Professional athletes aren’ t just made overnight. Rather, they are developed through countless hours of hard work and often aided by the guidance and direction from others along the way.
Alli( Stumler) Linnehan, a former volleyball star at Christian Academy and the University of Kentucky, reached the professional mountain top in her sport. Meanwhile Tucker Biven, a standout baseball player at New Albany High School and the University of Louisville, is in the midst of his quest. Finally, NAHS sophomore Jada Harper is a local rising track & field star who has her sights set on reaching the pinnacle in her sport.
TUCKER BIVEN
Biven began playing baseball when he was around 4 or 5 years old. Back then, he wasn’ t worried about the future, just having fun and learning the game with his teammates.
“ I always dreamed about playing in the MLB and you never know if it’ s going to happen with anything you do,” Biven said.“ My main thing at a young age just having fun with baseball and see where it goes.”
He continued getting better and got a chance to play for a spot in the Little League World Series in 2014. But fell short to a team from Chicago, who later field a team with ineligible players. That following year New Albany was awarded the Great Lakes Region banner and Biven got a chance to be in Williamsport, Penn., for the LLWS.
Baseball for the youngster turned into playing high-school ball at New Albany. That was where he met Chris McIntyre, who coached the Bulldogs from 1995-2022.
“ It’ s clear that he was an outstanding talent but sometimes with some kids that have that type of talent and ability, they’ re not always the easiest to coach,” McIntyre said.“ But Tucker was the opposite of that: he was always concerned more about winning than his own accolades, he pulled and was excited for his teammates to do well and very humble. Overall, he was easy to coach and he wanted to be coached. If he wasn’ t doing something fundamentally right, he wanted input and wanted him to tell him. He was always receptive.”
During his senior year, the New Albany 2022 grad played shortstop and pitched for the‘ Dogs. He batted. 474 average with 12 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 32 RBIs, while scoring a team-high 46 runs.
On the mound, the right-hander posted an 8-2 record with a 1.67 earned-run average. In 58 2 / 3 innings pitched, he allowed 22 runs( 14 earned) with 37 hits while walking 28 and striking out 91.
“ Tucker started pitching his freshman year,” McIntyre said.“ He struggled a little bit, even as talented as he was. The difference between a freshman and a senior versus competition, he had success but hadn’ t reached the dominant level he was his last few years of high school. He was throwing mid-to-upper 80s as a freshmen and he just continued to gain velocity as his career went on. If you saw him pitch as a freshmen, then you would have anticipated he would have the kind of career he had. I don’ t think anybody was shocked by it.”
Biven had a chance to go into the MLB in 2022 but decided instead to play collegiately at Louisville. After his senior year, he was one of nine high school players nationally named an American Baseball Coaches Association / Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner.
At Louisville, the New Albany resident had success in his junior year in 2025.
JAN / FEB 2026 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE PAGE NO. 9