Posted on Feb 10, 2008 10:11
Article from the Lexington paper:
Woodford County has won 11 state wrestling titles, so it sounds silly to say it ever "surprises" anybody on the mat.
But the perennial-power Yellowjackets pulled a few upsets while winning the team title in the Region 7 tournament at Lafayette on Saturday.
Ethan Miller, Shane Parks and Coty Lewis each beat higher seeds in their finals to get things rolling early for Woodford County.
As expected, the Jackets' two-time state champion, Harrison Courtney, won at 145 pounds, ran his record to 34-0 and took home most valuable wrestler honors.
Blake Sheehan gave Woodford County its fifth individual title to cap an impressive day for the Jackets, who piled up 264 points to outdistance runner-up Harrison County's 158.
"This is my fourth season coaching, and this was the best week of practice I've been a part of," Coach Joe Carr Jr. said. "Everybody picked it up and did their best."
Lexington had its share of standout performers.
Matt Green, the top-rated 215-pounder in the state, improved to 38-1 while repeating as regional champ.
Tates Creek had three winners in Zac Brown (103), Dan Griggs (189) and Nathan Gray (275). Henry Clay's Cody Guiler (135) and Dunbar's Donnell Davis (140) also won titles.
The top four finishers in each weight class advance to the state tournament in Frankfort next week.
Woodford County, which hasn't been rated a state contender this winter, hopes it can build on the momentum it captured on Saturday thanks primarily to Miller, Parks and Lewis.
Miller beat defending state champion Matt Zarth of Henry Clay 4-0 in the 119 finals. Miller had lost to Zarth twice in close matches during the regular season.
"I think I wanted it more," Miller said. "It feels great. A couple weeks ago I beat the No. 1 guy (Elliott Martin of Seneca), and now I beat Matt. That gives me confidence going into the state next week."
Parks knocked off Dunbar's Jon Voth 10-8 in overtime in the 125 finals. Voth was third in the state at 112 last year.
"Jon's one of my good friends, so there's always been a rivalry since the seventh grade," Parks said. "I knew it'd be a close match, but I didn't know it'd be that close."
Lewis, who won a state title as a sophomore, injured his shoulder late last season, and he missed part of this year because of academic problems.
He came into the region with only a 5-5 record and was seeded sixth in the 130 class.
"I felt like that was a slap in the face," he said, "so I wanted to show them who the real Coty Lewis was."
He did just that by sweeping through the region with three pins.
Lewis wasn't surprised that he and his teammates set the tone for the Jackets' regional showing.
"We showed true heart," he said. "That's what Woodford County is all about."
Josh Ashbrook of Harrison County, who was runner-up in the state at 135 last year, moved up to 152 this season. He won the region and ran his record to 50-1.