USA TODAY names Lincoln Kienholz High School Boys Athlete of the Year
COLUMBUS — Ohio State true freshman quarterback Lincoln Kienholz left nothing on the field in his illustrious career at T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, South Dakota. Or on the hardwood. Or on the diamond.
USA TODAY named the star three-sport athlete its High School Boys Athlete of the Year during its third-annual high school sports award show.
Instead of enrolling early at Ohio State, like recent first-year Buckeyes quarterbacks, Kienholz stayed in Pierre to cap off his prolific high school career. He did just that, winning a baseball state championship after showing out as both as shortstop and pitcher in the spring.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Kienholz is quite the hooper, too. In fact, his 1,464 career points are good for second all-time in Pierre basketball history.
Moving on to the gridiron: Kienholz is South Dakota’s all-time passing leader with 9,100 career yards through the air. Additionally, he recorded 104 passing touchdowns over the years and more than 3,500 career rushing yards.
He piloted the Governors to three consecutive 11AA state titles, the last of which wrapped a jaw-dropping senior season that saw him total 70 touchdowns (46 passing, 24 rushing) while throwing for close to 3,500 yards and rushing for close to 1,500 yards.
Kienholz originally committed to Washington but flipped to and signed with Ohio State in December. Then he showcased his versatile skill set in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio the following month. It was there that he threw touchdowns of 43 and 38 yards.
Kienholz was the No. 15 quarterback in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
He joined Ohio State in June and has already impressed fifth-year head coach Ryan Day.
“Lincoln has stepped in, and I’ve been very surprised with just his approach,” Day said from the Big Ten Media Days podium in Lucas Oil Stadium. “Been really impressed with how it doesn’t seem too big for Lincoln. He’s very athletic. He’s learning.
“He’s got a long way to go — he came in in the summer — but excited to have him here.”
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