Honors

Mr. Heil is recognized as being the top pitcher to the outstanding 1990 Bearcat baseball team which won 17 games against 7 losses. Brian collected a career total of 15 pitching victories against a mere 6 losses during an era with fewer scheduled games than today. Some other notable achievements include pitching 41 strikeouts in 1989 (including 12 strikeouts in an individual game), a no-hitter in 1990, and a 1990 season ERA of 1.72. All three seasons of varsity play, Brian had winning records as a pitcher. Mr. Heil was named All-District and awarded the Lowry Watkins Baseball Award (the top KCD baseball award) in 1990.  Brian took his right arm to Davidson College to pitch for the Wildcats. After a successful stint at Davidson, Mr. Heil signed to compete in professional baseball. Brian pitched for Minneapolis Millers in the Great League and Jackson in AA baseball and the Braton Grey Owls in the Great League. Mr. Heil has served some years helping as a pitching coach for the Bearcats. Today, Brian lives in Louisville as an owner of a custom woodwork company.

Mr. Schoenbeck was a slugging star for one of the most successful baseball teams in school history, the 1990 season with a record of 17 wins against 7 losses. Although there were far fewer recorded statistics recorded during Mike’s baseball days at KCD, Mr. Schoenbeck does share or own three school records today: 12 doubles in season (1988), three doubles in an individual game (1988), two triples in an individual game (1987). Some other notable baseball highlights include a .480 season batting percentage (1988), 14 season stolen bases (1990), 23 season RBIs (1988), and 9 career home runs. He was twice named All-District (1989, 1990), and he received the 1987 Lowry Watkins Baseball Award which is the highest award presented to a baseball player at Country Day. Mike continued his baseball career competing for Elon College in North Carolina.

Mr. Aylor was known for being the “Voice of the Bearcats” for over three decades announcing at Bearcat home football, boys and girls basketball games. Being the longest serving faculty member with 45 years of service, Mr. Aylor never spent a year without helping the athletic program. He initially served as an assistant basketball coach and team bus driver for away games. But for the last thirty years, Dick would announce games for Bearcat athletics. His dignified tenure and commitment to Bearcat athletics are unmatched with his years of notable service. Today, Mr. Aylor is retired and living in Louisville.

Mark Frigon is recognized as the best wrestler in KCD history in the lower weight classes. Competing for the Bearcat varsity wrestling squad since sixth grade, Mark accumulated 112 career victories, which ranks second in school history. His 38 wins in 1991 does rank as a school record. Mr. Frigon qualified for the state championship three different seasons, finishing fifth in 1991 in the 140 pound division and fourth in 1990 in the 135 pound division. He was also presented the 1990 and 1991 Monaco Wrestling Award, which is the top award given to a Bearcat wrestler. He also received the 1990 Robertson Trophy for football. Mr. Frigon is a graduate of Notre Dame and holds an MBA from Northwestern. Today, he lives in San Francisco and works in big data analytics as the VP of Product at Interana.

Nick Melhuish was a two-time All-State boys soccer player who also received NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches of America) All-South honors during his senior season. He served as team captain for both his junior and senior seasons. Nick accumulated 30 career goals, including two four-goal games while playing for KCD Hall of Fame coach Doug Delafield. He also represented the State of Kentucky (KYSA) at the U16 and U18 level. Nick was a two-time KCD Michael Memorial Award winner for his excellent leadership and play. Today, Nick lives in Louisville, where he is the President/CEO of Algood Food Company, as well as a community leader. He and his wife Ursula have two boys: Adam KCD ’19 and Owen KCD ’21.

Ms. Blair is considered one of the best field hockey goalkeepers in KCD history. Her consistent play frustrated Bearcat opponents and produced a school record 45 career shutouts. She tallied a minimum of nine shutouts in each of her four years as a varsity starter, including a personal high of 16 in 2001. She was a versatile athlete at KCD, competing in basketball and softball and earning the Beam Senior Athlete of the Year Award. Ms. Blair was selected to the United States Under-19 National Team her senior year at KCD. She continued to be an effective weapon in college, earning an athletic scholarship to the University of Virginia. As a Cavalier, she started in 39 games, ranking in UVA’s history books with 198 saves. She also played for the Under-21 National Team throughout college, starting for the USA at the Junior Pan Am Games and Junior World Cup in Chile. She was also a 4-time Academic All-American. Ms. Blair started for the USA Junior World Cup team and was named four straight seasons to NFHCA National Academic Squad. Ms. Blair is the daughter of Debbie Blair and former KCD Head of School Robert Blair.

Mr. Dreher was a star boys soccer player for the Bearcats which sported a impressive 15-4 win loss record. After his senior season, he placed third on the list of KCD career goal scorers and secured the single season scoring record, which he held for 17 years. Mr. Dreher earned All-State, All-Region, and All-District honors and also received the team’s MVP award. As team captain, he led the Bearcats to a top ten state ranking, Louisville Independent School Conference as well as district runner-up. Today, Jeff is married to KCD graduate Molly Rowan Dreher ’89 and lives in Louisville, where he works as a commercial real estate broker with Cushman & Wakefield. They have two children at KCD: Mitchell ’20 and Allie ’22.

Ms. Kern was an incredibly successful goalkeeper for the 1988 and 1989 state championship field hockey teams. During the 1988 season, she recorded 18 shutouts in 22 games, a school record. Over her career, she she collected 32 shutouts, holding opponents scoreless on 14 occasions in 1989. Her senior year, Ms. Kern was named Regional Finalist High School All American, All-County, and All-State Tournament team. Ms. Kern and her husband David live in Louisville. Their daughter Bella ’20 is a student at KCD.

Mr. Sullivan coached the boys’ program for 39 seasons, making him the longest-tenured head coach in KCD golf history. Despite having small squads and competing against larger programs, Coach Sullivan collected 22 winning seasons along with a school record 248 match wins. His squads have 11 top-4 finishes in the state’s 7th region, its most competitive. Since the inception of the All A Golf championship, Coach Sullivan’s teams have won 7 of 11 All A regional championships and finished as high as 3rd in the state. Coach Sullivan has served as a KCD head varsity coach for five other sports, including boys tennis with a state runner-up finish. He garners the most overall varsity head coach victories in school history. Mr. Sullivan (affectionately referred to as "Sully") retired from KCD in 2018. He and his wife Melanie-Prejean Sullivan live in Louisville.

Dr. Monaco is noted for having the most career head coach football victories at Kentucky Country Day. Coach Monaco took over a program that had won only three games in the previous five seasons. He completed his first season with seven wins against three losses. His daily emphasis on effective tackling created many of the best defensive football teams in school history. For five of his seven coaching seasons, the Bearcats recorded three or more games with opponent shutouts. His 1981 gridiron squad brought a school record five opponent shutouts. His 1984 team allowed a school record of just fifty opponent points. Monaco’s 1987 program was ranked as high as tenth in the state for Class A football, another school record. Other school records include nine straight victories, which led to an undefeated nine-win season record and forty career victories versus twenty-nine defeats. He led Country Day to four seasons competing in the postseason state playoffs. Dr. Monaco was named the 1984 North Central Kentucky Conference Champion, and he will be remembered at KCD not only as a football coach, but also as wrestling coach and athletic director. He is the namesake for the top KCD wrestling award, the Monaco Wrestling Award, as well as Country Day’s track and field facility, the Monaco-Walker Track. After his tenure at KCD, Dr. Monaco traveled to Summit Country Day to continue his admirable coaching and teaching career while pursuing a doctorate. Dr. Monaco retired as the upper school director of Summit Country Day. Today, Dr. Monaco is married and has two children who are KCD alumni. He is enjoying his retirement in Cincinnati.