GAIGE KLINGSMITH
For more than a decade, the News and Tribune has put on its annual Sports Performance Yearly Awards, showcasing the best in local high school sports for that school year.
After completing high school, some NTSPY Award winners went on to continue their playing careers in college before entering the real world.
Here is a look at some past NTSPY winners from the fall spots and what they are up to these days.
Gaige Klingsmith was named the Boys’ Athlete of the Year at the first NTSPY Awards in 2014 following standout seasons in football and track & field at Floyd Central.
During his junior fall on the gridiron, Klingsmith rushed for 1,589 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Highlanders. The following spring, he finished seventh in the state in the 100-meter dash.
The following year, Klingsmith was named the Boys’ Track & Field Athlete of the Year after he went unbeaten in four events through the regional before placing third in the state in the 100.
Klingsmith went on to continue his running career at Vincennes University.
In 2016, Klingsmith ran the anchor leg for the Blazers’ 400 relay at the National Junior College Athletic Association Championships at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. The Blazers finished 11th in that event.
“ It was a wild experience. Some of the fastest people in the country were there,” Klingsmith said.“ I definitely never competed against any competition like that and it was fun to be able to see.”
After one year at VU, Klingsmith decided to hang up his spikes and focus on his future career.
Now 28, Klingsmith has eight years of experience in the insurance field. He specializes in senior health insurance, helping anyone on Medicare.
In his free time, Klingsmith enjoys fishing and playing with his dog Winston.
“ It was nice to get to run in college, but it was a pretty humbling experience,” he said.“ The competition was very good. It was a great experience and I was happy to be part of all the teams that I was on. It gave me friendships that will last a lifetime.”
BRENDAN LAWLER
GAIGE KLINGSMITH STANDS ON A BOAT ON A FISHING TRIP. THE FORMER FLOYD CENTRAL TRACK AND FOOTBALL STAR LIKES TO ENJOY FISHING WHEN HE CAN TRAVEL. PHOTO SUBMITTED.
PAGE NO. 8 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE SEPT / OCT 2025
Football has been part of Brendan Lawler’ s life for a long time. In high school, Lawler played two years at Jeffersonville before playing his last two at Charlestown.
In his final two seasons with the Pirates, Lawler threw for 2,193 yards and 26 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,698 yards and 19 more scores. He received the NTSPY for Football Player of The Year in 2017 after rushing and passing for over 1,000 yards in his senior season.
“ I was the second quarterback to do that in program history,” Lawler said.“ Then Clay McClelland did it as well when I coached at Charlestown.
Lawler decided to continue his playing career at the University of Indianapolis. After redshirting his first year, though, he elected to transfer to Kentucky State University. He played two years
Then he went on to play collegiately at University of Indianapolis.
He played defensive back and redshirted in his first year and then decided to transfer to Kentucky State University in Frankfort. He played two years for the Thorobreds.
At KSU, Lawler rushed for 392 yards and went into the end zone once during 10 games played in his junior season in 2019. He also threw for a 35-yard TD and caught two passes for 42 yards and a score.
Lawler had hoped to transfer to one more school, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.