You’d have thought Conner had won the KHSAA state boys wrestling title.
Saturday’s Region 5 tournament in the Cougars’ gym was equally special, and not only because the Cougars beat Simon Kenton, 251-192.5. It was the program’s first regional title since 1985.
“There was just a buzz, and the kids looked more comfortable,” Conner coach Zack Fisher said. “A lot of teachers, a lot of faculty came out, a lot of support that you don’t normally see at the regional tournament. You go to neutral ground and you don’t have a lot of that. So that was pretty special, that was pretty cool. I think a lot of alumni came out.”
Conner faculty, alumni, parents and fans saw three Cougars win their divisions – Clayton Badida at 126 pounds, Cordion Abernathy at 132 and Nathan Seth at 150. Four more – Zaq Abdi at 113, Keaton Dicken at 120, Luke Peace at 144, and Landon Wuellner at 215 – placed second.
Conner’s win – and the 2025-26 season – was the latest in a string of success. The Cougars won their first Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference championship since 1982 in December and will send 11 to the state tournament beginning Thursday at Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
Badida’s 8-4 win over Simon Kenton’s Braydan Blevins allowed him to surpass older brother Connor Badida’s career win total. It included a comeback – after Blevins scored a takedown 1:15 into the first period, Badida countered with an escape and takedown in the first and third.
“And they’ve they’ve went to battle many, many times, and Clayton never beat him,” Fisher said, “And he beat him here on our home floor, and the place kind of erupted.”
Seth overcame a 5-3 deficit against Parker Smith of Simon Kenton with a reversal in the second period and an escape and takedown in the third. Abernathy’s win was somewhat less suspenseful – an 18-2 technical fall over Simon Kenton’s Ethan Piasecki.
Simon Kenton had three winners – Cody Blevins at 106, Jaydan Rutherford at 215 and Benjamin Woosley at 165.
“The fact of all three of those guys winning their first region title, that’s amazing,” Pioneers coach Jarrod Peebles said. “I’m gonna remember that for a long time.”
Ryle was third with 191.5 points. Two Raiders triumphed: Ayden Brinkman at 120 and Bryant Brinkman at 113.
As for state team finishes, Ryle coach Tim Ruschell thought “between five and 10 is where I expect us to be.”
Two-time defending state champion Union County goes for its 17th team title – which doesn’t concern Peebles.
“I don’t think about that,” Peebles said. “I just hope we do our best, and we’ll see how it shakes out.”
The top four in each weight class advance to the state tournament:
Boone County: George Mintch (fourth, 150) and Kenzell Miller (fourth, 165).
Campbell County: Deacon Heisler (first, 144) and Brayden Allender (second, 285).
Conner: Badida, Abernathy, Seth, Dicken, Peace, Wuellner, Abdi, Grandin Blackburn (fourth, 190), Joesiah Hernandez (third, 165), Bryce Sizemore (third, 285), and Mason Masteller (fourth, 106),
Cooper: Carson Clark (fourth, 215), Christian Brown (first, 285), Corey Freihofer (third, 175), and Wayne Illes (fourth, 132).
Covington Catholic: Antonio Hernandez (first, 190), Emilio Hernandez (third, 120), Keegan Bishop (first, Landon Windeler (first, 175), and Tyler Heck (third, 215).
Dixie Heights: Ethan Piasecki (second, 132), Henry Morales (second, 190), Hunter Francis (fourth, 126), Jack Fredstrom (fourth, 285), Justin Kidd (first, 138), and Thomas Tilley (third, 157).
Highlands: Kayson White (first, 157), Parker Wilkens (second, 106), Ryan Nickelman (fourth, 120), and Xander Turner (third, 190).
Holmes: Deontae Graves (third, 126).
Ryle: Ayden Brinkman (first, 120), Bryant Brinkman (first, 113), Callen Schmidt (second, 157), Jagger Irvin (third, 144), Keigan Reinsenbeck (second, 175), Luke Cornwell (third, 138), Noah Crisp (second, 165), and Wyatt Crisp (third, 150).
Scott: Peyton Zinser (fourth, 175) and Tracker Blackburn (third, 106).
Simon Kenton: Benjamin Woosley (first, 165), Brayden Blevins (second 126), Cody Blevins (first, 106), Connor Warner (third, 132), Jaydan Rutherford (first, 215), Jordan Rutherford (second, 138), Kaiden Dauenbaugh (fourth 113), Liam Wood (fourth, 157), and Parker Smith (second, 150).
Walton-Verona: Boone Sawyer (fourth, 144) and Ryan Braylon (third, 113).