With so many of the same teams at the top year after year, we often forget that there are many new and newer teams that are trying to build and grow programs.  I know of a couple schools that had their first ever qualifiers:

Bethlehem

George Rogers Clark

What other schools had their first ever qualifiers?

DuPont Manual

34 minutes ago, Alien01 said:

DuPont Manual

Manual has had numerous state qualifiers as their program has been around since 01-02. 

I do believe Butler (1st year program) got their very first state qualifier on Saturday. 

Ballard, Butler, Greenwood, South Warren, Warren East? 
Corbin, Green Co, Greenup Co, Mason, Paintsville, Somerset? 

East Carter is a first year program that got a state qualifier this year. I'm not sure if they had a program in the past though. 

East Carter had a program before.  They had a state runner-up 1 year at 140-145 weight.

Paintsville also had a program in the late 70’s.  Tim Spears qualified at 155 in 1976.

East Carter - Rodney Perkins 2nd at 145 in 2002.  
 

Here are the first teams with their first state qualifier

Bethlehem

Butler

Floyd Central

Mason County

Somerset

South Warren

Warren East

Honorable Mention

Ballard   last qualifier 2008

East Carter  Last qualifier 2003

Paintsville Last qualifier 1976

Corbin   Last qualifier 1967

This year there are 104 teams represented at the state tournament. The most ever. 

Congratulations to Highlands who has their first Reginal Champ. Rilen Pinkston at 150

This year there are 104 teams represented at the state tournament. The most ever. 

This is so cool to me. So many new programs, girls wrestling on the verge of being sanctioned.  Well done, KY Wrestling Community and coaches.  

On 2/12/2023 at 10:16 PM, grappler-of-old said:

Here are the first teams with their first state qualifier

Bethlehem

Butler

Floyd Central

Mason County

Somerset

South Warren

Warren East

Honorable Mention

Ballard   last qualifier 2008

East Carter  Last qualifier 2003

Paintsville Last qualifier 1976

Corbin   Last qualifier 1967

This year there are 104 teams represented at the state tournament. The most ever. 

Corbin started wrestling in 1967 and that was their only team until last years 2021-22 team.  They had one qualifier their first year and five qualifiers their second year. 

On 2/12/2023 at 4:13 PM, thegreatgatsby said:

Manual has had numerous state qualifiers as their program has been around since 01-02. 

I do believe Butler (1st year program) got their very first state qualifier on Saturday. 

Oh good to know,has been a draught so its refreshing to see them back