Starting later this morning through Saturday, Apollo, Daviess County, Owensboro, and Owensboro Catholic will be in Lexington for the KHSAA State Wrestling Championships. The Lady Panthers Kali Nichols (34-0, 165) and the Aces Thomas Brauer (23-0, 157) both enter this weekend undefeated and as Regional Champions at their respective weight classes.
After falling in heartbreaking fashion in the State finals a year ago, Nichols has her eyes set on getting over that hump and bringing Daviess County its first-ever Wrestling State Championship.
“I’m feeling pretty confident this year, and I am just hoping to win,” Nichols said. “I just have to make sure I don’t make any mistakes, and if I do, then I need to get back against them really quickly, so my opponent doesn’t get me off guard. I just need to end them quickly.”
Nichols will be joined this weekend by fellow Lady Panthers Kaylee Klee (145) and Mariya Meh (235), as well as three teammates on the boys’ team – Jah Patterson (126), Jackson Stoner (132), and her brother Kaden Nichols (165).
Only a freshman, this is Klee’s third straight season advancing to the State Tournament. Since the off-season, Daviess County Head Coach Colton Gonzalez has been working with Klee on cleaning up any bad habits and simple mistakes.
A first-year wrestler, Meh’s path to the State Tournament has been nothing short of amazing. The junior has already upset some of the top wrestlers in the state at her weight class, and Gonzalez acknowledged she has the ability to go out and perform.
For the Panthers, Stoner is well-positioned to land on the podium.
“I want to see him go out there and compete and wrestle to the level I know that he can,” Gonzalez said. “If he goes out there and does that, there is no reason we don’t finish top five in the state.”
Patterson is facing a tough draw early on, while Kaden just recently returned to the mats after missing most of the season with an injury.
A rising star
Only an eighth grader, Brauer is fresh off winning both a Middle School State Championship and a Region 1 title at 157.
“Teddy for the last three years has been an example for all of the wrestlers at Owensboro Catholic and Aces Wrestling Club,” Owensboro Catholic Head Coach Matt Allen said. “When you think about a Region or State champion, or wrestling in general, Teddy is more than that. He lives it. He is a champion in the classroom and is a great friend to have. He leads by example and just lives that championship lifestyle.”
Brauer is the first wrestler from Owensboro Catholic to win a Region title and represent the school at the State Tournament. Despite his young age, Allen isn’t surprised by Brauer’s success, acknowledging that Teddy puts as much into his mental game as he does his physical game.
“Teddy is undefeated this year, both at middle school and varsity,” Allen said. “He has wrestled some really good kids and has proved he can hang with just about anybody in the state. Any match he goes into, don’t count him out.”
Eyes on the podium
Competing at 157 pounds, Brauer will be joined by Owensboro’s Kameryis Rodriquez Cline, who is on the same side of the bracket. Finishing fourth at the Region 1 Tournament, Rodriquez enters the State Tournament with an impressive 42-2 record.
“Beyond wrestling and everything he has accomplished this season, he is just a phenomenal kid,” Owensboro Head Coach Griffin Kelley said. “He handles his business in the classroom, gets solid grades, and is just a good person. He is always smiling ear to ear, and this season he has been a great leader.”
This makes the third straight year Rodriquez has reached the State Tournament – arriving as an alternate his freshman year before finishing 1-2 last year. With more experience under him, Rodriquez arrives with a goal of landing on the podium.
“This is his third time advancing, so that relieves some of the anxiety that is going to be there naturally,” Griffin said. “Whenever you get to the venue, it can be overwhelming if you aren’t used to that. But he has been there before and knows what to expect. I truly believe he is prepared, he’s ready for it, and he’s definitely put in the work.”
Youngster and the vet
Apollo is represented by junior Kevin Lopez (113, 38-2) and eighth grader Jaxton Howard (120,38-1), both of whom finished second at their respective weight classes in the Region 1 Tournament.
The Eagles’ Head Coach Courtney Johns acknowledged that both kids have been pushed all season long, but especially Lopez, having wrestled multiple top-ranked kids in the state. Over the last few weeks, the duo has benefited from continuously drilling against each other in practice in preparation.
“It’s really helped both of them. Jackson is one of the fastest kids I have seen, and that has helped Kevin out,” Johns said. “As far as his shot defense and things like that. While Kevin isn’t as quick, he has a lot of experience, so you actually get a lot of on-the-job training drilling with Kevin throughout the season.”
Daviess County’s Aiden Ranburger (138), Apollo’s Clayton Pendley (150), Brayden Mattingly (144), and Colton Hardy (190), Owensboro Catholic’s Logan Mongold (126), and Owensboro’s Adam Quintana Melton (106) were all named alternates at their respective weight classes.
