The second installment of my fantasy dual meet between state champions puts 1989 against 2009.  1989 was my first high school state tournament as a spectator at the end of my freshman year (my first year wrestling). This is a great matchup that includes some of the state's all time greats (Fahy, Caleb Ervin, Ennels, Trice, Courtney).

    1989                                                                 2009                                                  Fantasy result

103 Chris Zimmer (St. Xavier)                        John Fahy (Trinity)                           Fahy 11-2  (2009 leads 4-0)

112 Shaun Atcher (North Hardin)                   Myron Bradbury (Trinity)                  Bradbury 3-2 (2009 leads 7-0)

119 John Wyan (Conner)                               Matt Zarth (Henry Clay)                    Zarth 5-3 (2009 leads 10-0)

125 Joel Corrothers (Waggener)                    Aaron Carr (Union Co)                     Corrothers 4-2 (2009 leads 10-3)

130 Chris Goodman (North Hardin)                Caleb Ervin (Union Co)                    Ervin 7-2 (2009 leads 13-3)

135 Willie Ennels (Hopkinsville)                      Luke Ervin (Union Co)                      Ennels 12-8 (2009 leads 13-6)

140 Arvil Banks (Christian Co)                       Justin Davis (Eastern)                       Davis 9-7 (2009 leads 16-6)

145 Earl Smith (Western)                               Dusty Brown (Campbell Co)              Brown 6-5 (2009 leads 19-6)

152 Jerod Trice (Hopkinsville)                        Isaac Ervin (Union Co)                      Trice 23-8 (2009 leads 19-11)

160 Jon Wiard (Frankfort)                              Harrison Courtney (Woodford Co)    Courtney 7-5 (2009 leads 22-11)

171 Berkley Riley (Henry Clay)                       Brad Hitchhings (Trinity)                   Riley 4-3 (2009 leads 22-14)

189 Chris Birch (Henry Clay)                          Jake Bradford (Ryle)                         Birch 3-2 (2009 leads 22-17)

215 na                                                            Ryan Kelly (Sheldon Clark)               ignore 215

275 James Simpson (PRP)                             Ryan Harlow (Johnson Central)        Simpson by pin (1989 leads 22-23)

At 103 in the Louisville Holy War I have to go with arguably the best to come through the state (Fahy won 5 staight MS titles before his 4 in high school).  In '09 he was a huge 3 pounder and put up points in bunches.  I see bonus here.  I have about 8 bouts that could be nailbiters and 112 is the first.  Bradbury won over a lot of fans when he beat Mark Hall in 2010).  I think his technique gives him a little edge to finish at a key spot in the match.  In one of a couple weights where I admit to throwing darts to decide I went with Corrothers.  The Corrothers brothers seemed to pull out some funky stuff before it was popular.  Although I didn't see him wrestle until high school I always heard that Caleb was the best ever at the MS level.  If not for a great match with Josh Johnson, Ervin may be at the head of the class as best ever.  Gotta go with him to win handily.  At 135 I think there is a huge althleticism mismatch.  Luke was a very good wrestler; always a placement level kid.  But in 2009 he got on a roll and won it all.  But Ennels would put up some big points early; maybe even lead 12-2.  But late in the math Ennels would fade and Ervin would catch him in that patented peterson.  Too little too late.  145 was a dart throw.  I think the athleticism goes the other way in this one.  Dusty just had a nack for willing his body into a position to score when it counted, then hold on for the win.  Same here.  Big bonus at 152.  Nothing against Isaac, who was a very good wrestler, but if you believe half of the stories on Trice he IS a superhero.  Neutral wasn't Ervin's best position and I think Trice puts on a takedown clinic.  160 kills me to pick.  Jon Wiard is one of my favorite wrestlers of all time.  Tall, lanky, average looking kid walks onto the mat in that ill-fitting Frankfort singlet and hammers kids once the whistle blows.  BUT he is facing my pick for the best ever in KY.  Courtney was one bad stalling call from being a 5-timer; all at man weights.  Wiard catches Courtney in one of his cradles, but the man is too good with his tilts and pulls it out. Riley (part inspiration in my son's name) was a specimen.  I will never forget seeing him walk out of the tunnel at the district tournament that year at Harrison County looking like a nerd in those glasses, but as soon as he took off that Henry Clay warm up your jaw dropped.  Hitchings was a great wrestler, but I think Riley was strong enough to fight off the boots.  Birch was right behind Riley in that faceoff line and almost as impressive.  I think he was a litte to strong for Bradford and a defensive struggle could go either way.  Again, I ignored 215.  GOO may have another suggestion for a sub.  I don't recall the details on some of the other guys well enough.  And the dual is decided again at heavy.  As I recall, big boy SImpson did a backflip after winning his title.  He was such an athlete that his senior year he played basketball (rather than wrestle) and helped PRP to a state title in basketball.  I think he was too big for Harlow and as the big boys often go he ends up on top with the pin.  1989 pulls out a barnburner.

For coaches here I have to go with Coach Walls for 2009 (4 CHAMPIONS!!!) and based on GOO's comments before Ploesser for 1989.

Awesome Ranger.  Who finished Third.?

Perfect summarization for the Wiard vs Courtney match. Wiard was one tough individual. Came from a good wrestling family. Can't deny Courtney though, he was the man. Would have been a good one to watch.

Perfect summarization for the Wiard vs Courtney match. Wiard was one tough individual. Came from a good wrestling family. Can't deny Courtney though, he was the man. Would have been a good one to watch.

Yep, I was raised to hate the woodford black and gold. But Richard Starks and rusty parks (old guy ) brought me around that they aren't all bad guys down in Versailles. And without a doubt Harrison Courtney gets my vote as the best ever in Ky. Yes, even if Brock wins #5. Close call but my gut says Courtney.

I like what I see!

My take on these two years!

103 Goes to Fahy here. Zimmer would be to small against a very big 103 pounder in John Fahy!

Score: Fahy wins 9-0 (2009 4-0)

112 Although Shaun was more of a MAN out there on the mat, he was so strong, I give Bradbury the win. Myron is more technical and wins 8-4 (2009 7-0)

119 I'm going with Wyan here. He was a 4X placer and finally got his title his senior year. He was such a force his senior and so determine to win. He reminds me of Dave Barnes his senior year. Both these guys weren't going to lose no matter who they wrestled.

Wyan wins this over Zarth 7-3 (2009 7-3)

125 I'm going with Corrothers on this one. I mean he was like 6'7" wrestling at 125. How can you beat a kid that should be playing NBA ball. So much leverage. Never going to turn him or take him down. Score 5-1 (2009 7-6)

130 Goodman was good but he isn't beating Caleb. Caleb just has that extra punch most kids don't have.

Caleb wins 6-0 (2009 10-6)

135 Ennels wins here because of his first period clinic he puts on. Scores too many points in the first period or usually would catch you right away. Willie wins 9-4 (2009 10-9)

140 As Ranger would say.. I'm throwing a Dart at this weight. Out of all of these matches I say this would be the most exciting one. Both two very strong athletic kids. However I'll give the edge to Davis. Score: Davis wins 8-6 (2009 13-9)

145 Another Dart Board match. Have to agree with Ranger on this one. Brown wins 3-1 (2009 16-9)

152 Isaac Ervin was very good but Trice would be too much of a Force here. Watching both of these guys wrestle, Jarod would have been one of those kids that would have went to a D1 College and start his first year without a redshirt. He was a major STUD!!!

However like Ennels, his conditioning was probably his weakest move!

Trice techs 16-1 (2009 16-14)

160 Courtney wins here! Wiard was such a hammer. This would have been the second best matchup with this group of wrestlers. I just think Harrison, like Caleb Ervin has too much extra punch to get it done. Courtney over Wiard 6-2 (2009 19-14)

171 I'm going with Hitchhings here. I like Berkley a lot , but I think Brad has too much technique and pulls out the win.

Score 5-4 (2009 22-14)

189 Birch wins here, the but this match goes into o/t. Regulation time score is: 6-6, Birch gets takedown with a duck under and wins.

(2009 22-17)

215 N/A

275 Simpson was a man amongst boys. He wins this hands down. Simpson pins in 2nd period.

1989 pulls out the win overall: 23-22

OK Before I make my comments on this matchup I would need to look at what year each of these individuals were.

I know It was Courtney's senior year so he is a shoo in for winning.

Ennels however is only a Freshman which was before his knee problems and conditioning problems.  He defeated a returning state champion in King.(I think)  (lost to Migliachio his Soph year otherwise wins 4).

Im gonna have to dust off those old 89 brackets.  

OK here goes.

103  I've never been a Fahey fan but he always got the job done. ----------------------------------------------Fahey 12-3 (0-4)

112 Atcher was a man at 112 and defeated Martz in OT 12-8 (they went 3, 1 minute periods still)-----Atcher 5-3   (3-4)

119 Wyan over Zarth.  Zarth was powerful but Wyan was to slick -----------------------------------------------Wyan  6-5   (6-4)

125 Corrothers was funky but Carr was dominating. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Carr    5-2   (6-7)

130 I still to this day don't know how Goodman won but he would go against Caleb Ervin-----------------Ervin   10-3 (6-10)

135 Ennels Fr. year is in shape, he pinned Adams (returning state champ) in 3rd in a close match-Ennels 12-3 (10-10)

140 Justin Davis is to fast for a man-boy Banks (takedown clinic)-----------------------------------------------Davis 13-4  (10-14)

145 Smith scores 2 in the last 2 sec to against Nixon. Brown's to funky, but to lazy to score extra-Brown 10-4 (13-14)

152 No disrespect to Isaac but no match for Trice, he was a machine.-----------------------------------------Trice 23-8  (18-14)

160 Again Wiard was good on the mat but its a Sr. Courtney, he can't hang.-----------------------------Courtney 12-3 (18-18)

171 This one is tight.  I give it to Riley because its Brad's first title and he was lacking a little.-------------Riley 2-1  (21-18)

189 Another tight one but Bradford is to quick----------------------------------------------------------------------Bradford 4-3 (21-21)

215 The only think I can see here is maybe Davis (2nd 189) moving up if this happens------------------Kelly 10-2     (21-25)

Hwt Simpson was a man before his time, he was a HWY that could move well-----------------------------Simpson pin (27-25)

Once again comes down to Hwt.  As you can see many matches could go either way.

I think the pivitol matches are at 171 and 189.