http://www.oldhamera.com/articles/2006/02/03/sports/sports01.prt
==========
Scherer wins battle of state champions
By Mickey Patterson
CRESTWOOD - Hanging helpless 6 feet off the mat, Taylor Scherer had his doubts about the outcome of his match against Courtney Coffey Saturday in the finals of the Dragon Invitational.
“Man, I don’t ever get picked up like that,” Scherer said. “It’s hard to make a fight up in the air, there’s not a lot you can do when you are picked up by someone that strong.”
Scherer, however, survived his short flight at the hands of Coffey from John Paul II High School in Nashville, to win the 215-pound title with an 8-4 decision. The match between the defending state champions was the final highlight of a long day of wrestling as the crowd packed the stands and area around the mat.
“It was an awesome atmosphere,” Scherer said. “To have the support of a student crowd like that and know everyone from every school is watching really kicks it up a level.”
The match needed little buildup after the pair battled last year with Scherer winning 6-3. Scherer entered the match with a 27-1 record losing only to the defending Indiana state champion while Coffey entered at 34-0.
Coffey got out to an early 3-0 lead with an escape and a takedown after getting Scherer airborne. Scherer came right back to tie the match with an escape and takedown of his own just before the end of the first period.
From there, it was all Scherer. He took a 4-3 lead in the opening minutes of the second period and increased it to 6-3 right after that with another takedown as Coffey began to run out of gas.
“I was in better condition, I could see it as the match went on,” Scherer said. “I was able to keep going when he couldn’t. That was my advantage.”
The win capped a big day for Scherer as he won every other match by pin in his drive to win a third straight state title.
“We knew coming in the other kid might be a little stronger, but we also knew Taylor was going to be in better shape,” SOHS coach Steve Fiser said. “At the end of the day, he used his best stuff and won a match over a really, really strong wrestler.”
Scherer was one of three individual champions for the Dragons, joining Daniel Murner at 119 and Derek Scott at 125. As a team, however, the Dragons failed to capture the title with Trinity edging them 205.5 to 203.
“Trinity stayed just ahead of us the whole day,” Fiser said. “We had some kids who didn’t wrestle well and it hurt us. The bottom line is we didn’t produce like we should have and we paid for it.”
Scott, a senior and the defending state champion at 125, entered the finals with a 34-0 record. He kept his record and No. 1 ranking intact, dominating his match against Tyler Baines of St. X with a 9-0 win.
“Right now everything I am doing is building toward the regional and the state meet,” Scott said. “This was my best match of the tournament. I really felt like I was in control the whole time.”
Murner, 27-7 and ranked No. 2 in the state, missed a chance to stake a claim for the top spot when top ranked Caleb Wood of Fern Creek had to miss the meet with an injury.
“I was a little unhappy the main competition didn’t show up,” Murner said. “I just decided to go on and will wait for my chance later.”
Murner beat Nick Norwood of St. X in the finals 9-5. Murner said Scott, who he battles everyday in practice, has had a great deal to do with his success this year.
“The practices every day with Derek are pretty intense,” Murner said. “Eliminating mistakes has been the key for me this year. When I make a mistake in practice against Derek, I pay for it.”
Murner, a state champion in cross country, could very well become SOHS’ first double sport champion this year.
“Derek and Daniel pound each other every night,” Fiser said. “You watch them in meets, the way they just go at people, that’s how they go at each other every day. Daniel just continues to get better and better. Working out with Derek has really accelerated his learning curve. He made a decision to get better rather than get beat up and he very well could become a state champion because of it.
“Right now, Derek is in the best shape he has ever been in. He’s probably at the best he’s ever been in terms of being physically conditioned and mentally ready. He’s very well rounded emotionally. He’s almost businesslike in the way he approaches his matches, but he goes out there and takes care of things.”
The Dragons also had freshman Ryan Houchens reach the finals at 171 where he fell to No. 2 Ben Rupp of Eastern.
The Dragons also suffered a loss when heavyweight Kirk Alwardt went down with a broken ankle and will be lost for the season.
“That hurt us at the meet and for the season,” Fiser said. “Kirk just came down on his leg wrong. We were expecting him to be at least third.”
Alwardt had to take an injury default and finished sixth after the standings shook out.
He will be replaced by Logan Butler who fought his way back into seventh place from the loser’s bracket.
Taking third place for the Dragons were Ben Greco at 152 and Bryan Ford at 145. Cody Hall came in fourth at 135.
Winning fifth place were Andrew Taylor at 160 and Cam Hartman at 189.
Paul Hunke rounded out the Dragons’ list of medalists in eighth place at 103 pounds.
“Right now we have some guys who have to decide how they want to end their season,” Fiser said. “Good or bad, it’s all there in front of them depending on how much they are willing to work and to buy into what we have been teaching them since we started.”
The Dragons, ranked No. 2 in the state, will face even tougher competition at 10 a.m. Saturday when they compete in the state duals championships at Lexington Henry Clay.
Zeppa leads North
North Oldham’s young squad took 12th as a team with 73 points and had an individual champion in sophomore Andre Zeppa at 103 pounds.
Zeppa entered the finals with a 33-4 record and beat Dan Smith of Trinity 5-1 to win the crown.
“This was my best match of the meet,” Zeppa said. “I beat him (Smith), 8-5 earlier in the year. I felt pretty comfortable through the whole match today. I was confident coming in.”
Zeppa also credited his workout partner, in this case, his older brother Andre who finished third for the Mustangs at 112.
“He’s a big help every day,” Zeppa said. “He’s pretty much the reason I am here right now.”
It was Zeppa’s second individual title this season as he continues to move up in the rankings.
“Andre had some pretty tough competition as everyone did,” NOHS coach Kip Connin said. “We knew he was a good wrestler last year and he did on a pair of bad ankles. It hasn’t been a surprise to see him do as well as he has. It will be a surprise if he doesn’t keep getting better because he works so hard at it.”
Antonio Zeppa took third in the meet winning a decision over Gabe Supa of Scott in the consolation finals. Zeppa fell to runnerup Matt Zarth of Henry Clay in the quarterfinals.
“We didn’t expect him to lose to the Henry Clay kid, but he got to see some new competition,” Connin said. “He should come back to beat that kid if they ever meet again.”
The Mustangs had Tom Kusnir take fifth at 130 pounds as he beat Daniel Miller of St. X in his final match.
Kusnir was sent to the loser’s bracket in a tough loss to eventual champion Bryan Peace of Ryle in the semifinals.
Another Mustang who had a strong day was freshman Chase Simpson who went 4-1 on the day at 125 pounds.
After falling to Scott in his second match. Simpson battled his way back to take eighth place as he had to forfeit after hitting the five-match in one day limit.
“We’re very happy with Chase,” Connin said. “He really took on everyone and beat them after losing to Scott. He came in second in the region at 112 last year and has missed some this year with injuries.”