Well now we are currently stuck in a post-state tournament hang over, I thought I could alleviate some of that with an early look at Region 1 next year. I am of course guessing at most weights and lineups and it still remains to be seen what new young guy will steup up and become the next rising star. I was going to do write ups for each team but I figured a short summary works just as well, this will be followed by my first set of preseason rankings, don't expect these every week though haha.
1. Union County
Returning State Placers- 5
Returning State Qualifiers- 10
Key Returner- Brock Ervin
Key Loss- Jayce Carr
Rising Star- Chance Oxford
2. Fort Campbell
RSP- 0
RSQ- 2
Key Returner- Ki Ryder
Key Loss- David Sahms
Rising Star- Luie Regaldo
3. Christian County
RSP- 2
RSQ- 8
Key Returner- Caleb Austin
Key Loss- Kory Polley
Rising Star- Diion Leavell
4. Caldwell County
RSP- 1
RSQ- 3
Key Returner- Chris Gilkey
Key Loss- N/A
Rising Star- Wes Gray
5. Ohio County
RSP- 0
RSQ- 4
Key Returner- Ryan Bunch
Key Loss- Kyle Bunch
Rising Star- Kaleb Sapp
6. Trigg County
RSP- 1
RSQ- 3
Key Returner- Jeremiah Kline
Key Loss- N/A
Rising Star- Malik Cunningham
7. Paducah Tilghman
RSP- 0
RSQ- 3
Key Returner- Derek Miller
Key Loss- Frank Rosario
Rising Star- Chandler Martin
8. Hopkinsville
RSP- 0
RSQ- 2
Key Returner- Connor Jaschen
Key Loss- Travon Thacker
Rising Star- Nathan Williams
9. Calloway County
RSP- 0
RSQ- 3
Key Returner- Isaiah Frank
Key Loss- Donald Bowman
Rising Star- Scott Ruttman
10. UHA
RSP- 0
RSQ- 0
Key Returner- Chance Collins
Key Loss- Wade Willen
Rising Star- Daniel Dyess
11. Graves County
RSP- 0
RSQ- 1
Key Returner- Chris Barham
Key Loss- Hunter Goree
Rising Star- Sam Sisco
106
1. Bryce Sheffer, Union County
2. Wes Gray, Caldwell County
3. Luie Regaldo, Fort Campbell
4. Kaleb Sapp, Ohio County
5. Sam Sisco, Graves County
6. Kendarius Major, Christian County
Whoever Union puts in here should win the region. Gray is going to be very good for Caldwell County and should place next year. Regaldo had a great regional tournament and if he continues to work hard on his development he could potentially be the next David Sahms. Going into regionals I expected more things from Sapp, but there are good coaches at Ohio and I expect him to bounce back well. Well with the update I am told Sheffer wil be here, makes sense considering he is kinda small
113
1. Chance Oxford, Union County
2. Anthony DeWitt, Fort Campbell
3. Scott Ruttman, Calloway County
4. Zenon Rodriguez, Paducah Tilghman
5. Bryce Hammons, Caldwell County
6. Seth Tichenor, Ohio County
Again whoever Union has here wins it. DeWitt had a very disappointing regional tournament but up to that point he was potentially going to be a state placer. The hopes and dreams of Calloway County lies on Scott Ruttman as he returns from a state tourney appearance. Rodriguez had a disappointing regional tournament, but finds himself at an easier weight this time around. With Oxford being the go to guy here it opens up the weight slightly, but I still favor Oxford.
120
1. Robert Dezember, Union County
2. Jeremiah Kline, Trigg County
3. Chris Barham, Graves County
4. Daniel Dyess, UHA
5. Boyce Nichols, Caldwell County
6. Nick Brooks, Fort Campbell
Dezember and Kline should be an exciting match next year assuming both wrestlers are at this weight. Barham could've been a state qualifier but coming off the couch to wrestle at regionals is a tough draw. Dyess holds a win over Moses Williams which sets him up nicely at this weight.
126
1. Trae Blackwell, Union County
2. Caleb Austin, Christian County
3. Connor Jaschen, Hoptown
4. Derek Miller, Paducah Tilghman
5. Chance Collins, UHA
6. Corbin Ryder, Fort Campbell
If possible I could forsee Caleb Austin staying at 120 to try and avoid Blackwell. Not to knock Austin at all who wrestled a fantastic tourney and looked very solid against Blackwell, it is just a justifible move. Jaschen and Miller are both strong competitors with outside shots of placing at state next year.
132
1. Brock Ervin, Union County
2. Brian Hedrick, Fort Campbell
3. B.J. Miller, Ohio County
4. Chandler Martin, Paducah Tilghman
5. Camerin Cole, Christian County
6. Dalton Putty, UHA
Going into the regional tourney I did not forsee Hedrick missing the finals, let alone missing state. Thus this weight is blown wide open from second place down. I don't forsee Hedrick wrestling like that again, but of course one can no longer dismiss the likes of Miller and Martin.
138
1. Chris Gilkey, Caldwell County
2. Isaiah Frank, Calloway County
3. Ryan Bunch, Ohio County
4. Daniel Ingram, Trigg County
5. Jackson Oxford, Union County
6. Diion Leavell, Christian County
It is possible certain wrestlers at 132 might be at 138, but as it stands this is Gilkey's weight to lose. Two previously mentioned young guns in Buckman and Leavell, both carrying well known last names, could also be factors at this weight. I considered moving Oxford up, but Ingram is a senior and deserves some recognition. I also fixed Frank and Bunch.
145
1. Kevi Matlock, Christian County
2. Nighgell Davidson, Fort Campbell
3. Avery Buckman, Union County
4. Ryan Gallogly, Trigg County
5. Andrew Walls, Caldwell County
6. Micah Davis, Paducah Tilghman
Matlock is coming off of a disappointing state tourney, but he is still a very talented wrestler and if this is how the weights fall he would cruise to a regional title. Davidson was an illegal slam away from the state tourney, and if he can avoid any such DQ's this time around he should be at the state tourney next year and possibly placing. Moved Buckman above Gallogly in my little mini-update.
152
1. Chad Gahafer, Union County
2. Kenny Sells, Christian County
3. Robert Bussell, Hoptown
4. Gino Haywood, Fort Campbell
5. Will Crabtree, UHA
6. Malik Cunningham, Trigg
Sells came out of nowhere to place at the state tourney, but this is still Gahafer's weight. Bussell was very solid during the regular season until getting upset by Davidson at regionals. Haywood has been right on the verge of making the state tournament two years now, and this should be the year he finally gets in.
160
1. Keegan Agnew, Caldwell County
2. Kane Morris, Union County
3. Nathan Williams, Hoptown
4. Xavier Pate, Christian County
5. Joe Sisco, Graves County
6. Romero Shamburger, Fort Campbell
Agnew surprised me by not placing at the state tourney. He should be one of the potential candidates for a state title next year though. Williams got upset by Pate but I will favor him for next year. 4th place should be a battle between establish talent Joe Sisco and upcoming middle schooler Romero Shamburger. But that changed with me being informed of Kane Morris possibly dropping to 160. Instead we are faced with a battle between Nathan Williams and Kane Morris for second.
170
1. Ki Ryder, Fort Campbell
2. Devin Smith, Union County
3. Ben Redfield, Paducah Tilghman
4. Jacob Jones, Trigg County
5. Chase Copland, Graves County
6. Jacob Harris, Christian County
Outside of Ki Ryder who like Agnew could potentially win a state title next year, this weight is wide open in regards to who could finish second. That is assuming I am right on these weights though. If Devin Smith is at 170 then that puts a lot more pressure on Ryder, who I still favor here but nowhere near as much.
182
1. Bryan Carter, Union County
2. Mario Miles, Hoptown
3. Phil Bradley, UHA
4. Clay Revlett, Caldwell County
5. Enrique Martinez, Fort Campbell
6. ?????
Outside of Smith and Miles I really have no clue about this weight. Now Carter and Miles.
195
1. Bradley Easterling, Ohio County
2. Jacob Freeland, Christian County
3. Colton Livingston, Trigg County
4. Conner Sherman, Union County
5. Jacob Proctor, Graves County
6. Caleb Carter, Fort Campbell
The top 3 at this weight could finish in any order. But from 4th place down it is looking to be a game of whoever shows up that day.
220
1. Aaron Stevens, Trigg County
2. Zach Farris, Ohio County
3. Cole Sherman, Union County
4. Stevie Mason, Christian County
5. David Nikolao, Fort Campbell
6. David Clark, Calloway County
The top 5 at this weight should be very competitive. Stevens could've had a better state tourney but he should still be favored going into this weight. Farris, Sherman, and Mason are pretty much 2a, 2b, and 2c. Nikolao would've started at 220 this year, but he broke his leg during soccer season, I trust his older brothers to have him ready come next season though.
285
1. Raynel Brown, Union County
2. Jake Jorstad, Fort Campbell
3. Dominic Hephner, Paducah Tilghman
4. Luke Shaffer, Ohio County
5. Tevin Toler, Christian County
6. Andrew Lee, Calloway County
Brown and Jorstad are both gonna be one of the top heavyweights in the state next year and should have some pretty decent battles every time they meet. Outside of those two Hephner and Shaffer are just the favorites out of a very respectable group of potential heavyweights for next year. Region 1's talent at heavyweight is finally starting to build back up after experiancing a drought since the likes Burdin, Rhinestine, Croney, and company.