Five Henderson County High School wrestlers advanced to state championships after strong performances at last weekend’s regional meet at Paducah Tilghman High School.
State qualifiers include second place finishers Wyatt Payne, who wrestles in the 120-pound weight class; Jaxson Wallace, who wrestles in the 215-pound weight class; and LaTravion Johnson, who wrestles in the 285-pound weight class.
Fourth-place finishers also qualifying for state include Ethan Peckenpaugh, who wrestles in the 175-pound weight class; and Lane Corpe, who wrestles in the 132-pound weight class.
Additionally, Coach Jermaine Poynter said he’ll take two alternates, fifth-place finishers Brock Crook in the 165-pound weight class and Asher Dailey in the 106-pound weight class.
Poynter said the wrestlers put it all on the line at the regional championships.
“I thought the effort was there,” he said. “Our kids were ready to fight.”
He said that in Payne’s and Johnson’s final matches breaks “just didn’t go our way” which could have allowed them to win the region.
“It’s just one of those things,” he said.
In the team competition, the Colonels finished fourth in Region 1, which Poynter said is the toughest in the state. The tough regional competition is good preparation for the next step and should provide confidence at the state championships, he said.
Christian County placed third, Paducah Tilghman placed second, and for the 22nd year in a row, Union County won the region.
HCHS’ finish is strong considering the program in its most recent iteration is in its 7th season, Poynter said, adding with one or two breaks, the squad could have finished third.
Additionally, two HCHS wrestlers placed sixth in the region meet, Vinson Embry in the 150-pound weight class and Wyatt Holland in the 157-pound weight class.
Both the HCHS girls and boys state qualifying wrestlers and alternates will leave Wednesday to travel to Lexington. The six girls qualifiers will wrestle Thursday. The boys will wrestle Friday and Saturday. All three days of wrestling will be at Alltech Arena on the campus of the Kentucky Horse Park.
