Ten Biggest Things to Come out of State:

10. Largest 3 day attendance ever for the Kentucky state tournament: 11,000 +

9. Union County comes up short on a bid for the 3rd straight state title

8. Woodford County doesn't finish in the top 3 for the first time in over 15 years

7. Defending state champ Josh Johnson gets upset by none other than someone from the Ervin clan

6. Justin Davis might be one of the most athletic state champs in the past 10 years

5. John Fahy is Kentucky's next Harrison Courtney, and whats scary is he may be more dominating than Harrison.

4. We are starting to see a direct result of the middle school programs having huge success at state. The 2006 middle school state champion team was Trinity Club Team. Which included, Hitching brothers, Bradbury, Lewis, Olhmann...

3. Seems like Henry Clay is always in exciting finals matches when they have a kid in the finals. 2004 Andrew Cooper vs Luke Metzger and 2009 Micheal Osbourne vs Matt Zarth

2. More Ervin's/Carr's won state this year than any 1 team had state champs.

1. Harrison Courtney will always be remembered as one of the greatest wrestlers in Kentucky History. Congrats on your fourth state championship.

I also want to congratulate Kevin Cooper on finishing third in state as an 8th grader. I started getting a little worked up when he took down Zarth in the semi's.

For the first time in a long time I thought the ref's were very consistent, rather that be consistently bad or good; I thought they called a very good state tournament.

Is there anything else you guys seen that I missed?

lol sounds good to me covered alot

Great list, Coach. Only thing I can think of to add is that for the first time I can remember, we really didn't have any bad behavior or bad injuries to call out. I mean, headgear was thrown a time or two, guys looked visibly mad, but no absolute tantrums. No controversy like somebody getting thrown into a table. (Guess some people would say not having this stuff made it boring.  :roll:) And nobody carried off the mat on a stretcher.

Overall, great, well-run tournament. I liked the later start time, too. Nice to be leisurely about breakfast and still see all the action.

i agree 1000000000%

Ten Biggest Things to Come out of State:

10. Largest 3 day attendance ever for the Kentucky state tournament: 11,000 +

9. Union County comes up short on a bid for the 3rd straight state title

8. Woodford County doesn't finish in the top 3 for the first time in over 15 years

7. Defending state champ Josh Johnson gets upset by none other than someone from the Ervin clan

6. Justin Davis might be one of the most athletic state champs in the past 10 years

5. John Fahy is Kentucky's next Harrison Courtney, and whats scary is he may be more dominating than Harrison.

4. We are starting to see a direct result of the middle school programs having huge success at state. The 2006 middle school state champion team was Trinity Club Team. Which included, Hitching brothers, Bradbury, Lewis, Olhmann...

3. Seems like Henry Clay is always in exciting finals matches when they have a kid in the finals. 2004 Andrew Cooper vs Luke Metzger and 2009 Micheal Osbourne vs Matt Zarth

2. More Ervin's/Carr's won state this year than any 1 team had state champs.

1. Harrison Courtney will always be remembered as one of the greatest wrestlers in Kentucky History. Congrats on your fourth state championship.

I also want to congratulate Kevin Cooper on finishing third in state as an 8th grader. I started getting a little worked up when he took down Zarth in the semi's.

For the first time in a long time I thought the ref's were very consistent, rather that be consistently bad or good; I thought they called a very good state tournament.

Is there anything else you guys seen that I missed?

Is Carr related to the Ervins?

Its been 19 yrs in the top 3 for Woodford.

Kevin Cooper may be the biggest suprise to me at state. The kid is tough. I really wanted to see him and Logsdon for 3rd and 4th but after losing to Osbourne Logsdon didn't look like himself against Warra. I see Kevin Cooper as a 2 timer, maybe 3 time state champ.

Union is the new Woodford, they'll be in the top 3 for the next decade.

Its been 19 yrs in the top 3 for Woodford.

Kevin Cooper may be the biggest suprise to me at state. The kid is tough. I really wanted to see him and Logsdon for 3rd and 4th but after losing to Osbourne Logsdon didn't look like himself against Warra. I see Kevin Cooper as a 2 timer, maybe 3 time state champ.

Union is the new Woodford, they'll be in the top 3 for the next decade.

ecspecially is those ervins keep coming

ecspecially is those ervins keep coming

I agree to a certain degree but you can't just hand them a 10 year reign.  I see Trinity making another run next year for sure.  Look at their champs, placers, and they are only loosing a few kids.  Ryle has some good kids coming up that couldn't break into the lineup this year.  They will bring back 2 state runner ups 3 other placers and several other varsity kids who now have state experience.  Union is good but I don't think Ryle or Trinity or Woodford are ready to surrender just yet.

I was more referring to Union's fan presence, their team commaradarie, their ability to make you turn your head and see what their wrestler is doing on the mat (usually winning...by pin).  They just seem more of a force than any other team in the state (just like Woodford used to).

We've seen Trinity and St X be great before, it normally doesn't last longer than 2-3 yrs. Ryle still has a way to go, imo. They're tough but Union is better right now.

Plus the brotherly thing is pretty cool. Woodford had the Parks and Starks brothers both win titles, the Logsdon brothers were top placers. And now the Ervins of Union rule the state of KY. I always cheer for brothers.

I agree to a certain degree but you can't just hand them a 10 year reign.  I see Trinity making another run next year for sure.  Look at their champs, placers, and they are only loosing a few kids.  Ryle has some good kids coming up that couldn't break into the lineup this year.  They will bring back 2 state runner ups 3 other placers and several other varsity kids who now have state experience.  Union is good but I don't think Ryle or Trinity or Woodford are ready to surrender just yet.

Well, looking at each teams' roster I think that Trinity will repeat.  They only graduate 3, while Union graduates 6 (3 being state champions), and Ryle loses 4.  Campbell County had a good tourny, and they lose 4 as well.  All return quality wrestlers, but Trinity just has too much fire power coming back.  Woodford, hopefully, will be back on track in the next few seasons.  I know a lot of fans love seeing them down, but its always good to have a quality adversary like Woodford to make things interesting.

Another team to watch out for will be Johnson Central.  They lose 1 wrestler, and with the way their middle school program is looking they should be able to fill some holes and send some more wrestlers to state.  7 of their 11 state qualifiers were 8th, 9th, and 10th graders.  They're a young team to watch out for in the next few years.  Larue is young as well, has a very solid feeder program, and will be back in the mix as well in the next few seasons.

Ryle still has a way to go, imo.

I am in agreement with Union's history what a great story for 60 minutes.

Just to let you know that the Ryle Raiders are not a flash in the skillet.  In the Raider's brief 11 year history:

  Raider Team Records                                                                                                                              Raider Individual Records

2X State Runner-up 2005, 2008                                                                                                  3 2X State Champions              10 State Champions

2X Kentucky State Duals Runner-up 2003, 2005                                                                            10 State Runner Ups                53 State Placers

6X Regional Champions 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009                                                          115 State Qualifiers                    46 Regional Champions 

3X Regional Runner-up 2001, 2003, 2004                                                                                                3 NHSCA High School All-Americans

3X Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Champions 2000,2001,2006                                                          3 Division I Collegiate Wrestlers

Third place State 2009

Since 2002 the Raiders have finished no lower than 9th place at the state tournament.  Thanks to all coaches past and present.  Barnes, Ruschell, Barker, Mikkelson, and all the rest.  You are obviously doing something right. 

We might not be there but we're standing at the front door. 

I have to agree with Ryledad, cause it seems like every year Ryle is on the cusp of pulling it off. Remember this year they lost to Trinity by 4 at the Rumble then they beat Trinity at Dragon. They are losing a big one in Bradford and depending on how much Osbourne gains he might be there only legitimate shot at a champion (No disrespect to Palmer). I was actually really pulling for Ryle, cause I know last year they had a pretty wild after party and if they would have won this year only God knows how they would have celebrated. Another thing Ryle dad forgot to is that Ryle has had a state champ every year since 2003, when I believe Derek Fosenbernder won state. Ryledad can you confirm this? Sorry for the horrible spelling of the name lol

You guys are also right with your statement of Johnson Central. They are going to keep reloading every year and with a wrestler like JJ Jude to build around you know they are going to be tough.

And the Carr's/Wedding's/Ervin's are all cousins. At least that is what I was told by some of the Union County parents at state.

One other thought.

NO BACK FLIP BY A STATE CHAMPION.

Has this tradition died.  I believe it started with David Ritchie in the 80's.

Its been 19 yrs in the top 3 for Woodford.

Kevin Cooper may be the biggest suprise to me at state. The kid is tough. I really wanted to see him and Logsdon for 3rd and 4th but after losing to Osbourne Logsdon didn't look like himself against Warra. I see Kevin Cooper as a 2 timer, maybe 3 time state champ.

Union is the new Woodford, they'll be in the top 3 for the next decade.

Don't get me wrong Union is very good but Woodford is coming back, you can count on that. :-D

I have to agree with Ryledad, cause it seems like every year Ryle is on the cusp of pulling it off. Remember this year they lost to Trinity by 4 at the Rumble then they beat Trinity at Dragon. They are losing a big one in Bradford and depending on how much Osbourne gains he might be there only legitimate shot at a champion (No disrespect to Palmer). I was actually really pulling for Ryle, cause I know last year they had a pretty wild after party and if they would have won this year only God knows how they would have celebrated. Another thing Ryle dad forgot to is that Ryle has had a state champ every year since 2003, when I believe Derek Fosenbernder won state. Ryledad can you confirm this? Sorry for the horrible spelling of the name lol

Ryle only had a state runner up in 2006.  But as far as the team goes,  we will have Rowland, Osborne, Palmer, Orsello, Bolog as seniors returning.  Mace, Coyle, Lusco, and Lonkard as returning juniors.  TJ will be back and we have some pretty stout jv guys who will fill in at the upper weights.  As far as Palmer goes, he is always the underdog and has no problem with that.  Everyone always thinks that wrestling at 103 is an easy way to find the finals.  He did it the first year at the state tourney.  Add twenty pounds and he was one win short of winning a state title this year.  He beat Supe, Schneider, Travis K, Honeycutt and only fell short with Carr this year, his only loss in Kentucky.  Third time will be a charm.  We will have more than one state champ next year. 

One other thought.

NO BACK FLIP BY A STATE CHAMPION.

Has this tradition died.  I believe it started with David Ritchie in the 80's.

Reid and Peace both did backflips last year so we had one in the hole to use.  So next year someone needs to get nimble. :-)

Don't get me wrong Union is very good but Woodford is coming back, you can count on that. :-D

I don't know about that. I think they will have some impressive guys on the mat, but I don't see them back in the top 3.

I don't know about that. I think they will have some impressive guys on the mat, but I don't see them back in the top 3.

I don't know, I can't stand Woodford. Although this may be true I can't help but think that there not slowing down anytime soon especially with Joe Carr Jr. most likely steppin up and taking the head coaching spot in the near future. Who knows, we may see Courtney standing beside Joe Jr. coaching them. I see them becoming a very dominant team again.

I don't know, I can't stand Woodford. Although this may be true I can't help but think that there not slowing down anytime soon especially with Joe Carr Jr. most likely steppin up and taking the head coaching spot in the near future. Who knows, we may see Courtney standing beside Joe Jr. coaching them. I see them becoming a very dominant team again.

As much as I would like to see that, we have to wait at least 4 years before that will happen.

As much as I would like to see that, we have to wait at least 4 years before that will happen.

no i disagree, woodford middle is getting new help from ethan miller next year, and harrison will be close in camblesville  so he will def be helping Wyat out. i dont think next year will be a dominate year but give wofo at least 2 years and i see the high school back in top three and also running for the big prize.

I really liked the first poster saying the youth programs are taking control now.  These teams, Trinity, Union, Ryle, Larue, Johnson Central, have two things in common.  Great youth programs right now and great coaching.  Woodford has a horrible youth program right now but great coaching at a high school level.  Look whos on top.

Trinity will die off in a couple years when Hitchings is gone.  It is too hard for a private school to keep a long run going.  I see Trinity winning it next year with Union, JC, Ryle, Larue, then Woodford.

Union has a lot of young kids coming up, they will be in the top three for a while.

The two Ichiro Chiba vs. Tyler Pace matches.

The Carrs are not cousins of the Ervins.  The Weddings are but haven't wrestled any HS matches for Union Co.

The Carrs are not cousins of the Ervins.  The Weddings are but haven't wrestled any HS matches for Union Co.

who are the Weddings?

See the Ervins post

no i disagree, woodford middle is getting new help from ethan miller next year, and harrison will be close in camblesville  so he will def be helping Wyat out. i dont think next year will be a dominate year but give wofo at least 2 years and i see the high school back in top three and also running for the big prize.

Don't expect to see Harrison much. Collegiate sports are a job. Harrison will be there once in a while, but not as much as you think. I hope Ethan will help at the middle school, but you need someone at the middle school level to get guys to come out like coach Carr and Parks used to.

Don't expect to see Harrison much. Collegiate sports are a job. Harrison will be there once in a while, but not as much as you think. I hope Ethan will help at the middle school, but you need someone at the middle school level to get guys to come out like coach Carr and Parks used to.

Yea but i mean did you see how many times Ethan in the room this year he even came in and wrestled like 3 or 4 times. and he is all the way in MSJ. i bet we see harry in the room a little