http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/SPT/701250331/1076/Local
BY JAMES WEBER | COMMUNITY RECORDER STAFF WRITER
UNION - Bryan Peace has two more shots at a state title.
He wants this to be the year, as the Ryle junior is determined to stand atop the medal stand next month.
"I have to work hard, keep my conditioning up," he said. "I want to keep my skills in tune. Then, hopefully, I can get a state championship."
ADVERTISEMENT
Peace is the top-ranked wrestler in the 140-pound weight class by the Kentucky Wrestling Coaches Association. He had a 30-1 record for the season entering a tournament Jan. 20, and is undefeated against Kentucky wrestlers.
Last year, he was the state runner-up at 130, losing by two points in the final. He had a fourth-place finish at 130 in 2005 and was sixth place at 112 as an eighth-grader in 2004.
"I did some offseason work, went to a lot of tournaments in the spring and summer," he said. "That helped me get more confidence in myself, it's helped me be more mature."
Peace started wrestling in kindergarten but said he didn't get serious about it until middle school.
"I like it because you work so hard that it's gratifying when you win," he said. "You see the hard work pay off."
Several other Raiders are having strong seasons.
Junior Mason Reid is 26-2 at 171. Senior Steve Bodenbender (heavyweight) is 21-5. Senior Sam Scheuer is 24-5 at 112. Freshman Michael Osborne is 23-7 at 103. Senior Andrew Isler is 20-9 at 119. Sophomore Will Hogben (189) is 18-5. Senior Adam Dahl (16-6) and sophomore Jacob Bradford (15-6) are having good years at 215.
Ryle head coach Tim Ruschell said several Raiders have a chance to make the state finals, with Scheuer, Peace and Reid the best bets. Scheuer has an overtime loss to the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class.
With the regionals coming the weekend of Feb. 10, crunch time is coming.
"It could be anybody's ball game at regionals," Ruschell said.
Peace, a regional champ last year, hopes for big things in crunch time.
"We have good coaches who come in and make us better," he said.
283-0404, ext. 221