This story originally appeared in the Dec. 8 edition of the weekly LINK Reader. To get these stories first, subscribe here.
In 10 short years since its inception, the wrestling program at Walton-Verona High School has become a Kentucky power on a par with teams from much bigger schools that have been around a lot longer than the Bearcats.
Coach John Roth has been Walton-Verona’s head wrestling coach for all but one of those years. With nine seasons under his belt, he enters Year 10 as head of the top small-school wrestling program in Northern Kentucky and one of the best in the commonwealth, regardless of size.
Last season, the Bearcats placed sixth at the state meet. They were third in the state small-school standings after placing second overall at the Region 5 meet just 18 points behind Ryle, which has an enrollment three times the size of Walton-Verona. The Bearcats have placed fifth at state twice, including in 2018, when Roth was state meet coach of the year and a national coach of the year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association after the Bearcats won the regional crown in just their fifth season with a team.
Just because the Bearcats wrestle for a small school doesn’t mean they can’t think about winning big. That means winning the region and, dare they say it, winning state. After all, one of the most successful Kentucky wrestling programs is at Union County, which recently won six consecutive state crowns despite an enrollment of fewer than 700 students.
“I think it would be a big moment,” junior T.J. Meyer said of the Bearcats potentially winning a state title one day. “It gives us extra motivation.”
He got no argument from junior teammate Luke Hyden.
“Definitely Top 3 at state as a team this year and individually first at state,” Hyden said. “You always imagine going for first.”
Obviously, size doesn’t matter when it comes to dreaming big at Walton-Verona, which has fewer than 600 students, but has done no worse than the Top 3 in the state small-school standings since 2015, with three runner-up finishes. Given their success, the big-time Bearcats see no reason to exclude themselves from envisioning even bigger prizes after carving their reputation against the biggest schools on Kentucky’s biggest stage.
“We’d love to win the region again,” Roth said. “I don’t harp on state as much. You have to establish short-term goals to meet long-term goals. Dreaming about state is great. But I have to keep them grounded.”
Meanwhile, the Bearcats will be keeping opponents wary.
Year after year, bigger schools have to deal with Walton-Verona’s whirling dervishes and grapple with the real possibility of getting beat by a smaller school if they aren’t ready for Roth’s wrestlers. The Bearcats have won 141 of 169 dual matches under his guidance. For any foe, big or small, the Bearcats are a handful. No matter the size, each wrestler is a weighty concern. Their season started Dec. 2 at home with the annual Bearcat Brawl.
“We probably had more kids come out this year than ever,” Roth said. “We average about 13 to 15 a year, but this year we have 19.”
History’s ledger shows a remarkable past for the Bearcats: 91 individual state qualifiers, 28 regional champions, nine state champs, 46 state placers and nine wrestlers sent to college programs the last nine years. The future is considerably bright. And so is the here and now.
Walton-Verona welcomes back reigning regional champions Hyden (215 pounds) and Meyer (120). Meyer finished with the most wins by a Bearcat last season, going 38-2 and finishing state runner-up. Also back are returning regional runners-up Brennan East (106) and Timothy Sulfsted (132), and third-place finishers Ben Teipe (285) and Benjamin Walton (175).
Teipe, one of just four seniors, returns as the heavyweight. Hyden is back at 215, and Walton returns at 175. Sulfsted, another senior, is moving up to 144 pounds. Meyer is moving up to 138. East can wrestle at 106 pounds and 113.
Coach Roth knows what it’s like to contend for titles. He wrestled for the 1987 Simon Kenton state champion. He was a regional champion at 119 pounds and a three-time state qualifier. He was a championship-winning Walton-Verona middle school coach.
Roth also knows how to get the most out of his wrestlers by laying down the law fairly. He’s a 25-year veteran of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, working regularly at the Boone County courthouse. His coaching assistants include former head coaches Dave Barnes, Dave Johnson, longtime top assistant Jason Moore and first-year assistant Keegan Duncan, a former Louisville Trinity standout who can get on the mat with the Bearcats. The team has ardent schoolwide support.
“I can’t speak highly enough of our athletic director Kyle Bennett, who has always been pro-wrestling,” Roth said. “I’ve had some dates moved around for me. I’ve gotten more approvals than denials. We get outstanding support at Walton-Verona.”