Josh Kattus Was Perfect Dancing With The Stars Partner

Kentucky tight end Josh Kattus and partner Allison Fliehman tied for the Judge's Champion Award at Dancing with the Lexington Stars that raised $185,000 for charity. (UK Athletics Photo)

Allison Fliehman always loved dancing growing up in Catlettsburg in Boyd County but was an athlete more into volleyball, softball and basketball growing up even though she did briefly try ballet at age 7.

However, when given a chance to participate in Dancing with the Lexington Stars to raise funds for Baby Health Service — a nonprofit providing free, quality healthcare to uninsured children in Central Kentucky — she quickly said yes. Fliehman, marketing director for Clark’s Pump-N-Shop, thought through her work connections she could find a UK football or basketball player for a partner.

However, that didn’t work out. She knew UK tight end Josh Kattus through some NIL deals he had done with Clark’s Pump-N-Shop. Kattus and his partner, Mattie Lewis, won the People’s Choice Award, so Fliehman reached out to him about dancing with her this year.

“We had sponsored Josh and Mattie last year. I texted Josh about doing it with me and he agreed,” Fliehman said.

It worked out well because they tied Judge’s Champion Award.

“Initially they announced Whitney Allen, a former Miss Kentucky United States, and her partner as the winners. It was no big deal. We lost but had fun. On Monday (the competition was on a Saturday) I got a call telling me the scoring got messed up and we actually tied for the win,” Fliehman said.

“I just wanted to raise money for a great cause. I had been involved in community service work with my sorority in college and wanted to be involved again in  more community service work. I will probably be a Lexingtonian for life. I have made a lot of connections in marketing and advertising working for Clark’s.”

Even though Kattus had offseason football workouts and then spring practice along with his academic work, they two had practiced weekly since February to prepare for Dancing with the Stars.

“Josh is such a responsible young man with great parents. He did a lot of hard work to prepare for this with football going on and was a great partner,” Fliehman said. “I am 28, he is 21 but I am so proud of what he did.”

Fliehman says she was “so nervous” the few days leading to the competition and then relaxed. Kattus was fine until the day of the competition and the nervousness hit him.

“I completely messed up our run through at the end and just forgot what I was supposed to do. Then we went out and had our best performance,” she said. “Josh was always encouraging. I had a hard time learning how to spin correctly and not be wobbly but he always told me I would get it.

“There was one time he put his arm up and his elbow whacked me in the head. So there were a few hiccups but we always picked up each other. I really enjoyed it and consider him one of my good buddies now.”

Fliehman admits she is a “big football fan”and has gone  to most UK home football games since the Cats got that historic win over Florida in 2018. She even follows recruiting and the transfer portal now.

“Once I started working with football players as part of my job I really got into football even more,” she said. “Sometimes we think of these guys as just football players. We all have our public accolades but it is about character. Josh has such a good heart and cares about people. I loved meeting his mom and dad. You could tell his girlfriend is so sweet. Dancing with him pushed me out of my comfort zone but you could easily tell he was used to the spotlight more than I am.

Kattus, a Cincinnati native, has played in 33 games at Kentucky with 15 starts and has 21 catches for 310 yards and five touchdowns. He was one of four finalists for the 15th annual Pop Warner College Football Award last year and was named to the SEC Community Service Team.

“He is a good guy and is going to do great things,” Fliehman, who is involved in the Clark Family Charity that raises money for student scholarships, said. “I appreciate he took the time to do what he did with me because he did not have to do that.

“A lot of people will do something like that just for the look on social media and just to say they did it. Josh truly cares and wanted to raise money for a great cause (the event raised $185,000). But he really is special and there is so much more to him than just football.”