports Awards, follow this link: Cincinnati Enquirer winter nominees, 2026 High School Sports Awards