By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
It was hard to top the application John Michels submitted to become head coach of the Covington Catholic baseball team. He played a part in the program’s winning tradition as a player and assistant coach under Bill Krumpelbeck, who resigned as head coach after 48 years
“We received a tremendous amount of interest in the position,” CovCath athletic director Tony Bacigalupo said in a media release. “After a thorough interview process, John Michels was the obvious choice due to his success on the field, loyalty to CCH, and most importantly, his relationships with the players and alumni.”
Michels was a player on CovCath’s 1987 9th Region championship team that made it to the state tournament quarterfinals. He returned to the program several years later and became freshman coach from 2002-2004. His teams compiled a 48-13 record and won a region tournament title.
As the CovCath baseball team’s junior varsity coach, Michels compiled a 408-144 record that included 12 appearances in region tournament finals and six region tournament titles. He helped develop varsity teams that won 20 or more games nearly every season under Krumpelbeck, who compiled a 1,149-485 career record.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to carry on our strong traditions while taking the program in a new direction,” Michels said in the school’s media release. “We will build a culture that expects to win, competes hard, and develops men of character. We will continue to embrace the spiritual, academic, and athletic standards that make this school so special.”
CovCath won the 2002 state championship and nine 9th Region titles under Krumpelbeck, but the last time the Colonels made it to the state playoffs was 2005. Over the last 15 years, they have an 8-15 record in region tournament games, reaching the region final in 2018 and 2021.
“Coach Michels represents the best of CovCath — humble leadership, competitive spirit and a commitment to forming young men of character,” said CovCath principal Bob Rowe. “We’re proud to move into this new chapter with someone who knows our tradition and is ready to raise the bar.”
Fromeyer named Supervisor of Year by KHSAA
Steve Fromeyer, a member of the Northern Kentucky Officials Association for high school football, was named statewide Supervisor of the Year for all sports by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
Fromeyer is in charge of recruiting, training, assigning and assessing football officials for games involving 28 high schools in Boone, Campbell, Kenton, Pendleton, Bracken, Grant, Gallatin, Owen and Carroll counties.
“This is a team award,” he said. “The reality is when your people do good, you’re recognized for things. Our officials did great last year. We put a good product on the field, and you get recognized for it.”
Fromeyer, who works as a food service sale representative, has been the area’s football supervisor since 2021.
He’s also boys head basketball coach at Scott High School and will serve as president of the Northern Kentucky Boys Basketball Coaches Association for the 2025-26 school year.
The KHSAA also named an outstanding official in each sport for this past school year. The list included Jason Seligman of Covington for football, Allyson Heger of Independence for swimming and diving, Michael Stokes of Ft. Mitchell for basketball, Tony Wagner of Villa Hills for softball and Tony Thornsburg of Covington for baseball.
Finalists in each sport are selected through a combination of on-field performance, local association activity and leadership, training efforts and the mentoring of newer officials.
Campbell County athlete named Mr. 10th Region
Zach Franzen, a recent graduate of Campbell County High School, was named Mr. 10th Region, an annual award that goes to a graduating senior who excels in multiple sports.
During his senior year, Franzen scored a team-high 19 goals in soccer, averaged 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in basketball and pitched a team-high 54.2 innings in baseball with a 7-1 record, 2.18 ERA and 72 strikeouts.
The soccer team won the 10th Region title, made it to the second round of the state tournament and finished 15-9-1. The basketball team was a 10th Region qualifier and posted a 22-10 record. The baseball team made it to the 10th Region semifinals and finished 25-11-1.
Franzen plans to attend Northern Kentucky University and study construction management, according to an article on the 10thregion.com website that sponsors the award he received.