Only an eighth grader and seeded third at 157 pounds, Owensboro Catholic’s Teddy Brauer didn’t show any signs of nerves. Instead, he meticulously took down Caldwell County’s Jonathan Cocchi, Christian County’s Deacon Harrison, and Union County’s Wendel Shackelford en route to a KHSAA Boys/Coed Region 1 Championship title.
“We have never had a state qualifier in the history of our program at OCHS, much less a Regional Champion. He is only an eighth grader,” Owensboro Catholic Head Coach Matt Allen said.
Brauer was the lone Aces athlete to qualify for the State Tournament, while Logan Mongold was named an alternate at 126 pounds after placing fifth. Sam Brauer also represented the Aces on the podium, finishing sixth at 144.
Owensboro Catholic finished 10th overall, while Apollo was seventh, Daviess County eighth, and Owensboro was 13th.
The Eagles Kevin Lopez (113) and Jaxton Howard (120) both finished second and advanced to the State Tournament, while Clayton Pendley (150), Brayden Mattingly (144), and Colton Hardy (190) are all alternatives.
“We wrestled well,” Apollo Head Coach Courtney Johns said. “With the injuries we had, we wrestled well.”
For the Panthers, Jackson Stoner (2nd, 132), Kaden Nichols (3rd, 165), Jah Patterson (4th, 126) all advanced to the State Tournament, while Aiden Ranburger is an alternative at 138.
“As a whole, I thought we did well,” Daviess County Head Coach Colton Gonzalez said. “The guys who qualified for State are going to be returning next year, so it will be good to have them back in the lineup. As a team, we are pretty young, with seventh graders wrestling up, and I think a majority of our team are 7th grade to freshman range.”
The Red Devils Kameryis Rodriquez Cline finished fourth at 157 and advanced to the State Tournament, while Adam Quintana Melton was named an alternate after placing fifth at 106. Ryan Schaefer also landed on the podium for Owensboro, finishing sixth at 150.
“While our placement was affected by only having six competitors in the lineup, having three wrestlers place and a state qualifier highlighted the progress of a young and developing group,” Owensboro Head Coach Griffin Kelley said. “We now turn our attention to the KHSAA State Championships in Lexington, where he will represent OHS.”
The Boys State Tournament is scheduled to start this Thursday and will run through Saturday Feb. 28th.
