Three of Northern Kentucky’s lightest high school wrestlers turned in large performances Saturday.
Simon Kenton freshman Braden Blevins won the state 106-pound title at George Rogers Clark High School by defeating Harrison County’s George Dennis, 7-5.
A few minutes later, Ryle sophomore Landon Evans captured the 113 crown with a 7-0 win over Great Crossing’s Ren Birk.
Walton-Verona sophomore TJ Meyer finished second at 120. Union County’s Jayden Raney edged Meyer, 3-2.
Evans said there’s a Northern Kentucky brotherhood.
“We all support each other, cheer for each other, want each other to win” Evans said.
Blevins opened Saturday by pinning Ohio County’s Joey Bratcher in 3 minutes, 28 seconds. He followed that with an 8-1 decision over Union County’s Breylen Clifford, 8-1 and an 8-2 semifinal win over Central Hardin’s Roman Valera.
Dennis’ takedown gave him a 2-1 lead after one period. It was a short-lived advantage – Blevins’ escaped and a takedown gave him a 4-2 lead.
“I threw (Dennis) to his back in the second period,” Blevins said. “… He took a shot at my right leg and missed it, and I was able to counterattack with double underhooks.”
Evans rolled through his first three matches. He needed just 45 seconds to pin St. Xavier’s Henry Bueter, notched a 9-0 majority decision over Boyle County’s Kaygen Roberts and pinned Union County’s Utah Heady in 3:34 in the semifinals.
When Birk tried to shoot on Evans’ right leg in the first period, Evans was ready – he “broke his lock” and scored a takedown.
“I pulled his hands apart from each other,” Evans said.
Meyer started his day by pinning Western Hills’ Kelton Bailey in 1:55. He decisioned Simon Kenton’s Jonah McCloskey, 9-3, and took a 17-5 majority decision over John Hardin’s Amari Hardin in the semifinals.
After a scoreless first period, Meyer took a 1-0 lead after two with an escape, which Raney countered with an escape. In the third, Raney’s reversal made it 3-1, and Meyer finished with an escape.
Six others fell in the semifinals: Walton-Verona’s Hunter Isaacs at 138 pounds, fellow Bearcat Mason Schweitzer at 144, Highlands’ Rilen Pinkston at 150 (his first defeat of the season), Scott’s Aiden Zinzer at 165, Ryle’s Caleb Duke at 175, and Walton-Verona’s Luke Hyden at 215.
Isaacs and Schweitzer finished third, as did Campbell County’s Mason Orth at 113. Hyden placed fourth, and Pinkston, Zinser and Duke finished sixth.
Holmes’ Emauryon Arnold was fourth at 285, Covington Catholic’s Willie Rodriguez was fifth battling through his shoulder in a brace.
Paducah Tilghman won the team title over Union County, 185.5-162. Walton-Verona was sixth with 77.5 points, and Ryle was eighth with 74. Walton-Verona also was third in the state small-school division behind Paducah Tilghman and Union County.
“That’s exciting,” Walton-Verona coach John Roth said. “Bringing down five guys, that’s a big accomplishment.”
Ryle coach Tim Ruschell didn’t speak the word, but he sounded impressed.
“There was 11 kids from last year off the team; we had nine seniors, two kids didn’t come back,” Ruschell said. “And to do what they did, gosh, they did very well for themselves. A lot of those kids were JV wrestlers last year.”
For complete results visit: https://www.trackwrestling.com/predefinedtournaments/MainFrame.jsp?newSession=false&TIM=1677380850812&pageName=%2Fpredefinedtournaments%2FBracketViewer.jsp&twSessionId=ojdftxdgsy.