All four local wrestling squads will be in action this weekend as the Region 2 tournament kicks off at Trinity High School. Opening rounds begin this afternoon, and competition picks back Saturday to determine region champions.
Apollo, Daviess County, Owensboro and Trinity are vying for a chance to advance to the State Wrestling Championships, which will be Feb. 14-15 at Alltech Arena in Lexington. The top four wrestlers in each weight class will advance from region, and the fifth-place finisher will serve as an alternate.
Region 2 also includes Bardstown, Central Hardin, Fort Knox, Green County, John Hardin, LaRue County, Meade County, Nelson County, North Hardin, Taylor County, Thomas Nelson and Todd County Central.
DAVIESS COUNTY
This season has been a pleasant surprise for a young Panther wrestling squad that includes eight middle school wrestlers and only six high school team members. Daviess County won its first city-county championship since 2011, and it has four athletes ranked in the top four of their respective weight class.
Top wrestlers include senior Reese Haight (34-5, No. 1 in region at 138 pounds), senior Landen Boone (29-12, No. 4 at 145 pounds), junior Say Moe (26-6, No. 2 at 285) and sophomore Conner Tolson (24-9, No. 2 at 182).
“Although we are young, I believe we can make a push to finish in the top five as a team,” said DC head coach Curtis Martinson. “At this time of year, it becomes more of an individual thing, so we are hoping that at least five or six kids make the State Tournament.”
OWENSBORO
The Red Devils will try to send head coach Kenny Stone off with a bang in his final time region tournament this weekend.
Stone has been a part of wrestling in the region since 2001, and he has been the head man at Owensboro High School since 2011.
Heading into his final postseason, Stone said he has high expectations since this is the most experienced team he’s had at Owensboro. Senior Noah Kirkman (120 pound) and sophomore Andres Quintana (113 pound) head into the region tournament as the No. 1 ranked wrestlers in their respective weight classes.
Stone said he’s setting sights high for those two in particular, but expects many others could step up.
“I’m expecting my top seeds to finish as regional champions, and maybe a couple more surprises along the way would be nice,” Stone said. “We could have as many as six to eight state qualifiers this year.”
APOLLO
First-year head coach Courtney Johns had high initial expectations for Apollo, but the loss of some key veterans before the season left the Eagles with an inexperienced roster. Eleven of the 14 athletes on the team are first-year wrestlers, but Johns said there has still been a good amount of individual success.
Cameron Baker led the team in wins this year, posting a 30-9 individual record. Baker dropped down to the 160 pound weight class after starting at 170, and he enters the region tournament ranked No. 3 in his new division.
Johns is still excited for his team going into the regional tournament despite not meeting preseason expectations.
“We just want our kids to continue wrestling well and to do the best they can,” he said. “We feel like we have five kids who could make a run and finish in the top four of their weight class at the regional tournament.”
TRINITY
After the departure of seven seniors last season, first-year coach Zach Farris and his squad were in rebuilding mode this year.
The Raiders only have two wrestlers this season, but Farris has been happy with the success his two athletes have had. Kristopher Howard comes into the regional tournament with a record of 14-14, and Mason Mattingly finished the regular season 16-14.
Farris knows it could be tough to get out of the region this year, but he plans on getting his athletes back to the state tournament in the future.
“With us being young, we still have room for improvement,” he said. “If we don’t get to state this year, we will just come back hungrier next year.”
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